How To Choose A Preschool - The Complete Guide & Checklist (2023)

| What is Preschool | Is Preschool Considered a School | Preschool Age Requirements | When Should Parents Apply | How Much Does Preschool Cost | Why is Preschool Important | Preschool Philosophies | How to Choose a Preschool | What Should Parents Look For | Things to Look Out For | Preschool Checklist (Printable) |

This is the ultimate guide for parents who are considering or choosing a preschool for their child.

You will find a checklist on what to look for and how to choose.

Everything you need to know about preschool selection starts here.

What is preschool

Preschool, also known as nursery school or pre-k, is a facility that provides early childhood education to young children until they are old enough to start kindergarten.

Preschool learning is not mandatory and most preschools are private organizations. Parents who want to send their children to preschool need to look for suitable facilities and pay for the expenses themselves.

Some states offer public early childhood programs such as Pre-K or Transitional Kindergarten, but availability varies by state.

Is preschool considered a school

Preschools are not accredited schools. In most states, preschools are considered child care centers. They are required to obtain a Child Care license and meet state safety requirements.

For some types of preschool, such as Montessori, there are organizations that provide accreditation to preschools that meet their standards. But getting accredited is not a requirement for Montessori schools to operate.

Preschool Age Requirements

Each preschool has its own age requirement. Typically, they require the child to be at least two years old to enroll. The most common preschool-age requirement is age three.

In general, 3 years old is the age when children can begin to benefit from being a part of a group. This is when kids begin to engage in reciprocal relationships and show less separation anxiety when they’re away from their mothers.

Some preschools also require the child to be potty-trained. Most children are potty-trained by the age of three, which coincides with the age when they can start benefiting from the new settings.

When Should Parents Apply

Many preschools, especially reputable ones, have long waiting lists. You may need to apply even before your child is at the required age to secure a place. Make sure you check with each preschool for their application deadline, too.

How much does preschool cost

Preschool cost varies by type and location.

Private preschools tend to be expensive. Here in Peninsula, California, private preschools can cost up to $1200 – $2500 per month.

Co-op preschools are run by parent volunteers. They are usually less expensive but parents need to contribute their time in exchange for the lower rate.

Transitional kindergarten / Pre-K, mentioned above, is offered publicly free to children, but the requirements are different by state. For instance, in New York, all four-year-olds can apply for Pre-K. But in California, only children whose birthdays fall in a specific range are eligible.

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides free comprehensive early learning and family support to preschool-aged children from low-income families. However, their funding levels aren’t always sufficient to provide access to all eligible children. Apply as early as possible if you are eligible.

Why is preschool important

Studies show that early childhood education in general increases a child’s cognitive development, reduces grade retention, and improve behavior during elementary years^​1​.

Some studies even find that when these students grow up, they tend to involve less in delinquency and are more likely to have a skilled job^​2​.

Research also finds that kindergarten readiness is a reliable predictor of future school performance^​3​.

Preschool philosophies

There are different types of preschool based on different teaching philosophies. Some of the most popular ones in the US are Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and play-based.

How to choose a preschool

Parents should choose a preschool based on the quality of the teachers, the policy enforced by the preschool Director, resources, the overall environment, and fit for your child, not so much on its written education philosophy.

Oftentimes, when you talk to preschool directors, you will find that they like to emphasize their education method.

Parents are, therefore, led to believe that they should pick the right preschool based on the marketed philosophy.

However, preschools do not need any accreditation to use the names of those education methods. Subscribing to philosophy does not guarantee it will deliver the same type or the same quality across the board.

Your child’s experience will mostly be shaped by the teachers, the environment, and the policies of the preschool.

It is more important to understand how the teachers are interpreting and incorporating that philosophy into their teaching than whether they have a certain buzzword in their marketing brochure.

To choose a good preschool, after narrowing down several that fit your budget, schedule, and commute, schedule a tour. During your visit, talk to the teachers and staff. Observe closely to see if they meet the criteria in the next section.

What should Parents look for to find a good preschool

The National Institute Of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has studied the issue of early child care for decades.

