The Demeter School

Sending your child to a daycare or preschool is an important decision. Before you sign any papers or enroll your child, you must complete the following:

• Personally go to the school and ask LOTS of questions. Look at the dynamics of where your child will be spending many hours.
• Are they a certified or a licensed center? Ask to see paperwork.
• Who are their teachers? Do they hold certificates or degrees? This is very important. You want qualified teachers to be with your child.
• Does the center have a surveillance system where you can watch your child from a computer? Many schools are not equipped with the technology, but it is a major plus!
• How are meals handled? You want to know who makes the food and where the children eat, especially if your child has food allergies.
• Discipline! Ask how teachers carry out discipline in the classroom.
• Most importantly…spend a day observing the classrooms. Some teachers might find this uncomfortable, but it will give you a good indication of how your child will spend their day. Look around the classroom…are there age appropriate books and toys? (we will get into this in later posts.) How do children and teacher(s) interact? Is there a schedule of the day posted? Check out the playground…is there a hard service for riding bikes? Are there outdoor toys and options? Shady areas for children to rest? These are just a few things to keep in mind while you watch your child socialize (if your child is having a difficult time going off on his own, take a peak through class windows).
• Even MORE important, be an active part in your child’s education. Talk to teachers, you two are PARTNERS in the growth of your child.

To find out more out quality childcare, check out www.childcareaware.org

Filed under: General, Quality Preschools on January 16th, 2007