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Preschool programs are becoming more and more popular among children these days. This presents a unique challenge for parents who are wondering how to find a preschool that will give their children the care and experience that they deserve. The percentages of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in preprimary programs in the year 2013 (42 and 68 percent, respectively) were higher than the percentages enrolled in 1990 (33 and 56 percent, respectively) but not measurably different from the percentages enrolled in 2000 or 2012. Such data shows you that there are more preschool programs than ever before. For this reason, it is even more difficult for parents who are wondering how to find a preschool that meets all the requirements that might be found on a typical preschool checklist. If you’re a parent and you’re wondering how to find a preschool for your child, then here are a few key things you should keep in mind.

Look for a preschool that makes grade school readiness a priority

While many parents make the mistake of thinking of preschool as a glorified daycare center, this could not be further from the truth. When you find the right preschool, you will notice an obvious difference in your child’s growth and mental faculties. Finding a school that places a strong emphasis on preparing your child for kindergarten and beyond is an excellent option for any parent who is wondering how to find a preschool. Start by searching for preschools that prioritize grade school readiness, and you will surely be off to a strong start on your search.

A good preschool will encourage students to explore their natural gifts and talents. Conversely, teachers will also have the ability to identify any areas in which your child is lacking. Once problem areas are identified early on, it is far easier to make the adjustments needed to ensure that your children stay on track in grade school and beyond. Setting up the right academic foundation in preschool is crucial toward creating a positive educational journey for your child as they grow and develop.

Don’t overlook the importance of finding a school with summer camp programs

If you’re not sure what to look for in a preschool, then it can be helpful to find schools that offer ongoing summer camp programs. With continuous educational and recreational programs throughout the summer months, you give your child more room to explore their environment, learn, and socialize. Summer camp programs often provide unique educational opportunities that just don’t exist in traditional preschool programs. Each one of these details can make all the difference when you’re stumped on how to find a preschool for your child.

Tour a preschool to get a better view of things

Finally, you should never be ashamed to request a tour of a preschool that you are considering for your child. In fact, many preschools offer tour days for prospective parents and students. A tour can be an invaluable resource, as it provides you with a more accurate picture of the day to day life of the classroom, recreational, and academic settings that your child will experience. A tour can also help you to learn a bit more about the school through speaking with teachers and other staff members firsthand.

Regardless of what stage you’re at in the process, it’s okay to be confused about how to find a preschool for your child. For most people, it’s the first time they’ve had to find a preschool, so there’s no shame in reaching out and asking for some help along the way. At Learn and Grow Academy, we pride ourselves on offering an excellent academic program and wide range of recreational activities that help to prepare your child for the academic and social environments of grade school. Reach out and get in touch with a member of our team today for more information. We would love to help you as you continue your search to find the right preschool program for your child.

If you are a parent looking to enroll your child in a preschool program, then there are some key considerations to keep in mind. Finding the right program that offers a variety of preschool games and activities while also balancing superb academics can seem like an impossible challenge. If you continue to inform yourself and explore your options, you’ll put yourself in a position to succeed in finding the right preschool for your child. Of course, any preschool program is easily measured by its ability to prepare your child for kindergarten and later stages of schooling. Here are some important things to keep in mind as you search for the right preschool program to ready your child for kindergarten.

Preschools Prepare Your Child for the Responsibilities of the Classroom

When you send your child to preschool, they will probably not even be aware of the level of responsibility that they are taking on. Sure, they are being assisted by caring, helpful instructors and staff members, but a lot of their daily tasks are placed on them. This type of responsibility is important to establish early on, as it will help your child to be far more successful as they progress through the levels of grade school.

The Right Preschool Program Increases Your Child’s Literacy and Cognitive Skills

While you want to be sure that the recreational side of schooling is present in the form of fun, engaging preschool games and outdoor activities, you should never overlook the importance of a program’s academic approach. When it comes to establishing fundamental academic skill sets in your child, it is never too early to get started.

