Picking a Preschool

Find a Great Preschool!

Early education lays the foundation to help kids make a smooth transition from infancy into the school years. Research has found that kids who attend preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten. Are you searching for the right early learning program? Follow these tips to help you find the right preschool for your child.

Start Your Search Early

Many schools have a waitlist, so it’s important to start the preschool search months before your child is ready to enroll. Researching preschools can be a lengthy process, so start early. Some communities offer early education fairs, and many preschools hold open houses. Take advantage of these events to help make your decision early. The earlier you decide on a school, the more likely you will be able to secure a spot for your child when he reaches enrollment age. Never assume you are starting your search too early. I joined a waitlist for a childcare facility when I was pregnant and didn’t receive a phone call about an open spot until my daughter was 3 years old.

Referrals

Talk to your friends, family and neighbors about what preschools they chose for their children and why. Ask about their experiences and what the pros and cons were of the school. Referrals will give you an idea of what schools you might want to tour and learn more about. You can also read reviews about schools online, but don’t rely simply on online reviews to make your decision.

Meet the Teachers

You will usually meet with the preschool director when taking a tour. However, the teachers are who your children will be spending most of their time with. Studies show that teachers with higher education usually translate to higher levels of care. Search out teachers who have formal training, such as a college degree in child development, early childhood education or a related field. You will also want to see whether the teacher is positive and in good

spirits with the students. Ask whether you can sit in on a classroom. Is the teacher interactive and engaging? Does she use positive discipline? Is the classroom under control? And most importantly, are the children learning and having fun? It’s also important to look at the staff turnover rate. Constant staff changes can be distracting to your child’s learning environment. Every school has minimums regarding teacher to child ratio. Does the school meet the minimums?

Full Time or Part Time?

A big decision when selecting a preschool is whether your child is ready for a full day of school or would do better in a part-time program. According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, children are better prepared for learning and social interaction in full-time preschool than in part-time programs. However, every child is different. Not all children will be prepared to start a full-time program. For example, a child who has never been in childcare outside of her home might not feel as comfortable spending an entire day away from her parents, and a child who takes a two-hour nap every day might be better suited for a half-day program, so he can get home in time to rest. Many children start part-time preschool at the age of 3 and transition to full-time preschool when they turn 4.

Ask About Philosophy

Kimberly Cordonnier, children’s program director at UCP of Northwest Missouri and mother of two from St. Joseph, MO, says parents should make sure the philosophy of the school aligns with what they value in their child’s early education. For example, some programs focus mainly on academics while others incorporate social skills along with academics.

Cordonnier says there are two different types of learning structures in the preschool setting. Teacher-led structure is more academic based. “The teacher is the one deciding what to teach young children and what experiences they should have,” she says. “Classroom time is devoted to learning letters and sounds, distinguishing shapes and colors, telling time and other skills. The teacher seems to follow a thematic curriculum that involves drills and practice. The focus seems to be more on memorization and not focused on developing the whole child.”

Child-led learning is more play-based. Teachers observe the children’s interests and choose topics that align with those interests. “Teachers are able to introduce social emotional skills along with academic concepts that include hands-on experiences based on the children’s interests,” Cordonnier says. “Child-led activities are more meaningful to young children, and more learning is taking place. Child-led activities allow children to be creative and work on their problem-solving skills.”

Read the Handbook

Before you enroll your child, make sure you read the entire parent handbook. Ensure the school’s hours, holiday schedule, tuition rates, vacation and other policies work for you and your family. Typically, schools have other fees that aren’t included in the tuition, such as registration fees, supply fees, technology fees, fees for field trips and daily snacks. Calculate all costs involved before signing the agreement. Some schools also have annual tuition increases, so keep that in mind as well.

Trust Your Gut

A parent’s intuition is usually right, so trust your gut instincts. If the classroom looks fun and joyful while you’re taking a tour, and the children seem engaged and excited, that’s a good sign. If you and your child feel comfortable and have a good first impression of the school and its staff, you may have found the right preschool. If something doesn’t seem right, ask more questions and address any concerns you might have. Feel free to make an unexpected visit to see how the preschool runs outside of visiting hours. The most important thing is to find a place where your child loves to come learn every day.

Preschool programs for young children are becoming more and more common. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 68 percent of 4-year-olds and 40 percent of 3-yearolds were enrolled in a preschool program in 2017. However, the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) found that fewer than 10 percent of the facilities it surveyed fall in the “very high quality” category.

