What to Consider When Choosing a Preschool
When it comes to childcare, choosing a preschool for your child is essential, especially during this time. While we would like to be your first choice in early learning education, there are certain factors that every parent should consider. The option is ultimately yours, and we hope to be at the forefront of your list. That’s why we are sharing what to keep in mind when choosing a preschool and what makes Woodcrest Preschool a #1 choice.
One of the significant factors to consider when choosing a preschool is trust. You have to trust where your child will be receiving their early learning education and a positive relationship built on trust.
Nurture is Essential:
Children need to feel nurtured and encouraged, but it’s more than just that. Your child needs to be seen and heard. It is essential for their name to be used and for them to be spoken to at eye level, with teachers carefully listening and seeking to understand. That is why fostering positive relationships in the classroom are so crucial. When your child is in a large crowded setting, it can be hard to form these close relationships. Smaller classroom sizes allow the teacher to provide closer-knit care and for your child to feel more closely connected.
Kindness is Key
If a child is misbehaving, the teacher should be focused on helping rather than punishing. That is why a curriculum focused on kindness makes such a strong impact. When your preschooler is in the development stage of their social and emotional skills and self-regulation, kindness is key. They need a teacher focused on building these skills through routine, whether that is teaching your child the importance of sharing or how to work through emotions like frustration. Physical activity also helps form their emotional development, so active activities should be part of any classroom routine.
Making time for Playtime
Preschool is not just about helping your child to exceed academically but for them to truly enjoy being a child. Any classroom setting should still be infused with time for play and fun where they have the room to let their imagination thrive. Through play, children can learn everything from math to vocabulary and even self-control. The balance in infusing play with learning is for teachers to find engaging yet still challenging activities. There should be opportunities where your preschooler can even ask questions and go beyond their wildest imagination. This means combining traditional learning with a 21st-century education where they can truly grow and thrive.
A is for Active
Physical activity helps children form their emotional development, so active activities should be part of any classroom routine. Any parent understands that getting their children to sit still for more than 20 minutes at a time is a task in itself. That’s why there should be time for active activities in the classroom, whether indoors or outdoors.
It Takes a Team Effort
Success is not just about the curriculum. It is about those working to provide the instruction and setting to help your child thrive. If you can see the same happiness in your child’s eyes, in the face of their teachers, you’ll know you have chosen the right place. Your child deserves a preschool that is like a family. A place where the love and nurture that they are provided overflows from the classroom to your home. Finding a preschool where the staff are 100% committed and appreciated should go hand in hand.
The most significant determining factor in finding a preschool that is right for you is remembering it’s what’s inside that counts. Who and what is at the core of your choice in childcare will make the most significant impact on your child’s education. These are the elements that make up quality childcare.