When you position your child for academic success early on, it is far more likely that they will continue to succeed in their learning. There is plenty of data from research data to support this fact. For example, between the years 1993 and 2012, the percentage of three- to six-year-old children able to demonstrate early literacy and cognitive skills improved. Between these years, the percentage of children able to recognize all the letters in the alphabet increased from 21% to 38%. The percentage of those able to count to 20 or higher rose from 52% to 68% and those able to write their names increased from 50% to 58%. While these numbers may be surprising, they are owed, in large part to the proliferation of preschool programs that prioritize the building of strong academic foundations.

The right preschool program will give your child a place to explore their natural talents and abilities. Similarly, with high-quality teachers around, they will be able to identify areas where they are lacking, so that they can place extra attention there to improve as they grow and learn.

Programs that Offer Preschool Games and Activities Improve Social Interactions

For socialization and increased social acuity, there is no better option than choosing a program that offers a variety of preschool games and other interactive activities for students. Your child is getting socialized at every moment of every day from the time they are born, so it is important to place them in the right environments that will give them the space to express their personality while also getting exposure to people who are different from them. Everything from another child’s demeanor to their clothing and personality makes for crucial early learning experiences for your child. This process is made that much easier when children have access to preschool games that make social interactions go smoother and flow more naturally.

If you are unsure about what to look for in a preschool, then do not hesitate to reach out and get in touch with a member of our team today. At Learn and Grow Academy we have a wide range of activities and programs to make every day a learning experience for your child. With an excellent academic reputation, preschool games, and summer camp activities, we have something for every child. Reach out to us today for more information. We would love to help you take the next step toward placing your child in the right preschool.

Research shows that preschools benefit children and families and that more and more families are using accredited preschool programs. Cognitive skills, literacy, and language skills improved among preschool-enrolled children by a dozen percentage points or more. As recently as 2012, almost 70% of children with a single and working parent were enrolled in a preschool program, a figure that dips only slightly among families with a single parent out of the workforce. And the majority of those families were using full-day preschool or academic preschool programs. Your family will likely need or choose to enroll your child in preschool. While it’s not hard to find a preschool, making an informed decision when choosing a preschool requires some preparation. It’s important to visit the preschools you’re considering for your child, and to closely observe the following elements of each preschool you visit. Here is a preschool checklist of five things to look for when visiting a local preschool program.

The Child-to-Teacher Ratio

This should be primary on your preschool checklist, as it has the greatest impact on the education and care your child will receive. Safety is a significant concern, as overworked teachers with too many children in their care can’t provide proper supervision. Academics is also a reason for limited child-to-teach ratio: younger children usually require direct attention and instruction in order to absorb and generalize new skills and structures. The laws governing staff ratio limits in preschools vary from state to state, so be sure you know the requirements in your state and the ratio in the preschools you visit.

Child-to-Child Interaction

One of the biggest benefits of preschool programs is the opportunity they provide for your child to socialize. But not all programs maximize this opportunity for children to learn socially, academically, and culturally from one another by playing, working, and building skills together. Observe how, when, and how well the children engage each other in each preschool classroom you visit.

Child-to-Teacher Interaction

Do the children in the programs you observe feel comfortable with and seem nurtured by their teachers and assistants when the children initiate engagement? Do the children frequently initiate engagement? Is the engagement social? You can learn a lot about a program’s dynamic by observing how the children appear to act in the direct and indirect presence of their teachers and assistants. This is an important element of a preschool program and shouldn’t be overlooked on your preschool checklist.

Teacher-to-Child Interaction

Conversely, and just as importantly, look closely at how the teachers and assistants engage with the children in their care. Are the teachers comfortable and confident? Are they nurturing? Do they try to make the children feel guided, heard, and respected? How do the teachers redirect children when necessary? How well do they prepare the children for what to expect before and during activities? Among the items on your preschool checklist, this will tell you the most about the quality of attention and care your child will receive in the programs you visit.

