Choosing a preschool can be very overwhelming. There are so many choices, and with the number of working moms increasing year to year, more and more child care centers are opening.
Finding the right preschool environment for your child is like hiring a CEO for your company. It takes time, and you need to do your research.
Before visiting schools/centers you need to answer some questions. Once you have these answers, you can narrow down your selections:
- Do you want a private or public school? If you're considering a private school, then you need to really look at your budget because private school tends to cost more money.
- What kind of environment do you want for your child? A small nurturing center or a larger setting?
- What is your educational philosophy? Read up on the different educational philosophies such as Montessori, Goddard, Waldorf, and Emilia Reggio.
- What needs does your child possess? Speech therapy? Occupational therapy? Toilet training? Social needs?
- What are your needs based on your schedule?
I spoke with two preschool owners/directors regarding their thoughts on the most important features parents should take in account when interviewing different educational settings. Amy Fingeret, the Director of The Early Childhood Program at Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley in Woodcliff Lake feels curriculum, the philosophy of the school, the credentials of the staff and what the staff-child interactions look like are important. Other priorities when choosing a school: teachers' attentiveness to the child's needs, how loving the teachers are, and how the school communicates with parents.
Anthony Vassallo, owner of the Goddard School in Norwood feels the characteristics that are important in choosing a school for your child are sometimes the obvious ones. “Although transitioning into a school environment for the first time isn’t always easy for a child, it is important that the parents feel confident that the school can offer their child the attention needed to make that transition.” Mr. Vassallo thinks every school should easily be able to provide children a safe, clean, loving and nurturing environment. Having an on-site owner as well as an educational director are important to ensure everyone’s needs are being met and proper day-to-day operations are being supported. And while longevity of faculty is nice, a quality teacher is even more important when choosing a school. Lastly Vassallo feels curriculum plays a big role in the academic success of children.
Stay tuned next week for a follow-up article on questions you should ask preschool directors, teachers, and families who attend the schools you are interviewing.
About The Author
Cheryl (Dunkiel) Berkowitz grew up in Bergen County and resides in her hometown of River Vale with her husband, son and daughter. Cheryl taught in Bergen County for 10 years (Gifted and Talented Education K-8) and prior to having children was an Assistant Elementary School Principal in Essex County. She currently enjoys practicing hot yoga and the challenges of raising two children.
