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Parent Answers to "How did you choose a preschool in Los Angeles?"
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I agree with everything youbetcha posted. One thing too is ask your friends and look at their kids. We asked friends and were referred to one pre-school where we only stayed one semester. The friend has a son with issues and I didn't consider that when she told me that she liked that pre-school. It didn't take long to see that it was not a good fit for our family.
The second school, and the last, also was recommended by friends. This time we looked closely before we leaped! We toured the school a few times along with our son''sinterview, met the high energy director and looked at the kids of our friends and how they were developing. Once our son got in, which took some doing, we were extremely happy and recommended the school to others we thought would like it.
The second school, and the last, also was recommended by friends. This time we looked closely before we leaped! We toured the school a few times along with our son''sinterview, met the high energy director and looked at the kids of our friends and how they were developing. Once our son got in, which took some doing, we were extremely happy and recommended the school to others we thought would like it.
Check the NAEYC (National Association for Educators of Young Children) website for accredited preschools in your area. You can check by zip code. Also gives a suggested list of questions to ask.
A preschool that goes through the process of accreditation must have at least a half decent program.
Other things to consider:
1. Do you want a 'progressive' school or a 'pencil/paper' school? (i.e., is your primary goal for putting your child in preschool to develop social skills or do you want him doing 'homework' before age 5?
2. Do you want a 'nursery school' (that is, a mornings or afternoons only program) or a daycare situation (if you have to work full time) that provides some preschool "instruction".
3. How far are you willing/able to travel; can you get a carpool partner if it is a long drive, to ease the burden?
4. If you have a need to meet other parents, create your own relationships, does the school offer ways for parents to get to know one another (i.e., is it a community or just a place to drop off your kid)?
5. Check out the teachers: How long have teachers been there at the school? Preschools have notoriously high turnover rates - a school whose teachers have been there a long time must be doing something right!; How 'happy' do the teachers look? How do they interact with kids? Are they all certificated? How many teachers per child? What is the class size? What are the centers like - are children drawn to them?
6. Talk to the parents at the school: Are they satisfied? Which teachers are the best in their opinion?
7. Last, but as important, check out the Director. What kind of feeling does he/she give you? How long has he/she been there? Is he/she a member of the local community? How involved is he/she in the classroom and running of the daily operations?
There's a myriad of choices out there; if I can give a big plug to Weekday Preschool at the Northridge United Methodist Church. Not affiliated with the church, but uses its space, this a progressive, NAEYC certified school that has been around for at least 40 years, with a dedicated, loving staff of professional teachers with many years of experience -- some teachers have been there over 10 years. Our years there were very happy and rewarding for our whole family.
A preschool that goes through the process of accreditation must have at least a half decent program.
Other things to consider:
1. Do you want a 'progressive' school or a 'pencil/paper' school? (i.e., is your primary goal for putting your child in preschool to develop social skills or do you want him doing 'homework' before age 5?
2. Do you want a 'nursery school' (that is, a mornings or afternoons only program) or a daycare situation (if you have to work full time) that provides some preschool "instruction".
3. How far are you willing/able to travel; can you get a carpool partner if it is a long drive, to ease the burden?
4. If you have a need to meet other parents, create your own relationships, does the school offer ways for parents to get to know one another (i.e., is it a community or just a place to drop off your kid)?
5. Check out the teachers: How long have teachers been there at the school? Preschools have notoriously high turnover rates - a school whose teachers have been there a long time must be doing something right!; How 'happy' do the teachers look? How do they interact with kids? Are they all certificated? How many teachers per child? What is the class size? What are the centers like - are children drawn to them?
6. Talk to the parents at the school: Are they satisfied? Which teachers are the best in their opinion?
7. Last, but as important, check out the Director. What kind of feeling does he/she give you? How long has he/she been there? Is he/she a member of the local community? How involved is he/she in the classroom and running of the daily operations?
There's a myriad of choices out there; if I can give a big plug to Weekday Preschool at the Northridge United Methodist Church. Not affiliated with the church, but uses its space, this a progressive, NAEYC certified school that has been around for at least 40 years, with a dedicated, loving staff of professional teachers with many years of experience -- some teachers have been there over 10 years. Our years there were very happy and rewarding for our whole family.
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