How soon should you begin thinking about your child's first years of school? Some parents begin planning and applying at different preschools very early, while others wait until the year their child will start. How many preschools are in your area? Do the classes fill up quickly? Does your child have special needs? What age will you start your child in preschool? What do you hope for your child to get out of preschool? All of these things will come into play as you make the decisions about your child's first year in school. Visit my website to learn how to get the answers to these questions.
Choosing a high-quality childcare center is one of the most important choices working parents of young children have to make.
If you aren't sure where to start, ensure your choice meets each of the following criteria.
Age Appropriate Child-to-Teacher Ratios
The child care center you select should have an appropriate child-to-teacher ratio based on your child's age.
A three-year-old is developmentally unable to spend long periods immersed in activities or playing with other children. They need much more guidance from an adult. For example, a three-year-old needs more one-on-one attention from a teacher than a five-year-old child.
For this reason, a three-year-old will need a lower child-to-teacher ratio than a five-year-old. While there may be only a couple of children in a three-year-old classroom, having more in a five-year-old room is fine.
The most important thing to remember is that the child-teacher ratio is age appropriate for your child.
Educated Teachers Participating in Continuing Education Programs
For a center to offer your child an educational experience instead of simply daycare, the staff and teachers must have college degrees and participate in continuing education programs.
This is very important because teachers with degrees in children's education have completed specialized training to provide quality educational experiences for children.
If you are looking for a child care center that will provide an educational experience, then their teachers must be credentialed.
Teachers Who Display Positive Interactions With Children
One of the first things you should do to evaluate any childcare center is to ask to visit and observe interactions between the teachers and children.
In addition, when visiting the child care center for any other reason, keep an eye out for natural interactions between teachers, staff, and children. Observe the exchanges and get a good idea of how the center runs and if everyone works together.
As you observe the interactions between teachers and children, watch to see if the teachers interact positively with the children. Also, look at how the children respond to their teachers. The more time you can observe, the better.
Is there a lot of disrespect? Or, are the children readily pleasing their teacher because they have a good relationship?
While you can evaluate the business aspects of a childcare center on paper, what matters is what you see, what you hear, and your observations.
Ultimately, trust your gut instincts, and you will decide which childcare center is best for your child!
To learn more, contact a child care center today.
Share1 November 2022
