Picking the right preschool

By DANIELLE RUSH
KOKOMO TRIBUNE (KOKOMO, Ind.)

Comment: A good article. True in most things. Not convinced about the easels. I think easels are defeating for little kids. I think flat painting is best.

KOKOMO, Ind.— In one classroom at First Presbyterian Little School, 4-year-olds waddle like penguins, making the sound of the letter “P.”

Next door, another group of children listens to a Bible story, while the next class settles back into its seats after playing outside on the playground. It’s all in a day’s work for a preschooler.

Karen Dikeman, Little School director, said this is the time of year parents are searching for a preschool for their children for this fall. Kokomo resident Pat Schreckenghaust chose her grandson’s preschool after asking several people for recommendations.

One person in particular spoke highly of her son’s two years at Little School, so Schreckenghaust visited the school and talked to teachers before enrolling Dylan in the program. She said it was the right decision for her grandson, who will be 3 in June. “He loves it. He’s so proud of his little folder” of papers he brings home after each week’s session. She thought it was important for Dylan, an only child, to have a preschool experience, so he could interact with other children.
“He’s learning how to play with other kids and learning rules. When they’re the only kid at home, they don’t learn how to share.”

Dr. Marilyn Skinner, director of Indiana University Kokomo’s Early Childhood Education Center, suggests visiting several preschools before making a selection.

“You would want to go there when there were actually children there, so you can see how they interact with the children, and if they are kind to them and have soft voices and maintain good control … If you can’t go yourself, talk to someone who has sent their children there.”

Parents should also be sure the school has plenty of books being used, words hanging on the walls, weather charts, posters with children’s activities, activity centers such as water and sand tables, blocks, and other toys to encourage creative play. She said signs of creativity are important.

“Are they allowing them to be creative, or are they trying to make them all look the same? If you walk in and every piece of art looks alike, you know they’re not allowing creativity.”

Parents should also ask if the school has curriculum it follows, and if there is time for physical activity indoors and outside. “Children should be outside a lot when the weather is good,” for muscle development, she said, and there should be an appropriate place for indoor play as well.
Skinner said activities should be age-appropriate, and adapted for the child’s abilities. A bright child may need accelerated activities, while others may not catch on as quickly and may need to repeat some activities.

She said teachers should either have a degree in early childhood education or some non-degree training in early childhood education. Dikeman, at Little School, added that parents should ask about teachers’ training in first aid and CPR, and if teachers’ have had a background check, in addition to asking about their academic credentials.

She agreed that classroom visits are important, to see if a particular school is the right fit for a particular child. She said because Little School is a Christian-based program, she makes sure parents understand that “sharing the love of Christ is part of our curriculum.”

She said parents should also look for a program that develops a child’s cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills. In addition, she said, parents may ask about pre-kindergarten skills, to be sure their child will be prepared for kindergarten. At her school, teachers work with Kokomo-Center Schools and Northwestern School Corp., to be sure the children leave with the skills they need for kindergarten.

“It seems more and more is being required. Preschool now is probably what kindergarten was.”
Dikeman said the preschool day varies in length, depending on the age of the child, and should include time for play. “They learn so much through their play,” she said. She said not every child is ready for preschool at the same time, and parents need to consider their child’s readiness before enrolling. Younger children often have separation anxiety when parents drop them off, and those who seem very upset might want to wait another year, she said.

“It varies with children. Not every 3-year-old or 4-year-old is at the same place. You can’t look at a 4-year-old as a cookie cutter.” Skinner said preschool can be a valuable learning experience, but it is not necessary for every child. Parents may do many of the activities preschool offers in their own home, if they have the time and ability.

“I would say it depends on if you as a parent have lots of time to work with your child and take your child places for socializing and being involved with other children, especially an only child. If you’re a parent who has lots of time and several children, it wouldn’t be nearly as important.”

Danielle Rush writes for the Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune.

10 signs of a great preschool
1. The right student/teacher ratio: There should be one teacher for every seven to 10 children and no more than 20 in a classroom.
2. Daily circle time: During this time, children learn skills such as taking turns, listening to each other and sitting still. They can improve their language skills by listening to stories and singing songs.
3. A language-rich environment: Children should be read to every day. The preschool should have lots of books, as well as words posted all around the room.
4. An art center: Look for easels, paint brushes, crayons, clay and other art materials.
5. A block center: Stacking and arranging blocks helps children develop spatial and problem-solving skills.
6. Rotating chores: Handling tasks gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
7. Manipulatives: These are objects children can pick up and work with their hands. Doing so helps them build fine motor skills for future writing and strengthen spatial skills, eye-hand coordination and early math skills.
8. A water table and sand table: Children learn about space, size, weight, force, pressure and volume while playing with water and sand.
9. Physical activity every day: Active play develops children’s coordination and gives them a chance to practice their basic physical skills.
10. New materials introduced frequently.
Source: www.parents.com

Preschool questions
Parents magazine published this list of questions parents should ask when searching for a preschool:
• What are the schedule options?
• What is the tuition?
• How old are children when they enter your school?
• What is the cutoff date for new students?
• Do you have openings for next September?
• How many children are in each class?
• How many adults supervise each class?
• What are the qualifications of the teachers?
• What training does the director have?
• Is the program licensed or accredited?

If the program meets your basic needs, ask about the enrollment process and schedule a time to visit. Parents should meet the director, take a tour and spend an hour or two in a classroom. Try to revisit your top choices before making your final pick.
Source: www.parents.com