Finding the Perfect School

Finding the best day care or school for your precious child can be a challenge. Especially if you are not as ready as your child is for the new adventure. I don’t know about you, but I am a “little bit” of a control freak and because I work in education, it’s even harder for me to let go and just do it!

I believe that the purpose of schooling is creating a community that nurtures and inspires a love for learning, in a diverse caring student-centered environment where all children feel safe and confident, respected and heard, and where they can grow at their own pace. They should be taught to accept and respect differences and one another, and they should be challenged according to their individual needs and development. Learning comes with the child, not with the subject matter, that’s why knowing each student very well and establishing a personal connection with every single one of them is crucial.

This sounds great and pretty general and all schools state, on paper, that they do all of the above. How can you, practically, find the best fit for you? I am going to share a few guidelines that help me in my preschool search of perfection. 🙂 

photo credit Matthew Steuer

Screen the classroom

When I walk into a classroom, I like to observe the buzz that happens there. Do children look engaged and content? Are they eager to talk about what they are doing? Where is the teacher? Is she/he working on the same level as the young learners? Is the teacher respectful and warm? Does the classroom have enough natural light? Does the set up facilitate interaction and collaboration? Are there enough resources like books, art supplies? (My personal preference is natural materials and colors instead of colorful plastic toys.)

Look around the school

The entire school should be a place where people like to spend time. I like seeing children helping with simple chores, a pleasant atmosphere, and of course, bathrooms and lunchrooms in a good condition. On the walls, I prefer children’s work that is actually made by them, and that is displayed at their eye level. The awards and diplomas of the school don’t impress me that much. I make sure the place is childproof and that it has a good outside play area. Another aspect to look at is the proximity of busy roads, a source of great pollution. I strongly believe in the saying “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”. It is very important to me to find a place where children go outside every day for at least 1 hour.

Interview

Don’t hesitate to ask all questions that come to your mind. What are the policy of the school, the teaching philosophy and the credentials of the teacher your child will have? Are the caregivers first-aid trained? How do they handle emergencies? Do they use time-outs or rewards? Is the learning play-based? Do students watch TV? Are they encouraged to be independent? What is the policy regarding sickness? What happens if a child needs help taking a nap? Is the food they serve healthy? Does the institution have a current license? It is easier for me keep track if I write down all my questions, before the visit. 

Investigate

A good way to learn more about a school is to ask other parents about their experience. Online resources are another great way to find reviews and personal stories that can help you form an opinion and make a decision. Make sure the school has not been involved in any scandals and children have not been lost or badly hurt there.

Trust Your Gut

You might find a school that checks all the boxes but it just doesn’t feel right for you or one that doesn’t have half the things you are looking for (the less important stuff hopefully), but you and your child really like the teacher. I would say, listen to your heart.

If I had to choose 3 most important aspects for my child’s preschool, those would be safety, a good teacher, outside playI am not torn between academics and play because I believe young children who are provided with rich play-based learning environment excel in all domains of development and learning.

If my child is eager to go to school, if he looks forward to seeing his teacher and peers, that means he enjoys learning. At the end of the day, like every parent, I just want my little boy to be happy! 

theUrbanMomOur favorite school may not be your favorite school and what works for us might not work for you. Just remember there is no perfect school and give a read to my favorite educator of all times who said:  Students are more likely to learn what they find interesting. Students are less interested in whatever they’re forced to do and more enthusiastic when they have some say. Students are more likely to succeed in a place where they feel known and cared about.  We want children to develop in many ways, not just academically. Just because a lesson (or book, or class, or test) is harder doesn’t mean it’s better. Kids aren’t just short adults. Substance matters more than labels.”Alfie Kohn 

Happy school hunting!

*Note: The pictures in this post have been taken by Matthew Steuer, at The American School of The Hague (NL) where I have worked, with permission from parents.

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8 thoughts on “Finding the Perfect School

  1. Thank you for all the great tips to find a preschool! One thing that I really like is that you say to try and learn
    more about the school by talking to some of the other parents. It would be nice to know that they are liking
    the school, and that they haven’t had any incidents.

  2. I liked that you had mentioned that when it comes to looking into a school that it can be important to
    interview the teachers and ask them how they handle emergencies and what type of policies they have set
    in place. My family and I have recently moved into a new area and while we’re really liking it, we need
    somewhere to enroll our son in preschool at. Once we start looking around, we will be sure to interview the
    instructors to make sure we can feel safe at wherever we put him.

  3. This article helps the parents to note the list of requirements to choose a daycare center, the requirements need to be listed, and
    the list should be consist of safety, good teacher, outside play as prerequisites.
    The point of interviewing and investigating is even interesting as it involves policies of the school, emergency handling, are kids
    encouraged to be independent.

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