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10 Tips on Finding the Right Preschool

  • January 29, 2016
  • by Melissa Lawrence

*Giveaway is over.

This video and GIVEAWAY are paid promotions by Noodle. You should check out their super helpful Preschool Search Tool. Thanks Noodle for supporting CloudMom!

Hi everybody, Melissa here.  Shooting a video today from newly-painted, pink studio – yup, with the girls now sleeping in my “studio”, we went pink and they are so excited!!

Ok so today, I’m talking about how to find the right preschool program for your child.  Studies show that early education plays a key role in a child’s intellectual and social development.  Also, preschool education will be your child’s first experience of formal schooling, and you want to get it right!

In this video, I’m going to walk you guys through a list of factors that will help you sift through the myriad of early education options out there.

Please comment below if you have tips on finding a good preschool because I would love to hear them.  Oh, and don’t forget to enter below to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

prek

preschooler-and-teacher

Before I get to my ten tips, I want to mention a cool resource that can really help in searching for schools: Noodle. Noodle offers a searchable database of preschool options.  With nearly 200,000 day cares, preschools, and pre-K programs, Noodle serves up all the possibilities.  And it helps you to choose among them because it does the searching for you.  Insert your criteria, and NOODLE serves up good choices that will help narrow your choice and lead you to the right decision for your family.

kids-at-preschool

OK, so with that said, in today’s video I’m laying out 10 criterion you should consider when it comes to early learning centers and preschool curriculum  – and these are all criterion you can input in Noodle!!  Just to give you a sense, here are the first three I mention (click over to my video for the others).

1. Program type – Half day? Full day?
2. Special scheduling – do you need early drop off or extended stay?
3. Teaching philosophy – Play-based, Montessori, co-op, or teacher-led?

"All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them." - Magic Johnson

I hope these criteria will help you figure out what your family’s priorities are.  Please watch my video for more.

And see you back soon on CloudMom!

Noodle Giveaway

Prize(s): One (1) $50 Amazon gift card.

Rules:

  • Enter using the Gleam widget below.
  • Open to U.S readers.
  • You must be 18 or older to enter.
  • You have multiple ways you can enter to increase your chances of winning.
  • The giveaway ends on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time).
  • Winner will be announced on the widget below within 48 hours after the giveaway has ended.

Noodle Giveaway

 This video and GIVEAWAY are paid promotions by Noodle.  The opinions expressed in this email are my own. 

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    Comments

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    Karen

    Some daycare center last till kids are ready to go to kindergarten. What do you think of those?

    Kay Saunders

    This is far in the future for me but its always good to start your research early 😀

    jea smith

    Watching the kids and teacher interactions can tell you a lot. Love the tips.

    Zoe Shampo

    Im pregnant with my first but it cant hurt to start planning now!

    cynthiac

    My kids were so lucky to attend a quality preschool. The teachers there were wonderful.

    mommyto2girlz

    I don’t really have any tips. I was very lucky with my preschools. They were recommended by friends. My girls loved them and I was very happy with them. Thank you!

    cloudmom

    That’s wonderful! Thanks for reading 🙂

    Natalie

    I think that it is especially important to look at the teaching style!

    cloudmom

    I agree! Kids all learn in different ways so it’s important to find what is best for your child 🙂

    Betsy R Barnes

    When we were searching for a good preschool, I would ask if the children were given any opportunity in choosing some of their activities during the day. In making his own decisions early, helped him later in life. My son would feel a sense of independence when given chances to choose. We found a great preschool at the local college that was supported by professors and students studying education.

    cloudmom

    That sounds like a great start to early education! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    GillisHills

    Preschools have gotten much more sophisticated since my daughter was that age. Thanks for the giveaway!

    cloudmom

    They have changed so much even from when my oldest first started preschool! Wishing you luck, thanks for reading 🙂

    Shannon Johnson

    When I search for a preschool or daycare I make sure they are not only licensed, but funded by county programs. The state of California has very strict laws regarding daycare and if they are getting subsidized by county/state funds the guidelines are stricter.

    Anita Mitchell

    I like small classes for my kids when they were in it. My daughter in law is looking for a good one now.Smaller groups work better,at least that’s how I feel.

    Cathy Thompson

    My grandson’s preschool is the bomb! The teachers are awesome they actually care about each child and it shows.

    Natalie

    I look for a lower ratio of teachers to students.

    cloudmom

    That was definitely important to us too!

    Casey Lyn

    This is one of the best articles I’ve read in awhile! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    cloudmom

    Thanks so much, Casey! I appreciate it 🙂

    Lisa Jagodzinski

    My son wont be in preschool for a cpl years but this was a good read and gave me things to consider and look for when he is ready to attend preschool and which school to choose

    steve weber

    smaller classes = more one on one time!

    H.T. Boland

    Great list, thanks for sharing. It depends on the child too doesn’t it, some will do better in one type compared to another. Thanks again 🙂

    slehan

    Good tips. My Amazon wish list is long.
    Thanks for the contest.
    slehan at juno dot com

    Anel Winney

    Thank you for the tips! My LO is going to be 2 this year, and i have started thinking about preschool! There is so much to consider before the time comes!

    Brandon Sparks

    Good tips to know. Thank You so much.

    Deborah Gardner

    Thanks for the tips! So much to consider when I put my son in preschool.

    Terri Irvin

    I have grandchildren in pre-school and one more still at home. Thanks for the info.