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Twenty MUST ASK
Questions in Selecting a Preschool
by Jodie Lynn
Many parents
will be visiting preschools as early as February with an eye toward enrollment
for the upcoming fall. Everyone needs guidelines when it comes to choosing a
preschool. Don‛t just ask your friends and relatives - go check it out for
yourself. Take your preschooler with you, but not if he/she is not tired, hungry
or sick. Take a quick tour and come back later for more questions.
There are parents out there who will
enroll their preschoolers solely on location. They will also take the word of
friends and relatives. Don‛t do it. Visit on your own. Unannounced visits are
vital in seeing firsthand how the school staff will interact with visitors. You
may not be able to even get any further than picking up information about the
school, but that‛s OK. You will also get to have interaction with the secretary
and possibly the director.
* Ask for a quick tour and a policy
manual.
* Ask to see the curriculum listing and
plan book (or sheets) for the current class of 3 and 4-year-olds.
* How many classes are there?
* What credentials does the school have?
* How long
has the present director been there?
*
What is the background of the
teacher that your son will have?
* How long has she taught? If a teacher
does not have a degree, it‛s not a big deal. Go by experience and how she
presents herself to you and your child.
* How many and what kind of meals are
served?
* How old is the building?
* Has it been tested for asbestos?
* What type of cooling/heating system
does it have?
* How big are the inside and outside
play areas?
* How many children are in one class?
* Is there an aide to help if the class
exceeds a certain number?
* What type of discipline guidelines are
in place?
* Is the room safe and child-friendly?
* Are the toys and books on a low shelf
and how often are the toys washed?
* Are there field trips?
* Who drives for the field trips?
*
Is there a music and/or art program?
If academics are important to you, ask
about how much writing and reading they will do. Don‛t ditch a preschool if it
is not accredited. This process is expensive and some cannot afford it. For a
more in-depth interview, make an appointment.
Make sure you look at the rooms. Write
down other questions that might be important to your child and family. If you do
not understand any answer, ask the question again. Do not be shy. Talk to other
parents and call references.
You want to look for a teacher who knows
first aid, loves children and adores teaching 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. If you
think all of this is a waste of time, later you will regret not checking out the
various schools and situations. Feeling secure in your choice of preschool is
worth its weight in gold.
Remember, a little work in the beginning
could save a lot of heartache in the end.
PLEASE NOTE: This
article is an excerpt of Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing, and
Surviving It All! (June 2006).
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©2006
Jodie Lynn
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated
family/health columnist and radio personality. Her syndicated column
Parent to Parent (www.ParentToParent.com)
has been successful for over 10 years and appears in newspapers,
magazines, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular
contributor to several sites including eDiets.com, KeepKidsHealthy.com,
ClubMom.com, BabyUniverse.com, MainStreetMom.com and
MommiesMagazine.com.
Lynn
has written four books and contributed to three others, one
of which was on Oprah and has appeared on NBC in a three month
parenting segment. Her latest books are
Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and
Surviving It All! (June 2006) and
Syndication Secrets - What No One Will Tell You! (March
2006). Please see our site for details on her new radio talk
show, Inside Parenting Success!
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