Preeschool question

[mla2177]

Hi! Can someone give me some insight to the whole preeschool thing? How do I find a school, what age do I put him in, app how much?

 

[teacherforhi]

My niece goes to the local YMCA. For 4 year olds, it's five days a week from 8:30 to noon. They have a 3 year old program that's only three days a week. For the four year olds, it's $130 a month.

She's learning to count (made it to 32 today!) and write her letters. She also works on "school" type skills such as using glue and scissors and the correct way to hold a pencil.

She really likes going and I'm hoping that some the children in her class are in kindergarten with her next year. Maybe it won't be such a big jump to the "big school" then.

 

[juligrl]

We started by asking people in our neighborhood for reccommendations of good preschools. We are fortunate to have several very good programs run out of churches (not religious based ciricculum) within minutes of our home.

Most schools here take both 3 and 4 year olds. Some book a year in advance, others may have openings even into the school year. We debated weather to start our daughter this year or wait for next year. Ultimately, we decided that she's such a social child, she'd probably really reap the benefits from preschool at 3.

We opted for the preschool we did because they offered a three day a week program for 3 year olds at the same cost as the two day a week program at other area schools. We're at 70/mo. (average around here) but prices will absolutely vary depending on where you are.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

You have to decide if you want one that is a daycare type setting or just a preschool. When I called around and asked questions I decided not to even visit the daycare ones. They told me DD could leave "whenever she wanted." What if she missed something fun? LOL!

I wanted a preschool where the kids came at one time and left at one time-all of them. Now, the one she goes to is in a Christian Church that also runs a daycare, but that is totally separate.

I went and visited, asked the teacher questions, and signed her up that day. There were only 2 openings left. We have been quite happy with her school and plan on sending DS there as well.

If you are wondering what questions to ask the teacher/director ask here. I got LOTS of good ones and they really helped us make the decision.

Good luck!

 

[mla2177]

You have to decide if you want one that is a daycare type setting or just a preschool. When I called around and asked questions I decided not to even visit the daycare ones. They told me DD could leave "whenever she wanted." What if she missed something fun? LOL!

I wanted a preschool where the kids came at one time and left at one time-all of them. Now, the one she goes to is in a Christian Church that also runs a daycare, but that is totally separate.

I went and visited, asked the teacher questions, and signed her up that day. There were only 2 openings left. We have been quite happy with her school and plan on sending DS there as well.

If you are wondering what questions to ask the teacher/director ask here. I got LOTS of good ones and they really helped us make the decision.

Good luck!

I am completely clueless as to who I should ask???? We are originally from Nj and I am a stay at home mom, so I don't have a big social life here! Most of my hubby's co-worker live in another town, and I'd like to send my son to a preschool close to home.

Do a lot of churches do the preschool thing? We do have a Catholic church across the street we just started going to, I guess I can ask there?

Can you also give me some questions I should be asking them when I check it out!

 

[Karel]

Maybe you can call the local elementary school and see where they get kids 'from'...they might know where the kids go before starting K.

Just an idea.

 

[LBAK]

Look in the phone book, taslk to people, ask lots of questions. Find out what the teacher-student There should be at least one teacher and one assistant in a room. If there's more then 15 3 year olds there should be 2 assistants and a teacher. Find out what there cirriculum is. Does it follow the school district, is it an academic or a play school. What is there philosophy for discipline. Does your child need to be completely potty trained. When inquiring about tuition will you be locked into a yearly contract or can you pay month by month. That's important if you have big separation issues with your child. Hope these help.

 

[golfgal]

The pre-schools our kids attended were either associated with the school district or a private school operating at the Catholic School (they rented space from the school). Around here most pre-schools have sign up times in Feb/March for the following year. I know a lot of people want their kids in "the" preschool but honestly, it doesn't really make much difference as long as the kids are happy and well cared for.

 

[barkley]

check that it's lic. and the lic. is current
ask what training/education the staff has in early childhood/red cross/safety
ask the teacher/child ratio
check with the local/state lic. to see if any complaints
do an internet search (allot have websites that give info on programs)
find out all associated costs (we have some around here that between the yearly registration, field trip/supply fees, parent volunteer hours (or cash in leiu of), field trip 't-shirts, mandatory 'contributions' for parties, staff recognition, building fees....can add a couple of hundred dollars to the cost each month).
check on staff turnover-it happens allot in the industry (horrible pay) but a place with allot of turnover can indicate there are issues going on (and it's hard on little ones when they have 5 teachers over the course of one year).

you can ask people at the church, neighbors-if you frequent a certain grocery store maybe ask a clerk as you check out. my pediatrician was also a good resorce of information-she did'nt nesc reccommend one over another but she could tell me if she knew of any her patient's parents raved over.

round these parts the kiddles have to be 3 and fully potty trained (no pull ups) to go. there are 5 full day programs/3 full/2 full as well as the same with half day scheduals. the bulk of the popular ones are run by churches-and allot are associated with churches that have elementary schools on the same sites (the preschoolers tend to end up going into the private schools). there are a couple of 'fast food' (national chain) facilities, but they are'nt realy popular except with parents that need to do daycare with the programs (some take the kids as early as 5 am and will keep them as late as 7 pm). we don't have any ymca or similar programs in our area, and head start is strictly for low income qualifying.

