I have only had the onerous task of selecting a preschool for my child, and now she is about to enter kindergarten, but I can say that choosing the right preschool was one of the most challenging of parents' issues.
She is a very physical child, and if I found a school I liked, it would invariably have a playground that was not enclosed, so I would worry about her wandering off.
I looked for cleanliness and safety, challenging activities for preschoolers, and healthy foods to eat, but most of all I listened to the teacher. Did he or she speak to my child with patience and kindness or was my child talked down to? How was preschool discipline handled? Would my child’s imagination be sparked in this environment – or stifled?
I also had to be welcome to come in at any time and just see what was happening. It takes time and effort to find the right place, but it’s well worth it.
– Nancy Deutsch
Canton, Michigan