How to Test a Childcare or Preschool for Your Child

Asking the right questions can help you to ensure the most positive experience for your child in preschool or early childhood education environments. Taking the time to discuss your expectations with administrators and teachers and to tour the facility before enrolling your toddler or preschool-aged child can provide you with added peace of mind and confidence in your decision. Here are six of the most important questions to ask staff at the educational facilities you are considering for your child.

What qualifications do your teachers hold?

Certified or accredited teachers have the training and educational background needed to manage a wide range of common issues in the child care center environment. This can ensure that your child has the support necessary to achieve a higher degree of success in the early childhood education environment. Well-qualified teachers can create a safer and more productive setting for these first learning experiences.

What is the facility’s schedule?

Knowing when your child care provider will be closed can help you make alternative plans for days when it is not in session. Making sure that your chosen facility maintains a schedule that suits your needs can be critical for working parents who depend on these centers for everyday care of their children. If your child care provider takes extended breaks during the summer or at other times of the year, finding out in advance can ensure the most proactive approach to these scheduled downtimes.

What are your requirements for enrollment?

While some centers accept infants, others may require that children be potty-trained or that they meet certain age requirements. Be sure to determine if there are current openings in your child’s age group; if not, you may be placed on a waiting list with no definite date of entry. This can significantly delay other plans that may depend on finding reliable care for your child.

How do you communicate with parents?

Your child’s teacher may send out regular emails or daily written reports of activities, learning experiences, food consumption and other aspects of the school routine. These informational updates can allow parents to take a more active role in supplementing in-class instruction and can provide topics for discussion at home.

What policies are in place for parent visits?

Unscheduled visits and drop-ins can be a good way to check on the welfare of your child and to ensure that you feel comfortable with the teachers and methods used in your preschool or care center. Ensuring that your chosen facility allows for these visits can provide you with added insights into the daily routines of your child and the environment in which he or she is learning.

What curriculum does your child development center use?

Your child’s school curriculum should measure up both to national standards and to your own preferences. For example, the Discovery Point child development centers have adopted the Creative Curriculum program, which focuses directly on student interests to elicit the most positive results for students in these elite educational environments.

At Discovery Point, we are committed to providing the most positive early childhood experiences for the children under our care. We maintain clear lines of communication with parents and conduct monthly in-house inspections to ensure the safety and health of our students. By entrusting your little ones to us, you can enjoy increased confidence and added peace of mind during these formative early years.