After working at the Sarah & Irving Pitt Early Childhood Center for 16 years as both a preschool educator, and now as the senior director, I have seen countless families get stressed over how to choose the right school for their little ones. Most anxiety comes from first-time parents, who often don’t know what they should be looking for, or even what questions to ask. All families should be confident in their decision, as their children are their most precious gifts. Here are some of my top tips that families should keep in mind when choosing a preschool:
1. Make sure the hours and program options are conducive to your schedule
2. Ask about safety precautions and protocols. Sadly, we now live in a society where we must think of safety all too often
3. Ask about teacher qualifications because higher education typically predicts higher quality instruction and care
4. Ask about the program’s curriculum, and its philosophies on teaching and learning. Some styles of teaching, for example, might better suit your child than others – for example, if your little one can’t sit still for long periods (and many little ones can’t!) expectations of sitting during activities might not work yet
5. Look for consistency: will your child be with the same educator or will teachers be rotating excessively
6. Learn about the center’s discipline policies. Positive reinforcement and redirection are best practices for little ones
7. Always go for an in-person tour so you can see the program in action. Watch interactions between staff, and interactions between staff and children, to get a feel for whether you think the program would be nurturing for your child and provide a loving atmosphere
There are so many wonderful programs to choose from and at the end of the day, each family has to decide on a program that best fits their needs. Any compassionate and supportive director will understand this, so families should never feel any pressure or guilt when choosing a program that is the right fit for them.
Lauren Bogorad serves as the senior director of the Sarah & Irving Pitt Early Childhood Center, located at The J-Detroit in West Bloomfield. The Center will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9 for prospective students and parents. For more information go to jccdet.org/pitt-ecc.