Starting Preschool.

It’s never too soon to look. Don’t wait until your child turns 3 to begin investigating preschools. The ideal time to start thinking about a preschool option is when you child is between 12 to 24 months old. It is hard to picture your diaper–wagging tyke sitting in a circle singing finger–play songs? Actually, starting to make preschool plans early is for your own benefit. It can take a long time to sort through the various options in your community. You’ll want to talk to other parents, make calls to get basic information from the prospective preschool, and spend time visiting them. Even if you’re not inclined to be so thorough and have your choice narrowed down to one or two possibilities, some schools may have long waiting lists. You may need to apply early to reserve a space. Having a good head start will spare you later panic.

How to pick a program. At first glance, preschool programs may appear fairly similar. They all seem to have pint–size furniture, and in all of them kids sing songs and create art. All are committed to the care and growth of young children; all want children to be safe, happy and enriched. The differences lie in how a given school goes about achieving those aims. No two preschool programs are identical. Which setting is right for your child? Practical considerations, such as the convenience of the location and cost, are usually paramount. You may want a school whose hours mesh with your work schedule, for example. But don’t let the nuts and bolts be your only concerns.

·         Start out with an open mind.

·         Consider your child’s temperament and learning style. If your child is high–energy, always on the go, look for a program that provides opportunity for free movement. If your child is reserved, a program that has smaller groups or smaller child–adult ratio would work better for your child. If your child is slow to warm up to new situations, they would benefit from the program that encourages a gradual introductory period and parental involvement. If your child is quiet, easily over stimulated you should look for a program that provides lesser number of activity choices and private areas to read or be alone.

·         Take your parenting philosophy into account. Some questions to consider: Do you plan to play an active role in your child’s school day? Are religious and cultural influences especially important to you? Do you lean toward very structured day or prefer to take things as they happen? (While program philosophies vary, all parents should look for evidence that a school has some degree of structure built into their program, although the extent will vary).

·         Spend some time at prospective schools.

·         Trust your intuition. The bottom line is that you’ve got to feel comfortable with your choice.

Taken from the book: Parenting; Guide to your toddler,
 by Paula Spencer