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What Questions Should you Ask When Choosing a Preschool for your Child?
Home » Early Learning » Choosing Your Child's Preschool » What Questions Should you Ask When Choosing a Preschool for your Child?Posted by Your Guide on March 14, 2006 4:10 PM
As you compile a list of schools that are close to your home or workplace, it will help to begin to formulate a list of questions about topics that are important to you and your child. This is a good time to talk to friends and coworkers about their experiences with local preschools. The opinions of the people you know will probably not influence your final decision, but they can be a great place to start. Listening to the pleasant, as well as the unpleasant experiences of those close to you can give you an idea of what questions you would like to ask as you speak to the staff at each preschool.
The next step would be to make a short list of questions that you can ask over the phone when you call each school. This list should be kept very short so that you do not monopolize the staff member’s time while they should be tending to the children in their care. This list should include questions such as:
• What are the tuition rates for your child’s age group? Are there other fees, such as enrollment fees?
• What are the hours and days that are open to your child?
• How many children are involved in that age group? If the number is large, will they be divided up into several small classes or are they in class together?
• How many teachers work with each class? Are the teachers certified or have they gone through additional training to prepare them for teaching preschool?
• What is the best route to take when traveling to that school from your area? (Get specific directions.)
• Are there any openings in your child’s age group?
If you like what you hear as you visit with the staff member or director, ask to make an appointment to visit the school with your child. Avoid visiting during rest or nap time so that you can see the program in action. A room full of sleeping children will not be appealing to your child, and it will not give you a chance to see how the teachers handle each classroom.
When you visit each school, you will want to ask as many questions as possible in the allotted time. Have a list of questions prepared in advance that are very important to you.
• What forms of discipline are used? Ask them to give examples.
• What are the toilet training expectations? Can your toddler still wear their diaper or training pants?
• Are meals provided or will your child need to bring a lunch and/or snack?
• Can your child bring a special toy or blanket for use during rest time?
• Will your child have a special place for their belongings while they are there?
• Is the preschool accredited or licensed?
Determining what is most important to you about your child’s preschool experience will help you define which questions you wish to ask. Most of all, notice whether or not the preschool and the classroom is pleasant. Think about these clues:
• Are the children smiling and playing happily?
• Are the teachers smiling and do they appear to enjoy the children?
• Is the room clean?
• Are there enough toys for each child?
• Is there enough space for the children to play?
• Is the playground equipment in good repair and inviting?
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- What Questions Should you Ask When Choosing a Preschool for your Child?
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