If you run a ‘Preschools near me’ search, you’ll understand why we say that preschools have quickly transformed into a business for some. Not all schools offer play-way learning that fosters an emotional and social development of your child; therefore, parents need to be extremely vigilant and careful while enrolling their child into any preschool. Though some schools provide fantastic learning opportunities through indoor and outdoor classrooms, fieldtrips and introduction of basic math, language and science, there are some others that miss out on these crucial aspects of early education.

1. Safety norms

The first and foremost concern of every parent is their child’s safety, therefore when selecting a preschool for your child, do ensure that the premises are well-protected and secure. Inquire about the student-teacher ratio, safety facilities and inspect the playground as well. Moreover, you should also be wary of the location of the preschool, whether it lies in a safe neighborhood or whether there are frequent reports of civil disturbance. It is always better if the school has security cameras, full-time duty guards and all the equipment required to deal with unforeseen accidents or disasters.

2. Environment in the classroom

Parents should consider what kind of setting is present within the classroom. They need to check whether there’s enough space to walk around and play or whether they are print-rich classrooms. Dull learning environments fail to cater to a child’s curious mind, hence ensure that the room is colorful, replete with adequate pictures or posters and that plenty of books and suitable toys are available for each child.

3. Class schedule

Before enrolling your child, do inquire about the everyday schedule of classes. You must take care that enough time is devoted for playing, napping and teacher-student group interactions. Moreover, bonding time should be included as well that allows children to read or share stories together. A school that follows a curriculum that’s based only on indoor teaching or one that fails to give importance to group activities should be avoided as that hinders development of social skills.

4. Creativity

One should ensure that activities in preschools aren’t monotonous. Celebration of all festivals or traditions enables children to learn about different cultures along with promoting diversity.

5. The faculty

One of the most important factors to consider is the kind of staff that will be involved with your children. How the teacher deals with students, whether he or she pays attention to each child’s personal needs, whether they have received adequate training and if they are passionate about your child’s learning as much as you are- these things must be researched well. Parents can also have one-on-one meetings with the teacher concerned before finally enrolling their child into the selected preschool.

6. Your budget

How much are you willing to pay for your child’s preschool? This question must be thought carefully keeping various issues in mind such as the transportation cost, your child’s personal requirements and your savings. Preschool education can become quite expensive, so ensure that you research all your options well. There are numerous schools that cater to the above mentioned factors along with being budget-friendly.

7. Extent of parents’ involvement

Generally, preschools greatly emphasize on involving parents in their child’s education. Through weekly feedback, annual meetings and instant messages, teachers keep every parent informed about class proceedings and other relevant information. However, it wouldn’t hurt to ask other parents how deeply involved they are in a particular school’s curriculum. Knowing about your child’s progress in class and general behavior is quite important as that helps you to deal accordingly with them at home.

Preschools provide numerous opportunities for child development but you should ensure that your selected school caters to all the above mentioned factors. The right school can positively impact your child in a number of ways. So, be sure to choose wisely when searching ‘ Preschools near me’ !