Developmental Preschool and Kindergarten shares a 5 step checklist that you can follow when choosing a preschool for your child.
Choosing a preschool for your kid might sound like an easy task, but with numerous schools and preschools in Plantations, FL, getting the best preschool program for your child can be a hassle.
In this article, Developmental Preschool and Kindergarten, a leading preschool in Plantation, FL, explains the step-by-step process of choosing the best preschool for your kid.
How to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Kids
Ages two to five are known as the formative years in kids, and whatever they learn during this stage plays an essential role in their growth and mental development, which is why you must take your time to choose the best preschool for your child.
Enrolling your kid in a top-quality preschool also helps prepare them for kindergarten and allows you to identify their learning capabilities.
Step 1— Determine Your Needs and Priorities
Before you search for a preschool, you must determine your needs and priorities. No matter what anyone else thinks or says, your needs play an important role in determining the kind of preschool you should enroll your kid in.
Identifying your needs and priorities will help you streamline your search and focus on schools that meet your needs.
Considerations to Make When Determining Your Needs
There are certain factors that you should look out for when searching for a preschool for your kids, and they include the school’s location, teaching style, environment, classroom size, playground, and your child’s learning pace.
Are you looking for a preschool near your home, or are you willing to travel a little distance? Are you more concerned about academic activities, or do you prefer more creative ones?
Questions to Ask When Selecting a School
When searching for a preschool for your child, there are important questions that you must ask yourself and the potential preschool.
Even after you have found a school that meets your needs and priorities, you still need to ask questions such as: Is the school accredited? Are the teachers certified? Does the school meet your child’s needs? What is the size of the classroom?
How to Balance Your Needs with Your Child’s Needs
Sometimes, when making decisions for their kids, parents get carried away and focus only on their own needs and priorities, forgetting to consider the child’s needs.
When searching for a preschool, acknowledge that the school is for your child and not for you. Consider your child’s emotional, physical, and learning needs and put those ahead of your own needs, like distance and costs.
Ensure that the school you choose not only meets your standards but will also cater to your child’s needs and be beneficial to their growth.
Step 2— Research Potential Preschools
Now that you have identified your and your child’s needs and priorities, the next step is to start searching for potential preschools that satisfy these needs.
Remember to start your search one year before your child starts preschool and visit as many schools as you can manage. Some schools already have a waitlist; check back frequently and watch out for last-minute slots.
Overview of Research Strategies
When searching for a preschool, start in your neighborhood. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations, and visit schools in your locality before considering schools outside your community.
Check online for school recommendations. You can search the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website for accredited schools and preschools in your neighborhood.
Attend as many preschool fairs and tours as you can manage. You can visit the preschool’s website for preliminary information, but visiting in person will give you a real sense of what the preschool is like.
Check references to know what other parents think of the preschool. When visiting the preschool events or fairs, make the most of the opportunity to personally discuss with other parents their experience with the institution.
Factors to Consider When Evaluating a Potential Preschool
Before choosing a preschool for your child, consider the school’s teaching philosophy and curriculum. You also need to consider the teachers’ qualifications, the school’s review, the learning environment, and the school's credibility.
Step 3— Visit The Preschool
After you have researched and streamlined preschools that meet your requirements, the next step is to visit the school. Even if you have checked their website and social media pages, visiting the school will allow you to see what the environment feels like and make a better judgment.
How to Evaluate Physical Environment and Classroom Atmosphere
When visiting a potential preschool, carefully evaluate the physical environment and atmosphere.
Consider factors like classroom size, adult-to-child ratio, the teacher’s enthusiasm, the first aid and safety facilities, the learning equipment available in the school, the cleanliness of the environment, and the general atmosphere.
Take note of the teacher’s relationship with the kids and how many are in each classroom. A school with more than 15 kids in one class is not a good fit, especially if there are no assistant teachers.
Tips for Interacting With Staff and Observing Classroom Activities
While in the school environment, you should observe the classroom activities and interact with the staff and teachers.
Ask the teachers about their teaching style and approach to negative behavior. Also, ask about their daily routines, how they connect with each child, and how they handle violence and tantrums in the kids in their care.
As you interact with the staff, keep an open mind, be attentive, and take note of their body language and behavior.
Step 4— Ask Questions
As you go on school tours, remember to ask about the school’s policies and practices and take note of the answers you get.
When visiting a school for the first time, it is advisable not to go with your kid so that you can pay attention to details and have enough time to ask all the important questions.