 

[Bob Slydell]

My kids go (well, my oldest went, he's now in kindergarden) to a Goddard School: http://www.goddardschool.com//Locations.gspx?state=de

They take as young as 6 week old infants, but in the older ages, it's a structured preschool, with a set curriculum each day.

The other thing to do is put "Montessori School" into Google for your area and see what is around you. There's usually one near by.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My school distric has a pre-school program. for 4 yo's and its a half day. Its free so thats the one we went for. My 1st child I did not send to pre-school.

 

[alldiz]

Maybe you can call the local elementary school and see where they get kids 'from'...they might know where the kids go before starting K.

Just an idea.

Great idea
the elementary school will know which preschools are good....
2 types...
daycare.......and more formatted like school curriculums
anyway sign up as early as ya can....they fill up
Kerri

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I am completely clueless as to who I should ask???? We are originally from Nj and I am a stay at home mom, so I don't have a big social life here! Most of my hubby's co-worker live in another town, and I'd like to send my son to a preschool close to home.

Do a lot of churches do the preschool thing? We do have a Catholic church across the street we just started going to, I guess I can ask there?

Can you also give me some questions I should be asking them when I check it out!

I was the same way, new in town didn't know anyone.

I just looked in the phone book and started calling preschools. When I called I asked a few basic questions-school hours, # of days/week, teacher/student ratio, price.

When you go to visit go during class time so you can get a feel for how it is run. Some of the questions I asked:
How much free play time?
How much structured time?
Outdoor Play? (Look at the playground)
Field Trips? (bus or drivers)
Potty trained?
Discipline methods?

I will try to think of more today. I'm sure others can add some.

Really I walked into DD's classroom and immediately had a good feeling about it. Then, after talking ot the teacher, I knew it was right.

ETA-As far as age, that is a personal choice. DD was ready to go at 3 so we sent her. She was the youngest. She is now in her third year in this program because we wanted her to be older going into K. It has worked out really well and we will probably do the same with DS.

 

[tar heel]

Another good way to find our about preschools is to take your child to preschool story hour at the library. You might make some friends, and it will be a good group to ask about preschools. I'm not sure about the phone book b/c neither of the best ones we've been in would have been listed in the telephone book. They were both at Presbyterian churches, though, so maybe that would be a start.

Try to visit a classroom for a morning or at least an hour or so, and see how the teachers interact with the students. We've been in a couple of really good schools and one mediocre one when we had just moved, and I expect to see the teachers a lot more concerned with the children in their classroom than me, the adult visitor. I expect the crafts to look like children did them not the teacher. I expect to see lots of centers so children can explore. If it's a half-day program, I expect to NOT see adult-sized chairs or especially a teacher's desk!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My DD's classroom has a teachers desk, but, in three years, I have yet to see a teacher sit at it.

You can also ask about their curriculum. What they work on in 3 year vs. 4-5 year preschool.
How they handle allergies (if your child has any.)

Can you join Mom's Club? Or does your area have a Newcomer's Group? I was in Mom's Club for a while. That helped with getting out of the house and meeting new people.

 

[Beth76]

I agree with Jenn about choosing a preschool over a daycare. Many daycares here have part-time preschool programs. Even the Montessori school that I really wanted my son to go to. But I decided that I didn't want my son only going for half day when half the class would be there all day.

If it doesn't bother you, look at churches. Those are usually some good programs. You need to be aware, however, that churches do not need to be state-liscensed, but they can choose to be. I would really recommend you go to a liscensed place. Both of the churches that I have sent my boys too were state-liscensed, by choice.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I agree with Jenn about choosing a preschool over a daycare. Many daycares here have part-time preschool programs. Even the Montessori school that I really wanted my son to go to. But I decided that I didn't want my son only going for half day when half the class would be there all day.

The school my son goes to tends to have the majority of their preschool curriculum in the morning and just after lunch, so the half-day students do the majority of the stuff they do during the day. After nap/quiet time, there's more playtime and less structure, so the half-day students (picked up after lunch but before nap time) aren't missing out on too much.

 

[caribear]

I just moved to a new town where I didn't know anyone for a referral, so I went to the county's public school website where they have information on the different preschools that are in my area. I then drove around and visited each one. My dd goes to a school that only allows potty-trained children from ages 2-4. There is also a dance studio attached to the school.....so every Wednesday she takes ballet lessons during school. She loves it! The school has a very "homey" feel about it and I knew the moment I walked in to the school that this was the place for her. The downside is that she only goes to school Mon-Wed-Fri from 8:30-4:30 (our choice, as they have full week programs) plus ballet on Wednesday mornings and we pay $390/month. They have a big "recital" at the end of the school year for all of the kids at our local theater (where they hold live shows such as Disney On Ice) plus a ballet recital (of course we will have to purchase the $50 costume).


The actual pre-k program is from 8:30-12:30. Many children go for just the pre-k portion of the day. My dd has learned alot in the last 9 weeks. The main emphasis is on numbers, letters, days of the week, months, seasons, ect...My dd came home the other day and showed me how to say Happy Halloween in sign language!