The Health and Safety Practices

Besides the crucial observance of state-mandated staffing ratios, other health and safety practices are important for the preschools you’re visiting to observe. Be sure to find out the preschool’s protocols for responding to illness and injury, as well as allergies and contagions. Other safety issues should be inquired about, such as appropriate division between pre-k and infant-toddler classes, emergency safety and preparedness such as fire drills, and whether the classroom environment appears safe and secure. 

Choosing a Preschool for Your Child

You will likely recognize more easily that a program is not a good fit for your family than that it is. It can be a process of elimination. Once you’ve visited a number of preschools, you should understand better what your family’s needs are and whether any of the programs you’ve observed will be the best fit and will be ready to either make a decision or resume your search reinforced by a preschool checklist that will help you find the very best option for your child.

Preprimary classes, which encompass nursery school, preschool, and kindergarten, offer educational enrichment for children. Between 1990 and 2013, the percentage of children three to five years of age who participated in these types of programs rose from 59% to 65%, with the entire growth period taking place between 1990 and 2000. As of 2015, approximately 51% of these children attended all-day programs. Because of the rising demand for these types of programs, the employment rate for preschool teachers is expected to increase by 10% between 2016 and 2026. This is a faster growth rate than the average for all other occupations.

With 75% of young children in America currently attending preschool, it’s important to ensure that the experience enriches your child. After finding the right preschool and enrolling your child, these are three of the areas in which the program you’ve chosen will benefit them, according to GreatSchools.org.

1. Development of Language, Pre-Math, and Motor Skills.

The vocabularies of children aged three to five grow from 900 to 2,500 words, and they begin forming lengthier, more elaborate sentences. Preschool teachers promote this process by incorporating new vocabulary into their lessons and by encouraging children to tell stories, sing, and ask and answer questions.

A good preschool program also gives children opportunities to be active by running, climbing, and playing games requiring physical activity. Fine motor skills are also improved by using scissors or stringing beads. The development of balance and good hand-eye coordination is also stressed.

When preschool children engage in games that involve counting or sorting, that prepares them for math in the future. Board games and puzzles also help children solve problems and recognize numbers and patterns.

2. Development of Emotional and Social Skills.

Preschool programs foster trusting relationships with other children and adults that aren’t family members.

Children also learn how to manage conflicts and emotions appropriately with the help of their preschool teacher. The classroom lessons also teach children the importance of self-respect and respect for others, and they learn how to interact in group situations.

3. Development of Imagination and Curiosity.

Children are naturally very curious and imaginative, and the best preschools fuel these qualities through imaginary play and other types of role-playing games.

By finding the right preschool for your children, they’ll be inspired to explore their innate curiosity and imagination. In addition, the language, pre-math, social, and motor skills they develop will prepare them for success in primary school, and provide them with the ability to make their imaginings become a reality.

By 2013, the percentage of five-year-olds enrolled in preprimary programs (such as preschool, nursery school, and kindergarten) amounted to 84%. While these kinds of programs are considered essentials by most parents, not all families are quick to agree on which are the right types of programs for their children. With so many options to choose from, this decision-making process can be extremely confusing. Should you enroll your child in preschool or opt for pre-K? And is there really that much of a difference between the two? We’re answering some of those questions in today’s post.

What Do Preschool Programs and Pre-K Classes Have in Common?

Although these two types of programs are not synonymous, they do share certain traits. They both fall under the preprimary category, meaning they’re intended to promote kindergarten readiness in young children. In many cases, both pre-K and preschool curriculums will embrace the importance of play, discovery, and hands-on experiences to encourage learning. Each may involve activities like music, dance, art, dramatic play, and some academic activities. Both provide a safe setting for skill development and social opportunities. And in most cases (though not all), both types of programs are considered to be optional.

How Do Preschool Classrooms and Pre-K Courses Differ?

