How Do You Choose the Right Preschool and Get In?

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Getting my unborn daughter on preschool waitlists was a concept that was really hard for me to wrap my head around. But now, a year later, it is time for me to face facts and they don't look pretty. I'm hoping to get some advice from parents that have been through the preschool experience. How did you find a preschool that was right for your child? Were you as dismayed by the 2 year long waitlists as I am?

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I have heard of areas that have wait lists this long but those in my area are more lottery based. I found mine through word of mouth and the NAEYC website. Additionally, I called the kindergarten teachers at 3 of the local schools in my district and asked them which preschools their most advanced and well adjusted students came from. I have a few friends that are teachers in my district and they were able to give helpful insight as well. Interview these schools and you will soon get an idea as to what is the best fit. My son, for example, is low-grade special needs and does best in a very structured environment and wouldn't do well in a montessori environment whereas my daughter would probably thrive in such a free spirited environment. When the day is done, realize that while preschool is very important, what matters most is what happens at home. Be sure your child is able to cope with every day social stresses because that's what impacts their learning ability most in my experiences.

My son never went to one. I'm a stay at home mom. But if I had to I would - waaay! in advance before enrollments. I would call and talk to someone that works there and ask if you could arrange to meet someone there and maybe even take a tour of the preschool. It's also best that way because then I wouldn't be distracting the kids and workers, or taking them from there work. you could take a tour w/out interuptions! :0) Another way is to go to a park w/ your little one. That's a great place to meet people and could ask them questions about preschool.

I chose the right preschool by looking around and observing. I wanted to know what did they have to offer my child. What kind of things will they be doing with my child. Ultimate goal would be to prepare my child for kindergarden, and for him/her to be safe.
When entering into the daycare you and your child should feel comfortable. Go with your motherly instincts. Yes it will be hard but our children will enjoy being with other children. The waiting lists are awful, but don't give up! Most of the time people on the list don't need it anymore, and the list gets shorter.

Your friend

Yes, relax!! :) This is one of many issues you will face being a parent...isnt it fun! Seriously, take your time and research.

You and your spouse will know when you have found the right place for your little one.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. So basically I need to relax and then research.

I used to teach preschool. I have had the pleasure of meeting many teachers from many types of preschools and to be honest the high end, need to enroll your child before you concieve type preschools are not any better than those who will teach your child to love, laugh, and learn to get along with others. You do need to shop around but don't by any means burden yourself with having to get your child in a fancy preschool. Unless you want to pay for added extras like dance class or language lessons, you pay a lot for those extras and they may not benefit your childs needs or they can be so overwhelming.

Don't forget to try a church preschool. I have pasted a link to the school I used to teach at so you have an idea of what we provided.

Good luck in your search efforts!

www.theobcs.com/

We're in Los Angeles, and we took a relaxed attitude to the whole preschool experience and it worked out for us. We talked to a lot of other parents at the playground, classes and to our friends to see how what preschools they were going to or interested in. We were actually going to just do arts and sports classes if we didn't get in anywhere. When our son was 3 1/2, we visited 3 preschools, all were play-based co-ops (where the parent works a day a week) and we applied to two. Our son ended up getting into the one we liked and we were on the waitlist for the other one and they ended up calling us as well. Just because the waitlist is very long, don't dismay, most preschools try to keep the kids balanced by gender and age. There may be an opening for a 3-year old girl, for instance and you can be picked ahead of others on the waiting list.

Oh my goodness I went to the new Montessori school for our visit. We had a classroom observation and tour and at that time they told me how the open enrollment for preschool worked. Basically, people start showing up the night before the day of open enrollment, camp out, sit there all day on the day of until they open the doors at 5 pm! I haven't camped out in any lines since buying concert tickets for the KISS reunion tour! Crazy! So that's how our system works. The school's that good! Preschool is paid, and the rest of the school is charter, so getting into Kindergarten is even harder!!!

We go to Creme de la Creme and if you can afford it I must say that it has been a very rewarding experience for us. Our daughter is 3 and already they praise her for how quickly she picks up the teachings. You should really check out the school it was also just recently reviewed by NBC5.

gjavazquez

Here are some tips for finding the right preschool for your child from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
www.naeyc.org/ece/2005/06.asp
Best of luck finding the right fit!

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