Kids who attend preschool have a marked advantage over those who don’t, and when they’re enrolled in a program that perfectly fits their individual learning style and abilities, the benefits are even greater. With so many quality preschool programs available, how can you tell which is just right for your child?
The decision to send your child to preschool is hardly simple these days: hunting for a suitable preschool program can be like hunting for a suitable college! With the large variety of available programs, you want to make sure that the one you choose will be the most beneficial for your little one. Here’s a guide to the types of preschools, what you can expect from them, questions to ask when choosing one, and whether they’re a smart choice for your child.
Child/Play-Centered Preschool …
This is a free-spirited, largely unstructured program – but don’t be put off by its sometimes-chaotic feel. This program focuses on letting the children make their own choices and have fun with their learning. Normally a child-centered preschool will have various “stations” set up around the room (such as art, music, blocks, a reading corner, and so forth) to allow kids to move from one activity to the next at their own will. Because there isn’t a rigid structure, the children will generally play either by themselves or in small groups since no one is herding them into group activities. When there are group activities, they’re songs and games used by the teacher to introduce concepts. This type of preschool encourages imagination, basic socialization skills, and teaches personal responsibility by making each child accountable for cleaning up after him or herself at each station. In this type of program, there is lots of open dialogue between the teachers and the children. Experts believe that children of this age learn best in fun, positive environments where they’re allowed to learn at their own pace rather than forced to stick to a chronological age-based curriculum, so a child- or play-centered preschool fits this description quite nicely.
Summary: Child/Play-Centered preschools are fairly unstructured, but that doesn’t mean that the children can just run amok. The teacher arranges the environment and provides the materials so that kids can learn through play activities.
Is this right for my child? This is a type of program that the majority of children adapt very well to. If you have a high-energy child who fares better in an unstructured environment, this type is a good bet – as long as you, as a parent, are able to trust that the kids are actually benefiting from the loud (and occasionally hectic) environment.
Teacher-Directed/Academic Preschool …
This program has more of a structured feel, like a kindergarten – it’s perfect for getting children familiar with the classroom setting before they go off to school. The teacher will follow a curriculum and have a daily activity plan, guiding the children to carry out those activities. There is usually a period of free play time, in which kids have a specified amount of time to choose individual things to do (much like the stations in a play-centered preschool), but for the most part the activities are planned, and done as a class. This philosophy offers a quieter, more low-key environment and has a greater emphasis on academic-type projects such as working with pencil and paper – closer to the kinds of class work a kindergartner might do (although it’s more for practice and fun, of course; kids of this age aren’t expected to be academically “on par” with kindergartners).
Summary: Teacher-Directed/Academic preschools offer a more organized learning environment, where the teacher guides the children through scheduled – but fun! – activities. This type of program aims to help children adapt to a classroom setting, making them better prepared for school.
Is this right for my child? If your child is able to follow instructions, can be attentive and sit still and concentrate for a while, and does well with structure and direction, then he’ll benefit from this type of program. But if he is very active, with a short attention span, and doesn’t do well following directions, a different approach to learning is in order.
Montessori Preschool …
This philosophy was developed in Rome in 1907, by Dr. Maria Montessori, who was the first woman in Italy to become a physician. Dr. Montessori believed that, given the right environment and opportunity, children will teach themselves – and each other. In her casa dei bambini (children’s house), the first Montessori school, she designed an environment where kids were free to choose from a variety of developmentally-appropriate activities. Today, the Montessori philosophy can be found worldwide, with programs ranging from birth to adolescence. The teachers in these types of schools must have specialized Montessori training and certification. This type of program arranges kids in three-year age groups (three to six year olds, six to nine year olds, etc.) with the idea that the younger children will learn skills by watching and interacting with the older ones, and that the older children will be eager to teach the younger ones. Group activities aren’t very common; the Montessori method favors self-selected work. The environment is arranged according to subject, and a child is encouraged to stay at a station for as long as he likes and then move to something else.
Summary: Montessori preschools focus less on toys for learning, and more on learning through real-life experiences. Kids are encouraged to learn at their own pace and by the example of the older children in the class. They’re allowed to work on things that interest them rather than being directed what to do, inspiring individual progress and self-teaching. The teachers are required to have training in the Montessori method.
Is this right for my child? If your child can follow instructions, and enjoys working individually or with two or three other kids, Montessori is a good option. Because the class will have children from ages three to six, there’s little chance of your child feeling developmentally behind or ahead of his peers.
