Ten Signs of
a Great
Preschool
If your child is
between the ages
of 3 and 6, you
may place him or
her in a child
care center,
preschool, or
kindergarten
program.
The National
Association for
the Education of
Young Children
(NAEYC)
(the
organization
that rates child
care centers and
pre-schools)
suggests you
look for these
10 signs when
choosing a
school:
1.
Children spend
most of their
playing and
working with
materials or
other children.
They do not
wander
aimlessly, and
they are not
expected to sit
quietly for long
periods of time.
2.
Children have
access to
various
activities
throughout the
day. Look for
assorted
building blocks
and other
construction
materials, props
for pretend
play, picture
books, paints
and other art
materials, and
table toys such
as matching
games,
pegboards, and
puzzles.
Children should
not all be doing
the same thing
at the same
time.
3.
Teachers work
with individual
children, small
groups, and the
whole group at
different times
during the day.
They do not
spend all their
time with the
whole group.
4. The
classroom is
decorated with
children's
original
artwork, their
own writing with
invented
spelling, and
stories dictated
by children to
teachers.
5.
Children learn
numbers and the
alphabet in the
context of their
everyday
experiences. The
natural world of
plants and
animals and
meaningful
activities like
cooking, taking
attendance, or
serving snacks
provide the
basis for
learning
activities.
6.
Children work on
projects and
have long
periods of time
(at least one
hour) to play
and explore.
Worksheets are
used little if
at all.
7.
Children have an
opportunity to
play outside
every day.
Outdoor play is
never sacrificed
for more
instructional
time.
8.
Teachers read
books to
children
individually or
in small groups
throughout the
day, not just at
group story
time.
9.
Curriculum is
adapted for
those who are
ahead as well as
those who need
additional help.
Teachers
recognize that
children's
different
background and
experiences mean
that they do not
learn the same
things at the
same time in the
same way.
10.
Children and
their parents
look forward to
school. Parents
feel secure
about sending
their child to
the program.
Children are
happy to attend;
they do not cry
regularly or
complain of
feeling sick.
Also ask if the
program is
accredited by
NAEYC. NAEYC
accredited
programs
complete a
rigorous
self-study and
external review
to prove that
they meet
standards of
excellence in
early childhood
education.
