The pressure of choosing the right kindergarten for your children can be a daunting decision. You’ll be faced with endless options as each friend provides you with entirely different advice. However, you must stay practical and do your own research so that you can make a well-informed, thoughtful decision.
When deciding the correct kindergarten for your child, here are some things to keep in mind:
What Kind of Learning Environment are You Looking for?
You will find a range of kindergarten schools in your area, each one promising to build a successful future for your child. However, only you are aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and the kind of personality he has. Keep in mind his individual needs, and make sure you ask the school how they plan on meeting those needs.
Figure out whether your child would do better in a strictly structured or relatively less structured environment. Will your child require individual attention? If your child gets bored quickly, you may have to find a kindergarten that challenges him and keeps him engaged.
You must also figure out the teaching methods and discipline strategies that each kindergarten is known for. Social-economic practices within the classroom are important, and you must know how different teachers deal with challenging behaviour. After all, children are not easy to deal with.
Do You Want a Kindergarten Close to Home or Far?
The kindergarten you choose for your children will have an impact on your entire family and their individual schedules. Hence, the distance must be kept in mind when looking at a kindergarten. You need to ask yourself whether you will be able to pick and drop your children from kindergarten each day and how far you will be willing to drive. If this is not an option, your child will have to take the school bus. For this, you should opt for a neighbourhood kindergarten.
Moreover, you also need to figure out if you want your child to build friendships within the community. If you are okay with them branching outside and forming relationships outside the neighbourhood, then you can opt for a kindergarten further away from home.
Take a Tour of the School
To understand the kind of environment your child may be going into, it is best to arrange for a tour of the kindergarten. This way, you can know more about the school environment, talk to parents, get a real view of the children there, and notice how teachers handle little kids.
This will help you get a real feel of the community you may be putting your child into. Understanding the experiences of others will help you decide if you want the same thing for your child.
Some Questions to Ask the Kindergarten
- Is there a balance between work and play?
- How long are students active for?
- How many children are in one class?
- What kind of food does the kindergarten offer?
- What is a normal day in the life of a kindergarten child?
- Is diversity encouraged? How?
- Are teachers properly certified from reputable institutes?
- How are children assessed?
- Does the kindergarten offer any after-school programs or activities?
While choosing the right kindergarten is a big decision, you must have faith in yourself. Once you cover these questions, you will have a clearer idea of the kind of kindergarten you are looking for.