Find the Best Preschool Curriculum
The choice of preschool for your child is not always easily made. A school may be affordable and in your area, however it is important to find one with the best preschool curriculum for your child. The quality of your child’s performance in life, academically and professionally, can be determined by the preschool your child attends. As a parent, you need to be confident that your child will be loved and cared for. Here is a rundown of some of the most important qualities you should look out for in a preschool:
1. Values
One of the most important factors to take into consideration is the philosophy of the preschool. Do the values of the school and teachers align with yours at home? For the first five years of a child’s development, there must be minimum conflict. The ideas about life and methods of teaching must be the same, at school and at home.
2. An Excellent Safety Policy
Make sure that the school you choose has a good safety policy. The staff must have secure ways of handing children over to parents and caregivers. Choose a school that enables parents to participate and observe their children at any time. Find out how they deal with issues such as allergies, and other special needs your child may have. Hygiene and cleanliness are obvious considerations, and are a priority. The size of the classes must be manageable and not oversized as this poses a safety hazard as well as leaves room for neglect.
3. Qualified Educators
Choose a school that only employs teachers with valid early childhood degrees. Ask to see copies of the degrees and check their validity. Meet the teachers and determine for yourself whether you feel they are right for your child. Observe how the children interact with the teachers. Are they scare and intimidated, or respectful and happy? Find out about the school’s policy on aggression and punishment.
4. Formal and Informal Learning
Establish that age appropriate formal learning is part of the curriculum. Your child should be able to learn the alphabet and numbers at preschool age.
Find out how informal learning is part of the curriculum and how much focus is on art, music and imaginative play, like story telling. Does the curriculum encourage creativity and individuality, or is it very uniform and rigid? Looking at the walls of classrooms will instantly show you whether the children are taught to express themselves.
5. Physical and Environmental Education
The best preschool curriculum has a balance between indoor and outdoor activities. Games and sports that develop muscles, co ordination, and teamwork are vital. Given the focus on the environment in today’s world teaching children about the environment and growing food could also be an important factor for you.
6. Food
If the school is providing lunch for your child, make sure that the nutritional qualities and values match yours at home. A varied, healthy, fresh menu is ideal. This is an opportunity for your child to develop new tastes, in the environment of the classroom, where he or she is encouraged by other children.
When you are confident that you have chosen the best preschool for your child, you will find peace of mind. This will help the whole family in the early stressful stages of sending your baby into the big wide world.