Reggio Emilia Preschool …
The Reggio approach is a philosophy developed by Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and is increasing in popularity in the United States, although it’s still widely overlooked. In this teaching method, children are viewed as capable and confident rather than helpless and in need of direction. Teachers don’t “talk down” to children or try to oversimplify things for them; rather, they treat them with respect, and are seen as co-learners rather than authority figures. Children in Reggio-inspired preschools are encouraged to find their own solutions to problems instead of being told answers by the teachers. They build their knowledge through hands-on experiences and interactions with others. This program places a heavy emphasis on the arts: music, drawing, sculpting, and dramatic play. In his article, “The Best-Kept Secret This Side of Italy,” educator Gary Stager writes, “The Reggio environment is filled with materials, which the children may explore and use to construct knowledge and explore their world. Reggio schools aim for transparency so kids can learn about the world by being immersed in an open safe subsection of it.” Teachers meticulously document each child’s progression and share it openly, so that parents can actually see the learning process. This philosophy is very community-oriented and places great importance on the involvement of adults in the child’s education.
Summary: Reggio Emilia preschools focus heavily on the arts and hands-on activities. Teachers are there to encourage rather than instruct, and provide detailed documentation of each child’s learning experiences to share with parents, making the educational process visible.
Is this right for my child? If your child enjoys working creatively with art supplies, a Reggio preschool is just the ticket. Most children will flourish in such a creative, community-oriented program. If your child is accustomed to a lot of solitary playtime, she may take some extra time adjusting to a Reggio school.
Waldorf Preschool …
Italians aren’t the only ones to introduce their unique educational philosophies to the United States; the Waldorf method, developed by Dr. Rudolph Steiner, is Germany’s contribution. Dr. Waldorf believed that education should involve not only the mind, but the body and spirit as well. A Waldorf-inspired preschool is designed to educate all of these elements together. It provides a very family-like atmosphere in which kids can learn without being in competition with each other. The arts play a big role in this philosophy, and everything is done with an emphasis on teamwork and togetherness. The Waldorf method is distinctive in that a child will have the same teacher from preschool through eighth grade, thus allowing for a close student-teacher bond; it also ensures that each child’s abilities and struggles will be understood. The teacher becomes like a second parent to the child. Everything in a Waldorf classroom is all-natural – literally – right down to the beeswax crayons the kids use. Academics aren’t really focused on until later in the child’s education; Waldorf preschools focus on imaginative play and creative, hands-on activities.
Summary: A Waldorf preschool will provide your child with a group-oriented atmosphere and a teacher who offers gentle guidance instead of being a strict authoritarian. Much emphasis is placed on creativity; academics are not the focus until later grades. The children stay with the same teacher and classmates for as long as they’re in a Waldorf school, up until eighth grade.
Is this right for my child? Because the Waldorf approach is gentle and nurturing, it’s great for kids who may be a little shy, and can also have a calming and balancing effect on aggressive children as well. They’ll develop their imaginations through creativity and play, so if you’re comfortable with a Waldorf preschool’s relative lack of focus on academics, this could be the right philosophy for you.
Choosing a preschool program.
One of the best resources available for getting input on preschools in your area are other parents. Ask around in your neighborhood, at play groups, at church, or at the park – anywhere there are moms and dads! Keep a list of parent-recommended schools (or look in the yellow pages or on the Internet for a listing of every school in your area). Many schools have web sites you can check out, and it’s worth doing. Make appointments with the preschools you’re interested in, and take a tour. Meet the teachers; if you like them, and if the children in their classrooms seem happy and content, chances are your child will like them too. Ask all the questions you can (more about that in a minute!) and make sure you get answers – beware of any sketchy or incomplete information. When you’ve found a school that you like, make one more appointment and take your child to sit in on a couple hours of the day. See how comfortable your child seems to feel, how well she participates in the designated activities, and how the teacher responds.
Questions to ask when choosing a preschool …
What is the school’s philosophy (Waldorf, Montessori, Child-Centered, etc.)?
Is the learning style developmentally based – learning at the child’s pace – or academically based, focusing on direct academic learning?
What is the teacher-student ratio? Lower ratios equal more individual attention for each child.
How does this preschool measure academic growth?
Are the classrooms multi-age, or are all the children in the class the same age?
Do the daily activities include opportunities for growth in all areas (i.e., intelligence, language, social, and fine motor skills)? Ask for a copy of a typical daily or weekly schedule, if possible.
Will food be served? Ask about the nutritional quality of the food, alternative choices, and whether you’ll be informed of your child’s eating habits.
Is it required that a child be potty trained in order to attend this school?
What is the school’s discipline policy?
Are naps required?
What happens if a child is injured or sick?
What are the education and experience requirements for the staff?
Must all staff members undergo an extensive background check?
Can parents stop by at any time to see how things are going and observe the classroom?
What is the tuition cost? Is there a deposit?
What is the policy for releasing children? Find out what happens if you’re late, and whether the preschool requires proper ID and prior approval from the parents before letting the child leave with someone else.
It may seem like a lot of work, but choosing a quality preschool program for your child is important. Kids who attend preschool have an advantage when it’s time to begin kindergarten: their language, literacy, and math skills are better, not to mention their socialization skills. Give your child a good head start with a preschool education!