Preschool - What to Consider

If you decide to send your child to preschool, there are two routes you can take - academic or developmental. I personally prefer developmental as it’s so important for kids to build their play skills, which leads them to have proficient academic abilities. There are many different educational philosophies, and some schools incorporate various aspects. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1) Montessori - children learn through interaction with the environment, and the teacher is there as a guide to facilitate learning. They make use of various Montessori materials to help develop their skills through different stations/subject areas.

2) Waldorf focuses the curriculum on art and creativity, and much of it is taught orally. They focus more on creative play in natural surroundings that include wooden/cloth materials. Everything done is purposeful, down to how they light the room & how teachers dress. And screen time at home is strongly discouraged.

3) Reggio Emilia curriculum is established not only by the teachers but also based on the ideas and interests of the children. Teachers are committed to reflecting upon what they learn and observe.

What you want to look for in a preschool:

🏫  Type of school

🏫  Teacher/child ratio & teacheturnoverer rate

🏫  Safety and Facilities

🏫  Class schedule

🏫  How they handle bullying

🏫  Proximity to home

🏫  Food policies - snack, lunch & celebrating b-days

🏫  Parent involvement

🏫  Sick Policy - do they send kids home when sick/overtired

🏫  Type of child involvement & responsibilities (gardening, helping make a snack, etc.) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