by Cheryl Abney

Created on: September 10, 2010   Last Updated: September 12, 2010

How do you envision the perfect preschool? You probably picture happy, active children watched over by warm teachers in a bright, attractive environment. It is not just about looks though. What is the quality of attention and love the preschoolers receive throughout their day? What will your child be taught? You desire peace of mind that comes from knowing that your impressionable and trusting child is left in nurturing, protective hands. How does a parent know which preschool is best?

Whether you are working to provide for family needs or desire that your preschooler interact with other children to learn social skills, you need to do your homework and make a wise decision based on the information you collect. Here is a comprehensive guide to approach the task of choosing the best preschool for your child.

First, to decide which preschools to visit, locate those in your home or work vicinity. Those closest to work offer a distinct advantage in allowing you to drop in when needed or attend scheduled parent functions without taking a lot of time from work.

Second, ask about others’ experiences with local preschools. Word of mouth recommendations from friends, neighbors and co-workers are a great help in identifying those preschools with a good reputation. You can also check a list of accredited preschools kept by the National Association for Early Childhood Education, NAEYC (rhymes with daisy). However, if you live in a rural area, your small local preschools may not be listed and you will have to decide without this additional information.

Next, decide on those that you particularly like within your locale and call to ask when you could visit their preschool. Go with notebook in hand and note the following:

* What is the ratio of students to daycare worker? The NAEYC guidelines call f or one adult for six 2 – 3 year olds; or one adult for ten 3 – 4 year olds.

* What are the qualifications of the owner and employees? Are they licensed and accredited?  Accreditation is superior because it requires a license; whereas, a licensed preschool doesn’t have to be accredited. Ask the director of the preschool about their background and how long they and their employees have operated a preschool.

* Will the preschool provide healthy snacks and lunch, or must you pack them?

* What is the preschoolers’ daily schedule? Does the program focus more on education or play? Do they teach academic lessons or are social skills and

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