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Choose Your Pre-School CarefullyCriteria to Consider when Selecting Your Child's PreschoolSending your child to pre-school is an important decision to make, more importantly is choosing the pre-school. Here are a few criteria to consider.
Choosing a pre-school can be a daunting task. Imagine having to leave your child in a foreign environment for a few hours a day at such a young age. Though you may have weighed the advantages of pre-school, you will want to make the correct selection of a schooling facility in order to ensure that he or she is safe and is exposed to developmental material at his or her adequate age. Here are some criteria to consider when selecting a pre-school. Teacher-Children RatioThe teacher-children ratio is important as children who are old enough to attend pre-school are still very young. Some may have just gotten used to using the potty and others may still have a hard time adhering to an early morning schedule. In order to curb distress on the child's part, it is best to choose a school which has the lowest teacher-children ratio. This way your child would feel more confident when he or she is given an adequate amount of attention when away from home. For parents too, you would feel more comfortable knowing that your child does not feel overwhelmed by the amount of children and lack of teachers. Some specialists recommend a ratio as low as 1 teacher to 7 children. Many schools limit their intake to 12 children per class. Hygiene and Water FacilitiesChildren can often become grubby and sweaty when busy at play. They are also prone to frequent trips to the bathroom and if still in diapers, need help in getting them changed. When touring pre-schools, make sure to check on the hygienic facilities and inquire on their policies of nappy changing. Especially when children are potty-trained, ask the school teachers on how they facilitate "potty-time" and make sure that the toilets are clean and well equipped with potties and sinks for your child. You can make a fair observation on the cleanliness of the school by just looking around. Take a look at the floor and corners of the rooms just to observe how well they are kept. If the pre-school keeps pets such as guinea pigs or terrapins, you may want to check the cage's or aquarium's hygiene. Safety RegulationsCheck the pre-school's safety regulations in the event there is a fire or other calamity. Ask them about their escape procedures. Furthermore find out their policies in contacting you should your child be involved in an accident. Some pre-schools offer group insurance with an annual premium. It may be a good idea to choose one that has such an agreement. Also remember to take a look at the staircases within the premise. Check if there is an adequate railing for children to hold on to when climbing up and down. Staircases can be a danger zone for young children, especially when there a few of them using them at the same time. Check if there are safety procedures for children using the stairs. Similarly, if there is a playground outside, ask about the supervisory aspect for outdoor playtime. Take a look around and see if there are any slides, swings, monkey bars or other equipment that are are defected. If there are, report them to the school authorities immediately. The Learning Programme and TestimonialsThough pre-schoolers learn more through play, it is important to check the pre-school's learning programme. Effective learning programmes are ones that teach children through educational play, rather than unsupervised play. An effective learning programme would include thematic play, where children learn to describe certain themes such as "my family" or "my favourite animal." Other play structures encourage children to learn about shapes, colours and numbers all through having fun. Having said that, some schools may adopt a strict classroom approach where pre-schoolers are required to "learn" from text books and are assigned homework. This is probably not an effective way to learn for pre-schoolers, so remember to ask about their different forms of teaching. Also, look out for testimonials. You would want to look out for good recommendations from other parents. There is nothing like an effective assurance by those who have tried and tested the pre-school. Pre-School DietIf you are looking for a pre-school that serves children meals such as breakfast, snack and lunch, make a healthy diet a priority. Choose a school that offers a balanced diet and ask how the meals are prepared. Remember that children should not be over-indulge in junk food, spicy and fried food. Always pack a water bottle for your child even though water is provided in school. This way you would be able to encourage your child to drink more water during lessons and play time. Location and TransportationAn ideal location of your pre-school would be nearby to your home. This way you would be able to reach there quickly should there be a need to do so. You would also be able to chauffeur your child to school if you do have transport. Of course you would also want to consider schools that are located in less congested areas. This would reduce your child's exposure to pollution (eg, passing cars) when he is playing outside. If you require transportation assistance, also inquire if car-pooling facilities are available amongst parents or if the school is able to provide such transportation. Also inquire on travel time, number of students per vehicle and safety procedures in transferring children from the class room to the buses. Parental InvolvementAsk if you are allowed to join in on games, activities and even field trips. This will help build a connection with the teachers and strengthen trust and confidence in the school. It will also allow you be involved in your child's education right from the beginning.
The copyright of the article Choose Your Pre-School Carefully in Early Childhood is owned by Maria Zain. Permission to republish Choose Your Pre-School Carefully in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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