What do you look for in a pre-school?

[mtemm]

When we chose my almost 3 year old's preschool last year it was so easy...everyone in my neighborhood sent their kids to either A or B, they all said fabulous things about both schools, we did our research, fell in love with both A and B, applied, got in to both (one was hard to get into...we lucked out) and went from there. My son started in september and loved it so much. we were so pleased. then we moved to MA and I am at my wits end. seriously feel like my head is going to explode any minute now. I guess part of my problem is I am looking for what I had, and I can't seem to find that. So I need to rethink things I guess.

Trying to open my mind here...what do you look for in a preschool? I don't need or want extended care if that makes a difference.

 

[liamandcaili]

I am looking for a preschool for my DD right now, and what I look for is qualified teachers, a program that is both fun and enriching (DD4 is reading, so I am looking for someplace that goes beyond the ABCs.) I am also looking for someplace she is comfortable. While academically advanced, she can be quiet and a little nervous around new people.

I have a DS who has been through MA Kindergarten, and they expect the children to have quite a bit of base knowledge. After leaving preschool, they should know their letters, uppercase and lowercase, be able to write uppercase letters, spell their names, know how to use a computer, know how to count at least to 20...if not to 100...some children do not come in as prepared, and from what I saw, they were definitely behind the other children in the class. Our school system has just implemented a reading program at the Kindergarten level, so I think the academics have advanced even further.

To conclude, I guess it depends on your child. My DD could really use a strong social preschool because she is already ahead on the academic side. Once the children get to Kindergarten, they need to be both, so I would pick something that is the best preparation academically and socially. If your child is particularly strong one way or the other, I would pick a preschool that focused on the weakness.

Good luck!

 

[mtemm]

After leaving preschool, they should know their letters, uppercase and lowercase, be able to write uppercase letters, spell their names, know how to use a computer, know how to count at least to 20...if not to 100...some children do not come in as prepared, and from what I saw, they were definitely behind the other children in the class. Our school system has just implemented a reading program at the Kindergarten level, so I think the academics have advanced even further.

To conclude, I guess it depends on your child. My DD could really use a strong social preschool because she is already ahead on the academic side. Once the children get to Kindergarten, they need to be both, so I would pick something that is the best preparation academically and socially. If your child is particularly strong one way or the other, I would pick a preschool that focused on the weakness.

Good luck!

This is very helpful. Right now (he'll be 4 in feb, btw), Daniel can do all of that...count to 100, write both lower and upper case letters, write his own name, even knows certain words on sight (is that reading? that sounds weird to ask but he can pick out certain words so I don't know what else it can be. lol). I think one of the things that I find odd is that the preschools we have been looking at don't do anything with letters until they are 4, but I guess that is more normal. I like the idea that instead of thinking in terms of that, I should think in terms of what his weaknesses are. Definitely food for thought and I appreciate it.

 

[Ava83]

We looked for one that was accredited. And then went with our gut (after visiting) also, we did not want the day to be to structured just yet. Ava was a young three so for her to spend 2.5 hours in a class was an accomplishment at first.