Finding the right preschool for your child can seem daunting, especially if you are new to an area or experiencing the preschool search for the first time. This Preschool Tour Guide will help you with what to ask and when to go.

Private Vs. Public

The first thing you should know is that not all preschools are the same. There are public preschools, which are funded by a government agency and or a non-profit. They are either free or reduced in tuition. While private preschools can range from accepting a partial payment from you and the remainder of the payment from scholarship programs such as Smart Start, Goodwill, or Social Services to private pay (you pay) options only.

The second thing you should know is that whether a program is licensed. This may not be as obvious depending on the state you live in. If you want a program that is regulated by the state and has frequent inspections, you will need to ask if the program is licensed.

The third thing you should know is that there are a variety of ways to find a preschool. These range from utilizing a private company to refer you or going to nonprofit programs such as your local childcare resource center to refer you. You might also simply ask a friend for a referral or look up preschools in your area on google. Triad Moms on Main also has resources for finding quality preschools at this link https://triadmomsonmain.com/preschool-directory/

Now that you know the difference between public and private, how to find the preschool and how to find the preschool you need based on your budget- you need to know the best time to tour the preschool.

When to Go

Do not believe anyone telling you that you should be able to just show up and have a tour at a preschool. Preschools have an obligation to provide safety for children and staff. A preschool that values their safety will have strict protocol on this process. You should expect to be vetted beforehand and given a tour appointment. After the initial visit you will be offered an opportunity to see the classroom, meet the teacher, and even see a class in real time.

You might be thinking that your lunch hour is a suitable time to schedule a tour. However, your lunchtime may also be the lunch or the rest time for the children and these would not be appropriate times for a tour. Not only is it a busy time, but you may not see the things that you are hoping to see to help you determine if the preschool is a good fit for your child. That means the hours of 12-2 are not good times for a tour. Unless the preschool is heavily staffed by administration, you may not be scheduled for tours during these hours.

What to Ask

Hours and Cost- these may be the most important to you at first, but I would caution against these being your most important requirements. You could miss out on an exceptionally good preschool if you base your tours on these. Ask yourself if you would be willing to pay a little extra, be flexible on hours or even be able to get a family member to assist with drop-off and pick up, if you found the perfect school. However, do be sure to ask about the hours and the tuition cost. Also, do not be afraid to ask if scholarships are available.
Can I meet AND speak with the teacher? – I have met many parents that thought the preschool was great because the tour guide or the director did all the talking and explaining. But unless you speak with the teacher ,it will be difficult to determine if your child’s teacher has the education and experience to prepare your child for kindergarten. How will you know if the teacher has been at the facility for a length of time that conveys you will not see a different teacher in that classroom every 45 days? But most importantly, how will you determine if the teacher has the temperament for your child? Does the teacher value your child feeling safe and included? Does the teacher actually like children? You will need to speak with the teacher to answer these questions and determine if your child will be a good fit for the class.
Ask about protocols that specifically affect your child. For example, if your child takes medication, ask how that medication is stored and administered. If your child needs services or therapy, ask if that therapy will be able to continue in that classroom. If your child has a tough time separating from you, ask what the protocol will be to ease separation at drop off.
What is the teachers’ education and experience? Ask if that education and experience is typical at the preschool or if it is possible your child could end up with a teacher with little to no education or experience.
Social Media and Communication- Ask how you will be informed about your child’s day and continued progress. Will social media be utilized? If children are posted on social media, do you have the option to opt out?
What is included in the tuition? Ask what is included: such as meals, snacks, toiletries, field trips etc… The fee may not be what you are expecting if every week you must bring in $20 worth of supplies. Be sure you know the true costs of enrolling your child.
Discipline /Curriculum- You need to know the discipline policy. You do not want a preschool that withholds snacks for behavior problems, for example. You also want to know if the preschool uses a curriculum. This speaks to the professionalism of preschool and allows you to look up key components of the curriculum on your own. Then you can determine throughout the month If your child is receiving that for which you believe you are paying.
What are my preschool choices? If you are taking advantage of the free preschool route, be aware that your choices become limited. If you prefer being able to choose your preschool be sure to be specific with the scholarship agencies and ask for a scholarship that allows you to choose the preschool you want as opposed to being told what 2 or 3 preschools your child can attend.

After You Enroll

Now that you know what to ask you need to know what to look for after you enroll. Sometimes parents regret their enrollment choice within the first 60 days. These are five things to look for so you will know if you need to disenroll within the first 60 days before your child develops a bond with the classroom and the disenrollment process becomes frustrating for both parent and child.

Engagement- does your child demonstrate being engaged in the classroom? For example, have they developed a good friend or friends in the class? Does the teacher like your child? For example, do they greet your child with a smile and say goodbye at departure? Does the teacher offer the child things to look forward to at the next arrival? Does the teacher tell you things about your child that demonstrate they actually talk and play with our child. For example, the teacher tells you something the child mentioned as a happy or sad event over the weekend or tells you something the child is looking forward to at home because they spoke about it.
Communication- you receive information about your specific child’s day and, or week. The Communication is respectful and thoughtful. Communication is at a reasonable time of the day. For example, if you receive communication from the teacher at 10am, who is taking care of the children?
Teacher Presence- Do you see the teacher on a consistent basis or is there a different teacher each time you drop off and pick up? There might be a reason for this, but if so, has this been communicated to you?

Please note that crying at drop off is not necessarily a good indicator of whether a child is adjusting. You should expect that the first month, for both the parent and child, can be difficult, especially if your child has not been in childcare before or has only been with the parents or the grandparents for example. However, if you receive communication that your child has cried all day or when you pick up your child, it is obvious they have cried all day -well into the 3^rd and 4^th week. You may want to have a conversation with the teacher to see how your child is adjusting. Even if the director insists on meeting with you, it is imperative that you request the teacher be part of the conversation since it is the teacher that is with your child in the classroom.

Finally, let this preschool search process be fun. Preschool is a help to caregivers. As a preschool teacher myself, I believe educating and caring for children is a team effort. We are both invested in the child’s long-term success cognitively, physically, and emotionally. Most importantly, your child’s safety is your responsibility first. Do not be afraid to restart the process if you find your first choice is not a good fit. You have a right to make sure your child’s preschool experience is healthy, happy, and safe. The right preschool for your child will provide that!

If you are wondering if preschool will be a benefit to your child, check out this blog here https://triadmomsonmain.com/the-preschool-experience-its-not-just-academic/

By Dennette Bailey

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