How to Choose the Best Preschool for Your Child

Now that the children are home from school for the summer, you might be considering enrollment of one or more of them into a local preschool. This is an important choice and will impact your child’s future academic options as well as his social development. To get the best Chinese preschool curriculum that will best prepare your child you need to do a little homework. Getting a head start for your child’s education is very important and preschool should be an ideal start for it.

Here are some tips to help you make the best choice for your child.

1. Know the Type of Preschools Available and Their Benefits

There are various types of preschools that you can choose from. A good way to start is to first know the different types of Chinese preschools available.

Daycare Centers – These are predominantly for toddlers and young children up to preschool or kindergarten age. Daycare centers tend to be less expensive than most preschools, but these do not really offer much education except for some basic learning skills. Some centers do have a formal curriculum, but you will find that most of the teachers are not trained enough to handle children as young as those in their care.

Will your child be ready for kindergarten? – You need to ask yourself whether your child is old enough and has developed the necessary skills to take on the rigors of kindergarten. Most children are not ready at pre-kindergarten or kindergarten age and parents who enroll them into that type of school end up regretting their decision because the child’s academic progress is very slow due to a lack of social skills and emotional maturity needed for adjusting to formal schooling.

You should only enroll your child into a formal preschool or one that has a kindergarten program if he is at least 4 years old and almost ready for school. Otherwise, you should enroll him in a daycare center where he can get the nurturing needed until he is fully prepared for formal schooling.

2. Resources are Important

Do not be swayed by nice-looking classrooms and facilities that a school claims to have. The most important resources are the teachers and their training. You need to ask yourself whether the preschool hires only competent, trained, and experienced instructors who know how to handle children of different ages and learning abilities. A good preschool will hire a team of qualified teachers from diverse backgrounds so as to cater to all types of children.

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3. Check Out the Curriculum

The preschool’s curriculum is important in determining how well prepared your child will be when he gets to kindergarten. The last thing you want is for your child’s kindergarten teacher to complain that she has a difficult time teaching him because he cannot identify basic colors, shapes, and letters like other children in his class can.

Take time to find out what subjects are taught in the preschool. Check if the subject matter is appropriate for your child’s age and ability level. You can get this information by talking to past parents or asking someone who has sent their children there for some time now. Also, you can search online for people’s reviews about the school because these will tell you what to expect from the preschool.

You must take the time to research different preschools before making a decision. You should consider the type of school, resources available, and most importantly, the curriculum. Make sure that the subjects taught in the preschool are appropriate for your child’s age and ability level. Ask other parents about their experiences with the schools they have tried and do some online research to get an idea of what to expect from each one. Only enroll your child in a formal preschool or one with a kindergarten program if he is at least 4 years old and almost ready for school. Otherwise, enroll him in a daycare center where he can get the nurturing needed until he is fully prepared for formal schooling.