INDUSTRY INSIGHT
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PARENTING
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CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S PRESCHOOL
hoosing the right preschool for a child may be one of the most
complicated decisions parents have to make. An estimated
five million children are in preschool programs (children from
six weeks to six years old), and the number is growing. According
to the Families and Work Institute, children benefit from quality
programs with a competent faculty and good ratios. They suffer
fewer behavioral troubles, have larger expressive vocabularies, feel
close to their teachers, and enjoy more complex, less aggressive play
with peers.
In his book Me, Myself and I, author Kyle D. Pruett, M.D.(world
renowned Child Psychologist practicing at Yale University) states
“Schools can help a great deal by having children listen to both read
and told stories, and then discussing their content. This encourages
a sense of cooperation by listening and playing with others, and
rehearsing self-reliance. Quality schools can further assist children
by allowing them to practice sharing and using their imaginations to
learn language through play, songs, and stories.”
When assessing a preschool program, parents should seek schools
that encourage learning through play. Play and imagination are
possibly the most important resources children possess. In fact,
Dr. Pruett stresses the connection between play and imagination
by suggesting that “imagination surfaces when a child takes what
she has learned through play about how past experiences can be
symbolized, and starts to ‘imagine’ things, beyond mere repetition.”
PARENT TIPS
Parents can begin to evaluate preschools by asking the following
questions:
• Do the lead teachers have a 4 year degree in Education (certified by
the PA Department of Education (PA DOE))?
• Is the school accredited? If so, as a school or a daycare?
• Will my child’s curiosity and creativity be encouraged?
• Do the teachers write their own lesson plans?
• Is the school cheerful and bright?
• Are all faculty members First Aid/CPR certified?
• Are daily activity reports prepared for each child?
• Is the school licensed by the PA DOE?
• Does the school offer parent teacher conferences?
• Are parents welcome to visit at any time?
• Is an internal quality