Choosing a Preschool?

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When a parent invests into a child, years later this child is Paying it Forward!

 

As a young child age 4, I was very curious, ABSOLUTELY LOVED to learn. I simply thrived with getting to socialize with other kids my age of 4 and not just my 3 siblings! At this time in August, we see back to school signs everywhere. Many parents are picking preschools and I wanted to share with them why I am so very grateful for the very big decision and sacrifice both my parents made to prioritize family funds to invest in providing me a long lasting preschool experience I will always appreciate and look back upon with a very grateful smile. 

At age 4, my favorite preschool memories were:  mom and I walking hand in hand to get dropped off, the tunnel tube we got to crawl through during playtime, calendar time and listening to stories.  

WHY were the stories important? I believe it was because the stories came alive at preschool! My favorite story was the story of Caps for Sale, written and illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina. Not only did my teacher read it aloud, we as 4 year old preschoolers acted the story out. We became monkeys by wearing many different colored caps! Then, the book became a dramatic play center for future choice play! Numerous hats were left out with the book so all preschoolers could share in the opportunity to retell a simple story with friends through play and retell. Looking back on this moment in time as a reflective mom, teacher, and National staff developer, I realize the long lasting positive impressions preschool truly had on me and what encouraging memories around literacy it can have on your child’s life.

So, you might be saying, YES! I want it all! I want my child to have a long lasting positive preschool experience for my 3 year old or 4 year old preschooler. But, where do I start in my journey to select the “right fit” preschool home? My suggestion is to reflect on the following questions:

WHY, WHAT and HOW?

WHY is it: 

• important for your child to attend a preschool? This varies among many parents. Some desire an environment with more enriched language development for vocabulary and speaking and listening skills with similar aged peers.  Some seek to further academic growth with more of a rigorous kindergarten school readiness program to assure letters, counting, early reading and writing skills are developed. Either is fine! As a parent and staff developer, I can relate to both needs. If I were to choose over the two, I always encourage a more purposeful play or apprenticeship model of academic readiness in a gentle consistent approach through playful learning around science, math, music, and reading to foster a rich language and knowledge building environment. Children are sponges for learning new things and knowledge. So, a rich vocabulary and language environment can only foster a more successful future for any young scholar.

• helpful for a child to go to preschool? Check out the benefits for STEM or STEAM concepts to be introduced at young ages. http://naturalstart.org/feature-stories/engaging-children-stem-education-early As owner of EPIC Endeavors Academy I am passionate about bringing in science and math through reading as children can begin to build knowledge, before they know their letters and sounds, by using their thinking & inquiry through cognitive apprenticeship toward knowledge building learning of science concepts. Just remember, neuron development during this young age is like a multiplication fact! Having a young child in a very stimulating, safe, and positive learning environment through positive social interactions along with more purposeful play and focused apprenticeship model of learning; young children will grow their dendrites. Experience can be the architect of the brain and we want to capture these early moments of time to foster a strong foundation. An article by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm shares about the power in working toward conscious competence with apprenticeship models of inquiry learning from others with expertise. A few strategies he shares which you could look for include: collaborative learning on topics which have more purpose and pay off in real life, problem solving opportunities for learning, learning what experts in a field do with hands-on tasks that may offer productive struggle to grow. A productive struggle is needed in learning which often fosters grit building. Kids ultimately should be seeking to grow knowledge to become more wise from the experiences they encounter. If a child’s environment lacks opportunities to build new knowledge and stays too constant with the same discovery learning of the same things it can become narrow vs. vast. Something to look for in your child’s early learning place.

• important to own your decision from personal beliefs? Never let others sway your decision without naming specific knowledge building reasons to back up their opinion. Most preschools get their enrollments from referrals. Do your homework to learn about all the options so you make the right choice for your child. It should always be what is the best programming for YOUR child and desires. Research each preschool’s niche to make an informed decision when deciding on what you want in a preschool for your child. EPIC Endeavor’s preschool niche truly embraces creating early readers in our youngest scholars by offering “right fit” books daily to preschoolers while learning concepts in a STEAM learning environment. http://www.epicendeavorsacademy.com Check out at home training wheel support from one of EPIC’s partners in literacy.  https://www.americanreadingathome.com/ 

 

WHAT

• do I look for when getting a tour? Do children get a choice of play? Do children get opportunities to be a leader? Do children interact using manners? Do children seem happy and welcoming of all kids? Are the children friendly? Are routines built around lining up, free play, bathrooms, clean up, circle or calendar time? Is there a mellow and calm chatter or “learning buzz”? Is their learning excitement happening? Are students compliant or truly respectfully knowing the routines and expectations of the community of learners? Are reading, math, science and social studies concepts introduced using high vocabulary rather than low level vocabulary? Are kids given questions to answer and ponder to develop thinking skills rather than commands only? Do you see students work up? Does the facility seem clean and updated to this decade? Ex. Use of websites, Facebook, apps to communicate.

• main questions do I seek to get answers on? What can I expect my child to learn and grow in each month? What is the month or week focus of knowledge building? What staff training is offered and is it updated to 2024-2025?

HOW

• do I get started learning about preschools and their offerings? Search their websites and follow them on social media. Ask your neighbors. Do a little research as a hidden gem may not advertise as much. 

• do I set up a tour? Text them! Get on the preschool’s email list and look for open houses. Call to see if you can come visit while children are in attendance. 

• do I enroll my child? Call or email directors as soon as possible in order to have your best choices as many have waiting lists well before the fall. April to September are busy times for making adjustments in your child’s learning. If you learn about a better fit preschool after signing them up for one, consider both or make the move. 

• should I start this process for my child? I would suggest getting acquainted with the preschools available when your child is age 1. Start following Facebook pages or websites to watch their happenings. Many preschools also offer times to come to the center to get a tour and feel of the facility. Watch for open houses and attend them periodically. By bringing your child, you will be able to watch them in the environment and know if it is a “good fit”. 

Although finding a perfect positive preschool place is no easy task, enjoy the journey of becoming informed about preschools to find that perfect place for your child’s personality. As a mother of 3 children, each one of my kids attended a different preschool. My two oldest had positive experiences yet they were very different and less small group hands-on knowledge building with experiences. My youngest, currently 11 years old, enjoyed preschool at http://www.epicendeavorsacademy.com/ where it is a STEM focus. He also loved coming to EPIC camp year after year as it always has action packed building, creating, and making of new things to learn about our world. He still talks about landforms and the volcano they created. So, here is to my fellow Moms and Dads, enjoy this moment in time and the journey of learning about each preschool’s special uniqueness. I know you will seek out the best fit for your child. Since, my son was very curious and always asking questions about how things work in our world. A STEM approach was a perfect fit for him! My two girls both wish they would have had this type of hands-on learning.

In closing, I leave you with my AUTHENTIC MOM TIPS:

#1 Be informed.

#2 Know your child as well as your personal heartfelt core beliefs & WHY you hold them.

#3 Seek to find what you are looking for in a Rochester preschool and go visit.

#4 Look for knowledge building learning that will leverage their vocabulary in a successful life.

#5 Always, ALWAYS trust your “GUT”!