You can write down your questions when visiting the school so you don’t forget to ask anything.
Examples of Questions to Ask About Curriculum, Policies, and Procedures
There are different questions you can ask a potential preschool during a school tour, especially about their curriculum, policies, and procedures.
Examples of questions to ask to include how the school handles negative behaviors in kids, the staff qualification and turnover, their potty training requirement, the kind of curriculum they follow, how they balance playtime and learning, and the safety measures they have in place.
Ask how the preschool will prepare your kid for kindergarten and if they have provisions for exceptional children. Also, ask about parent involvement and if the school has any activities that parents are expected to attend.
How to Evaluate the Preschool’s Communication and Feedback Process
You want to ensure that the preschool you choose for your child has a reliable and accessible communication system.
For starters, the school should have a responsive, up-to-date website where you can get recent information. A school without an updated website is already a red flag.
Other communication and feedback channels that a preschool should have include parent-teacher meetings, SMS notifications and alerts, email, and a social media presence.
Step— 5 Make Your Decision
At this point, you should have streamlined your potential preschools to a couple of schools that meet your standards.
Now, it’s time to make your decision. To make your choice, compare each school and determine how well they meet your standards and fulfill your child’s needs.
How to Weigh the Pros and Cons of Each Potential Preschool
The best way to pick the best of your top potential preschools is to evaluate the pros and cons of each school.
Consider how well each school answered your questions and their provisions for your child. You also want to consider location, fees, and extracurricular activities.
Tips for Communicating with Your Child and Preparing for the First Day of School
Now that you have chosen the best preschool for your child and have made the necessary arrangements, the final step is to prepare your child physically and mentally.
Visit the school with your child and allow them to relate with their new teacher so that they can get familiar with the environment. Tell your child interesting school stories and prepare their mind for all the exciting activities they will partake in.
Read the school’s parent manual to guide you on how to prepare your kid for resumption. Prepare your child’s school supplies and label them with your child’s name to prevent them from going missing.
Conclusion
Choosing a preschool for your kid can be an emotional and overwhelming process, but if you follow the five steps listed above, the process can be less overwhelming.
Remember to identify your needs and search for top preschools in your locality. Visit the school and interact with the staff. Ask critical questions about the school’s curriculum and practices and choose the one that best suits your requirements.
If you are looking for the best preschool for your child in Plantation, Developmental Preschool and Kindergarten is your best option. They offer kindergarten programs in Plantation, FL, for kids between the ages of two and five years old.
With highly qualified teachers and an environment that supports growth and learning, DPK is the most suitable preschool to give your kid a solid foundational education and prepare them for kindergarten.
Here are some testimonials from satisfied parents/guardians:
“Best Preschool in Town! The staff is amazing, and the teachers and front office are Professional, caring, and well-organized. My son attended since he was three until VPK and now our daughter started in this awesome school last August, I would trust anyone else, my kids. My daughter just absolutely loves going to school each day the staff are extremely loving and attentive! The school has exceeded all my expectations, and I’m so glad I found it! Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this school.” - Stefania A.
“If you are looking for a school for your child that feels like a family, this is the school for you. The same teachers have been working at this facility since my 7-year-old attended school here. They go WAY above and beyond to ensure each child is comfortable and has a great experience. I was what one may call a nervous parent, and they went above and beyond to cater to my concerns and provide me with additional reassurance. I have now sent two children to this school and I don't have a single negative to report. Miss Laurie the director is incredible and keeps you in the loop of all the happenings of the school. All of the teachers are phenomenal. I more than recommend it. “ - Virginia W.
“We were highly recommended to DPK about 5 years ago. After a tour and getting feedback from many others, it was a no-brainer, especially after taking tours of other schools in the area. We sent both of our girls to DPK and wouldn’t change a thing. The teachers, the staff, location, hours, offerings, aftercare, and all the above are incredible. Our youngest is currently in Kindergarten there with Ms. Adele who I strongly recommend. Seriously, she is the BEST! She will get your child more than ready for school. We regret not doing this with our oldest. If you’re in Plantation or close by, DPK is the way to go!” - Nina B.
More Information About Developmental Preschool and Kindergarten
Developmental Preschool and Kindergarten (DPK) is a school that aims to provide children with a fun, healthy, and safe environment where they can develop self-confidence, independence, enthusiasm, responsibility, and leadership.
Contact them at 958-833-8690 to schedule a tour or make inquiries about their programs.
