Finding the right preschool for your child can be a daunting  and sometimes stressful task.  Each preschool has individual strengths and philosophies that will vary from one to another.  One school may emphasize academics, another may put a greater emphasis on creativity, yet another may emphasize social growth and so on.  All are important, but is any one more important than the others?  Trick question ...  there is no correct answer. 

 

Parents have different perspectives on what they want for their child so in the end you need to find a preschool that aligns with what you believe is best for your child.  

 

At Family of Christ we recognize that one size does not fit all when it comes to raising children. We want each parent to find the school which is the best match for their child.  For this reason we put together the following to help you evaluate the preschools you visit.

 

1. Make a list of what you are looking for in a preschool. 

 

2. With your spouse, discuss your own philosopy on how your child should be raised.  For example, do you believe children should have strict discipline or be provided freedom to express their self?  What emphasis do you want your child's preschool to put on academics, creativity, social interaction, and structure?

 

3. Prioritize the items on your list from what is most important to least important.  

 

1. Do the teachers have the ability and opportunity to create their own lesson plans? We believe that teachers know their individual students best and can thus tailor their plans according to the needs of the children in their classroom.  Each child is unique.  

 

2. Is there staff longevity or a high turnover rate?  High turnover may indicate other problems within the preschool.  Low turnover generally indicates the staff enjoys their job.  NAEYC states that average preschool staff turnover runs from 30% - 50% per year.

 

3. How does the school handle discipline?  Does this match your philosophy?

 

4. How does the preschool communicate with the parents?  What information is communicated?  How often is it communicated?  What mechanisms are used to communicate?  Are there parent/teacher conferences?

 

5. When you visit a classroom, see if the daily schedule is posted, if not ask to see a copy.  Is the class doing what is on the schedule?

 

6. Are the teachers engaged with the children?

 

7. What education/experience do the teachers have?  

 

8. How are disruptive children handled?

 

9. What tools are used to teach conflict resolution?