When choosing a school for your child, you want to choose an option that will give your child the best care and educational stimulus without making you travel way out of your way each morning. On top of that, you’ll also want to think about different teaching styles, curriculums, and parent recommendations. So where do you begin? If you’re looking for all day or drop in play care austin tx, you won’t have any shortage of options to sort through. That’s why it’s crucial to know what you want way ahead of time so that your decision won’t be needlessly difficult. Whether you’re searching for a preschool program that’s going to focus on a specific learning style or philosophy, or you’re just looking for a place that will take great care of your kid while you’re at work, there are tons of places to choose from. Here are a few things to think about to figure out what you want out of your ideal preschool program.
Great Recommendations
For most parents, the most trustworthy recommendations come from people who are already going through the same struggle. Whether you have friends with slightly older kids or know some people from parents group, you’ll be able to find no shortage of great recommendations for preschools in the area. If you don’t have anyone you can talk to first hand, there are a ton of great resources online that will help you figure out exactly what the options are and how to start narrowing them down. For instance, if you know you only want to consider schools within a certain radius, or schools that are along your drop-off route on the way to work, that should narrow down your search by a bit. If you have a friend you’re setting up a carpool with, you’ll want to choose something that makes sense for both of you. Whatever you do, don’t settle for the first school you see that’s conveniently located.
Teaching Style
Every teacher is different, and many schools specialize in different teaching philosophies or types of training for teachers. Only you know what’s important to you in terms of your child’s education. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, search for preschools that include a lot of arts and science activities, field trips, and interactive play periods. If you want something more religiously-founded, there are tons of schools whose teaching philosophy is guided by religion. If you want a private school or a Montessori school, you’ll be able to find at least a few options in your area. However, if you truly don’t have a preference in terms of teaching style, the best thing to do is to set up an appointment with the principal of your top choice school and ask questions. Try sitting in on a class if you want to see how the teachers engage with the kids. Pay attention to the kids themselves: Do they look interested? Bored? Do they seem like they’re enjoying the classroom? Oftentimes, kids’ reactions to a certain teaching style will tell you all you need to know.
Classroom Type
In the same way that there are tons of different teaching styles out there, there are also tons of different types of actual learning environments. From more interactive, activity and exploration-based classrooms to more traditional desk-and-chalkboard classrooms, you can find a ton of different learning environments for kids. While preschool often deals with a less formal environment, with kids circling around on the floor and running around, you can find alternatives that are a bit less fluid and more strict when it comes to kids’ behavior. When sitting in on a class, make a note of how teachers deal with discipline and teaching basic lessons about social etiquette.
Nutrition and Exercise
At preschool, your child isn’t just learning basic manners and figuring out how to interact socially. They’re being fed, cared for, and educated. When picking a preschool, you want to know how the basics of care are covered. For instance, is your school of choice serving healthy snacks or loading the kids with cookies and juice? Are the kids getting enough playtime outside? Does the school have a way of integrating learning and fun in a way that gets the kids excited about coming to class every day? Is naptime offered? The more you know about these basics, the better sense you’ll have of what your child will be doing each day. Be sure you choose a preschool that keeps your child stimulated, interested, and physically active and healthy each day.