There are distinct divergences between these two kinds of programs to keep in mind. When you enroll your child in preschool, you can do so when your child is three, four, or five years old. It often depends on their ability to meet certain preschool requirements and independent benchmarks, rather than an exact age. It’s seen as the first step toward preschool learning, which means that the preschool curriculum typically serves as an introduction to these concepts. Most preschools are privately owned and operated, meaning that families are responsible for paying the costs associated with tuition. Although there are some full-day preschool programs, many facilities offer half-day programs to benefit both children and their parents.

Pre-K, on the other hand, is geared towards slightly older children who will soon be entering kindergarten. While there may be some overlap in age, most pre-K students are four or five years of age. The curriculum is a bit more structured and geared towards developing the skills required to make a smooth transition into school. That’s because young children are tested for the skills they’ve acquired before they’re able to enter kindergarten. Most pre-K programs are full-day programs; although some are private, others are run by the school district and receive state funding. In certain cases, pre-K may be a requirement for young children, which is usually beneficial.

Which Option is Best For Your Family?

Some families may not actually need to choose between these two options. While some children may be ready for school after attending only a pre-K program, others may not acquire all the skills they need through pre-K alone. That’s why many families opt for both preschool and pre-K to set their children up for a high chance of success once they start school.

If your district is one that actually requires pre-K enrollment, you may still want to enroll your child in preschool first. This can help them to not only develop the educational skills they need later on, but it can also provide valuable social and emotional tools that can prepare them for life. Whether or not pre-K is essential, preschool can play a powerful role in your child’s formative years — and that’s an opportunity your family will want to carefully consider.

American parents undoubtedly feel a lot of pressure to choose the right preschool. But knowing when to start researching or when to tour a preschool isn’t the same for every family. Nor is the “correct” age to start attending preschool. Each child has different abilities and different needs, making these decisions immensely personal — and often confusing. In today’s post, we’re sharing some tips that can help guide parents in the right direction and ensure their children feel ready once they get in the preschool classroom.

When to Start Looking at Local Preschool Programs

Some parents start conducting research or will even tour a preschool very early on in the process. In extreme cases, parents might have their sights set on a competitive preschool program from the time of their child’s birth or early in their infancy. That’s not typically necessary, however. Most experts agree that you can begin your preschool search at the start of the year during which your child will turn three. The exact time does depend a bit on the type of preschool you’re looking for and the individual school’s policies pertaining to age of enrollment. But if you want to enroll your child when they’re three years old, you’ll want to start looking at least eight months to a year prior to when school will begin. Once you narrow down your initial research, you can tour a preschool (or several) on your list and begin the applications process.

How to Assess Whether Your Child is Ready For Preschool

Preschool readiness looks different for every child, but there are some requirements for preschool of which parents must be aware. Your child will likely need to be potty trained and preschoolers will fare much better in preschool if they are able to listen to and follow directions and can express themselves in ways that are easily understood by adults outside of the home. You’ll also need to assess whether your child has the physical and emotional capability for preschool; while 51% of three- to five-year-olds who attended preschool in 2015 were enrolled in full-day programs, children who still require two naps per day probably need to hold off another year before attending school. Your child should also show some promise of independence and should be able to be separated from you (at play dates or at a relative’s house) for a considerable amount of time. If your child isn’t able to do much without constant direction from a trusted adult or spends the entire day without you in tears, it might be best to consider waiting until they display more signs that they’re ready for this adjustment.

How to Help Your Preschooler Prepare at Home

Once you tour a preschool, decide on that choice, and decide your child is ready to make that transition, you’ll still need to help your little one prepare for the journey. In the months and weeks leading up to their first day of preschool, you can ease them into their new routine by giving them a preview of what it’ll be like to be out of the house and in a new environment all day.

You might sign them up for a fun class at the library or may get them used to getting up early, eating breakfast, and getting ready for a day out. You can read lots of books together (especially about going to school for the first time!), go to the school to meet their teacher and explore the space, and get to know some of the other children who will be attending school with your own. Be sure to encourage their independence and to give them a little bit of space so they can practice what that’ll be like.

