 | Cassandra Elsworth is the Early Childhood Director for the Southeast Kansas Education Service, Girard. She holds a Masters of Science in Family Life Education and Consultation and oversees area Parents as Teachers programs as well as coordinates many area school district 4 year old preschool programs. |
Parenting
2012-02-28 09:18:00
Qualities of a good preschool
Q: I’m thinking of enrolling my 4 year old daughter in preschool; what should I look for to know I’m sending her somewhere good?
A: Preschool, which was once considered optional, has almost started to become essential in the eyes of many parents and teachers as a way of giving children the best possible start to their formal education. However, you should know, not all children need to attend preschool in order to succeed. Sending your child to preschool is entirely your decision but there are some things to consider if and when selecting a preschool.
The curriculum. As a parent you should be looking for a program that offers a curriculum that is based on Developmentally Appropriate Practices. DAP basically means that the curriculum addresses the needs of children based on the age of the children to be served. For example: young children should not be made to sit for long periods of time or be required to complete worksheets as might be expected in an elementary classroom. Instead the day’s events for a preschooler should have children engaged in a variety of activities and most of their learning will come from being involved in hands-on activities with the teacher and other children. Academics are important but they can be approached in a variety of ways that are appropriate for young children. For example, children can learn math skills by playing board games, sorting cars in the block center or deciding how many children are in school that day and how many napkins will be needed at snack time. A well-rounded curriculum should have opportunities for children to explore and engage in activities that increase their knowledge of literacy, math, science, social studies, music, the arts and technology.
The teacher. Being a preschool teacher is definitely hard work and should only be undertaken by someone who truly loves sharing time with young children. Personal skills such as patience, enthusiasm and creativity can go a long way in establishing a relationship with not only the children but the parents as well. The classroom teacher and other staff member’s educational background, experience, and classroom management skills such as organizational abilities and behavior management techniques should be considered. How the teacher assesses childrens’ development and progress and how that information is shared with parents. Regular communication should be expected and can occur through sending notes home, newsletters, open houses, parent nights and parent-teacher conferences.
The environment. The environment includes not only the facility itself but the materials that are available for your child during the time at preschool. Some things to ask yourself would include: Is the facility clean, safe and in good condition? Are the materials accessible to children on shelves that are easily in their reach and labeled for easy return? Is there adequate space for the number of children in the classroom? Is the classroom inviting with the majority of the walls and cabinets decorated with art designed by children? Is the outdoor space safe and inviting? Are children given opportunities for outdoor play each day?
Be sure to visit the preschool classroom and the teacher before making such an important decision. Your child’s first experience with school will be one that needs to be rewarding and fosters a love of learning.