It has consistently been found that the quality of child care centers (including preschool) is highly correlated to the outcomes of the child later​4​. It is prudent to find a high-quality preschool for your child.

The NICHD has found that fewer than 10% of the facilities it surveyed fall in the “very high quality” category. That means most preschools are mediocre and some are even low in quality.

Parents have the important job of spotting the right one among many options. Fortunately, preschool quality is very easy to assess if you know what to look for.

Here are the criteria of a high-quality preschool according to research.

1. Teachers have formal post-high school training

Studies find that higher teacher education predicts higher quality care. Look for teachers who have formal post-high school training, such as a 4-year college degree in child development, early childhood education, or a related field that addresses developmental needs of preschool children^​4​.

2. Teachers are positive and caring

Early childhood learning is built on trusting relationships. Studies confirm that when teachers are positive and caring, children learn better and their development is more advanced^​5​.

Positive teachers are happy and in good spirits. They are upbeat, helpful, and smile often at the kids. They may pat a child on the back or hold their hands.

The teachers also repeat the child’s words, comment on what they say or try to say. They answer children’s questions and they don’t dismiss or ignore their concerns. Positive teachers are nurturing. They don’t engage in negative interaction such as scolding or yelling at the child.

3. Teaching is interactive and engaging

Look at how teachers interact with the child during class.

Teachers should interact positively and frequently with the children. They ask thought-provoking questions and help kids to think deeper. They encourage children to talk. They also praise the child’s positive actions and inspire them to learn.

Teachers should be engaging rather than merely lecturing. They may sing songs, tell stories, read books or describe events. They use games and crafts to teach, and allow children to be active contributors to the classroom.

Besides academic topics such as alphabets, counting, and shapes, teachers should also cover daily life knowledge^​3​.

4. Use positive discipline and patiently guide the child’s behavior

Ask the school for a clear explanation of the discipline policy.

All preschoolers are developing self-regulation and social skills. They need help to learn social rules and the words to express frustration. Good teachers should practice positive discipline. They should enforce discipline by patiently explaining and teaching, not by punishing.

Under no circumstances should children be physically punished or given a punitive time-out.

5. A lot of free playing time and social learning with teacher’s help

Free playing has been proven to be one of the best ways for preschoolers to learn^​6​.

Playing and physical activities stimulate brain growth and enhance early development^​7​. Free play promotes prosocial behavior and allows children to develop social competence^​8,9​.

Look for a play to learn preschool that not only incorporates plenty of free playing time in their schedule but also has teachers who proactively guide conflict resolution and facilitate social learning (rather than just letting preschoolers “figure it out” on their own, because they can’t).

Also See: Importance of Play in Early Childhood

Things to look out for

The child’s behavior may become worse if the preschool quality is low

Although attending preschool is associated with better cognitive development and social competence, studies show that the child’s behavior may worsen if the preschool is lower in quality.

This is another reason why parents should make an effort to look for a good preschool.

Pay an unannounced visit

Sometimes, what we see during a school tour may not be the real deal. When there are visitors, we all tend to be on our best behavior. That includes teachers.

Drop in during class time unannounced and see if you like the way the preschool runs when there are no other visitors. A quality preschool should have teachers who act the same way whether there are visitors or not.

Ask about teacher support and turnover

Teaching young children is a tough job and teachers should be paid fairly. It is hard to be a happy teacher when you are underpaid.

Ask the director about how the preschool supports its staff in terms of livable compensation, benefits, and professional development. Also check their teacher turnover rate as a high turnover is a sign of systemic problems.

Talk to other parents but keep an open mind

Talk to current and past parents if you can. But know that not everyone has the same definition of quality. You may have to ask more specific questions to get an accurate picture.

Verify the license is up-to-date

In the US, every child care facility needs to meet a set of safety standards to be licensed. Occasionally, some preschools let their licenses lapse.

Before finalizing your decision, check if the preschool has an up-to-date license. A preschool that doesn’t renew its license should raise a red flag (or worse, some are unlicensed).

Preschool Checklist

Choosing a preschool can be overwhelming. Use this checklist to help you navigate the selection process.

Download A Printable Preschool Checklist

References