Different Preschool Centers Offer Different Things For Your Child
There are different types of preschool centers to choose from when deciding where to send your child. There are centers that focus mostly on childcare, where others are more focused on getting your child ready for school. Other centers allow your child to grow through play-based learning.
Here are some things you should look for in the best preschools:
Play-Based Learning — Preschoolers are too young to learn by the traditional method of teaching. Instead, you should find a preschool center that teaches children through play-based learning.
One way some preschool centers implement this way of teaching is by setting up specific learning sections in a classroom that will help a child explore, discover, and learn in different areas. Having these learning centers set up will allow children to learn independence, encourage involvement and help develop social skills.
Different areas of learning that preschool centers can offer include:
- literacy and language
- math concepts and numbers
- arts and crafts
- puzzles and games
- science
- drama and imaginative play
- music and movement
- physical activity
Knowledgeable and Experienced Staff — You want to choose a preschool center that employs teachers who are credentialed and have the relevant experience for taking care of, and teaching, your child.
Feel free to ask preschool centers about the teachers they hire, and their experience. Make sure you feel comfortable that you are leaving the best people in charge of your children’s development while you are at work.
Secure and Safe Environment — From a security perspective, you want to make sure that the preschool center of your choice is equipped to keep your child free from any harm. Some preschool centers will offer you the option of viewing your child from your home or office via web cams. You also want to ensure that entry access to the preschool center is limited to only those who are supposed to be there. Whether parents must use a swipe card to get in, buzz a desk for entrance, or use a touch screen and fingerprinting, in order to access entry to the daycare. Make sure there are security measures in place.
In terms of safety, make sure the preschool center you choose does all it can in order to keep your child as safe and healthy as possible. While germs are often passed around at preschool due to all of the smaller children, some preschool centers choose rubber flooring — the same type that is used in modern hospitals — which cannot grow bacteria and doesn’t require chemicals for cleaning.
Also, consider what type of ground is used in the playground area of the preschool centers. Consider choosing a preschool center that uses a rubber surface in the playground, which works to prevent low impact injuries. It also eliminates your child from getting splinters from wood chips.
These are just a few of the things you should consider when choosing a preschool center for your child. The right preschool center will help ensure your child is ready and has all necessary skills to be successful when he or she starts school.