With Preschool in Your Future…

by Mare Williams, Director of Aspirations School of Learning in Carlsbad, CA

It’s the journey and not the destination, I keep reminding myself.  This statement rang true for a group of my parents recently when we enjoyed a discussion about the benefits of a junior kindergarten program versus a kindergarten program for their children. In consideration of this, many thoughts come to mind and as always, I let parents know upfront that ultimately, I cannot make that decision for them. They must consider many factors when deciding which program best meets their child’s needs socially, emotionally and cognitively.  For some parents this is a tough decision.

Junior kindergarten and kindergarten aside, looking at early childhood settings can seem to be a daunting task. As parents, you begin your search early, often when you are expecting your first child. You spend hours touring schools, asking what you hope are all the right questions, looking at classroom after classroom, considering curriculum, backgrounds of the staff, schedules, etc. I think you know the drill.

But as parents you should be doing this. Investing in your child’s first educational experience is a big responsibility and requires thought, consideration and commitment, and this investment should also include thoughts on tuition, student-to-teacher ratios, and of course, location.

Here is a list of questions you might reflect on as you are searching for the right spot for your child:

• Is there an evidence of calm when you enter the school?
• Do staff and administration seem genuinely happy to be there?
• Are they attentive to your needs as a potential parent?
• Was your tour informative and thorough? Were your questions appropriately answered?
• Does the environment – both office area and classrooms – appear clean and well maintained?
• Are teachers joyfully engaged and focused on their children?
• Does there appear to be a rhythm and nice hum to the classroom while children are working? Do children appear happy, confident, and comfortable?
• What does the classroom environment look like? Is it warm and inviting? Is the environment set up to encourage collaboration among students? Would it create curiosity in your child? Could you envision your child there?
• Does the approach being used at the school and the development of curriculum jive with your thoughts of what young children should be exposed to? Does the general feel of the school and the approach used touch your heart, make sense to you and, is it a good fit for your child?
• Are the staff well cared for, provided with opportunities for professional growth, enjoy a positive mutually respectful working relationship with their director and administration, well educated and trained, genuinely happy to be there?
• Are parents welcomed and encouraged to be a member of the school community, to participate in classrooms, to visit for lunch, to talk with teachers or administration regarding concerns?
• Are academic areas developmentally appropriate for children? Is it equal parts challenging and intellectually stimulating, and is it just plain fun?

This phase of a child’s life is fleeting and it is the point at which you begin to look more deeply at how to help create a solid foundation for life-long learning. For many children these days, this includes an experience in an early childhood center. Like most foundations, whether it be a home or a relationship, you want to make certain that its foundation is solid and surrounded by love, security, opportunities to grow and change, and that your child (in this instance) is encouraged and able to help develop and construct his/her own knowledge. In essence, children learn by doing and should enjoy doing so.

Enjoy the experience, educate yourself in the process, and listen to your heart. In keeping all of the above in mind, you will know when you find the right school for your child for a number of reasons, but mostly because it will just feel right to you.