Taking An Interest In Your Child's Education

Tips For Choosing An Academically-Focused Preschool

If you have decided to enroll your child in an academically-focused preschool this fall, then it is important you know what to look for when you are shopping around. Since not all preschool programs are created equal, knowing what to look for will help you choose the best option for your child. To this end, here are some tips for choosing an academically-focused preschool this summer:

Tip: Choose a Preschool Where the Teachers Have University Degrees

Since the job of a preschool teacher is to prepare a child for kindergarten, it is important they have both the teaching skills and the requisite education to teach. If your child was attending a preschool focused primarily on playing and "letting children be children," then the education of the adults in charge isn't as important. However, since you want your child to be actively learning and preparing for school, they need to spend their time at preschool with intelligent adults who understand the necessary techniques to teach young children. 

Tip: Observe How the Children Currently Enrolled in the Preschool Interact with the Teachers and Other Students

When you are shopping for a preschool and have site visits, make sure that you spend a bit of time observing how the children and teachers interact with each other. Not only do the teachers need to be nice and accommodating to the children, the other children also need to get along with each other. If you see children arguing and displaying negative behavior towards other kids or the teachers, then this can greatly reduce the ability for your child to learn at the preschool. 

Tip: Look at the Preschool's Curriculum

When on your site visits, you also need to ask to look at each preschool's curriculum. If a preschool does not use a specific curriculum and cannot tell you exactly what your child will spend the next year doing, then this is a red flag that they really don't put education and learning at the forefront. 

Tip: Don't Devalue the Learning that Happens from Play and Interactions with Other Children

Finally, when you are shopping for your child's preschool, keep in mind that young children need a lot of exercise and fun activities to help them learn. For example, your child's new preschool should offer plenty of physical education time each day, as well as time for music and art creation. These things are just as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic skills for youngsters. Contact a school like Small World Early Learning & Development Center to get started.


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