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Starting the Preschool Hunt
Tips for Finding the Perfect Environment for Your Child
By Becky Lane
There is a lot to consider when looking for the perfect place to send your little one for her first educational experience. You'll want to do your research before taking that plunge, and that can take some time.
But where do you start? How do you find the perfect preschool? How will you know when you've found it? And how do you even know when your toddler is ready?
As a first-time parent, you might be wondering what the typical age is for beginning preschool. That depends on the child, says Judy Molland, author of Straight Talk About Schools Today (FreeSpirit, 2007). "Starting at the beginning of the school year once your child has turned 3 is a good general guide, although some preschools accept children as young as 2 1/2," she says. "However, not all children are ready at that age."
Some preschools actually offer programs aimed at 2-year-olds, though. Both my children began their preschool education with a "Mommy and Me" class at age 2. The class, which meets once a week, eases toddlers into a preschool setting by having parents attend class with them, playing and interacting with their children the entire time.
Age aside, it all comes down to when your child is ready, and "readiness has more to do with where your child is developmentally," Molland says. "Is he socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively ready to participate in a daily, structured, educational program with a group of other children?"
So how do you know when your toddler is ready for preschool? Allison Green, a mom of two from Winston-Salem, N.C., says she knew her boys were ready for preschool because they were doing so well in their daycare environment. "They did well in a school setting and socialized well with the other children," she says. Green's oldest son, age 5, was put in a Kindergarten Readiness program at his new preschool, while her 3-year-old son attended a class with other 3-year-olds.