Don’t be discouraged if it still takes your child a while to get the hang of things; change is never easy, even for adults! If you give them lots of encouragement, support, and love, they’ll prove just how resilient and adaptable they are.

We hope this post puts your mind at ease about preschool preparation. To learn more about our preschool programs and how they can help set your child up for lifelong success, please contact us today.

Preparing your child for preschool seems like hard work, but it’s easier than it seems. Along with the necessary supplies, don’t forget these important preparation tips to give your soon-to-be preschoolers a head start.

Promote independence

This is particularly helpful when it comes to challenging situations. Unfortunately, your child’s life won’t always go smoothly. Encourage independence by allowing your child to complete tasks on their own. This includes simple tasks, like teaching them how to dress. While they may need assistance, they should be given the opportunity to do as much on their own as they can.

You should also experiment with leaving your child alone for short periods of time. Luckily, there are plenty of half-day preschool programs if your child isn’t ready to commit to a full day of learning just yet.

Don’t forget to socialize

While this isn’t a huge issue for children in large families, socializing doesn’t come naturally for some preschoolers. Many are nervous to begin a new chapter of their life, especially on the first day.

Try to combat feelings of isolation by giving them avenues for socialization. Whether that means taking them to a quality daycare before preschool or setting up play dates with other moms, introducing them to new people is the best way to get them comfortable for academic preschool programs. Luckily, the U.S. has around 14,000 day and summer camps on top of the daycare options you may have already considered. This will allow your child to form empathic connections with others and learn the basics for polite interactions in preschool.

Meet the teacher

For particularly nervous children, meeting the teacher beforehand will put your child at ease on the first day. Instead of a room full of strangers, your child can look to the front of the preschool and see a familiar face. Bring your child to tour a preschool or by letting them play on the school grounds before the first day.

Getting your child ready for preschool is more than just registering them. When you are ready to enroll your child in Learn and Grow Academy, try these tips before the first day.

In the U.S., around 75% of young children participate in preschool programs. However, not all preschools are the same. While there are undoubtedly several highly rated preschools in your area, there may be some that aren’t quite up to par. How can parents tell the difference between the reputable schools and the ones they should steer clear of? Knowing what to look for in a preschool is important — but you’ll also want to recognize the warning signs to cross certain schools off your list. When you tour a preschool, be sure to look out for these red flags (and walk away if you spot them).

Frazzled Teachers

There’s no doubt that teaching (at any grade level) is a huge challenge. Some people are better suited for this profession than others. The quality and experience of the preschool teachers with whom your child interacts can make a huge difference in their early development. If you come across teachers who react in extreme or emotional ways, keep in mind that this does not serve as a positive model for young students. Rather than yelling or punishing preschool children for bad behavior, the teachers in the preschool classroom should know how to handle challenges calmly and rationally.
Overly chaotic classrooms and high turnover rates among staff can also tell you a lot about what to look for in a preschool (and what to stay away from). While preschool classrooms are often lively and even noisy, they shouldn’t be disorganized and out of control. And if the teachers seem unhappy or have been known to leave at frequent rates, this is to the detriment of both the students and the school itself.

Lack of Routine

One of the most important things to look for in a preschool program is what the average day is like. There should be a set routine that gives children structure, but the activities and lessons should vary to keep the students’ attention. A lack of consistent routine is a bad sign, as it can make children feel anxious. If children know what to expect on an average day, but can still be introduced to new projects, that’s when young students will thrive. Look for these signs when taking a tour and be sure to ask staff members about the setup of a typical day to assess whether this program is really in your child’s best interests.

Knowing what to look for in a preschool can be a challenge for parents. Keep in mind that watching for red flags may be just as important as searching for positive signs. To find out more about how our preschool program can help your kids develop in a variety of ways, please contact us today.