Regan Lyons is a girl mom and freelance writer. She lives with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley, 7, and Ensley, 1, in St. Joseph, MO.

OF LESS Secrets STRESSED PARENTS

“Secrets of less stressed parents” sounds like a direct contradiction of terms, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, although there aren’t really secrets, there are some simple and fairly easy ways to not only destress yourself, but also to lessen the stress in your life!

One important, and probably overlooked, way to lessen your stress as a parent is to plan ahead and manage your time. This will look different depending on your family dynamics, work obligations, extracurricular activities and similar variables. Some people feel having a plan is too restrictive to their days, weeks, years. However, having a plan helps quell stress before it even has a chance to creep in. Lauren Sasche, Overland Park mom of two, says, “Managing stress for me is planning ahead as much as possible, like by batching as many of my tasks as I can. I do all my laundry on Mondays, try to throw together outfits as I go, and have them set out so there is less to do in the morning. I plan the week’s meals on Sunday and do a big Instacart order to get us through the week. The more I can do in one sitting the more my brain is freed up for other things, and this limits my stress.”

Planning ahead also helps you manage your time and be more productive and efficient. Vicky Payne, an Overland Park mom of three, says, “With kids in a lot of different activities and most of our nights busy running around, I try to squeeze in exercise in conjunction with their activity (like walk the track during swimming lessons). I need exercise to sleep well and need to sleep well to function properly. It’s a win for all: My boys get their activities, and I get my exercise!”

Aside from planning ahead, channeling your inner Elsa and “letting it go” is another stress reducing technique. As a parent, you certainly can’t do all or be all, so something has to go. Carly Hughes, Shawnee mom of two, agrees. “I’m learning to let things go more,” she says. “I just can’t do it all! I was/am a control freak, but trying to be in charge of everything just makes me too stressed out and anxious. I’ve said ‘no’ more, not worried as much if things don’t get done, and honestly, I’ve just ‘let’ my husband do more because I finally realized how much I need his help. Luckily, he was happy to take more on, and I couldn’t be more thankful.” Letting it go might not mean asking your husband to help, but maybe for

you it looks like setting a timer and cleaning what you can in 30 minutes. Or maybe it looks like hiring someone to clean your house once a month. It could look like you saying no to things, even if they are good things! It might even mean prioritizing yourself first.

Speaking of prioritizing yourself, the final secret for lessening stress is ... you guessed it … self care! We already know this, but why is it so hard to do? You may think you don’t have time for, or can’t afford, self care. You may feel unworthy of self care or not even know what it looks like at this stage of your life. But if you have ever heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” then you know how important taking time for yourself is. In fact, Melody Anderson, Overland Park mom of two, says this: “Humanizing ourselves as parents and taking a break, even for 60 seconds, can change how we handle a situation and how much stress builds up during the day.” A 60-second break can be as simple as walking outside for a breath of fresh air, sipping your coffee, lighting a candle or putting some music on. If you feel like you have a little more time for a break, try Jeanna Repass’s 10-minute stress relieving idea. An Overland Park mom of three, Repass shares, “A tip I use is 5 + 5 for 10. When I am super stressed, I tell myself 10 minutes is all I need. I do a five-minute devotion or prayer, which gives me five minutes to think about something other than what is causing me stress. Then, I put on a song—any kind of song—and lie flat on the floor and listen to the music for five minutes. That 10 minutes helps drain the stress away. The best and hardest part is the 10 minutes. Most of us don’t have any more than that to give.”

For others like Katie Horner, an Overland Park mom of two, self care is a way of life. “Being a wife, mom and teacher doesn’t leave much self care time. But when I set aside time for myself, I am a better person, which in turn helps me handle stress. For me, this looks like getting up every morning at 4:40 to work out. I use this time to work out because it is something I love to do that clears my mind and gives me a fresh start to every day. Any stresses, worries and concerns go out the door when I start my workout. Once I am done, I can take on anything!”

So there you have it! You are equipped to destress yourself! Only kidding, of course, because I know it’s not quite that simple. That stress has harmful effects on our bodies is no secret, so don’t delay trying to reduce it. Just pick one thing you can do today and one small action step you can put into place. Write it down in your planner or on your bathroom mirror or, better yet, tell a friend who can hold you accountable. Start the slow, but important, process of letting go of the stress in your life.

I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.

What causes the most stress in your life?

• job • money • relationships • family • kids • time (lack of!) • societal expectations

Julie Collett writes from her home in Overland Park, where she is a wife and mom of four. Stress is a daily part of her life, sometimes more than she would like it to be!

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