15 Questions to Ask When Choosing the Best Preschool

If you’re the parent of a toddler or preschooler, or new to town, finding the right preschool can be a daunting task. There is so much to consider, but most important is choosing a school where your child will feel most comfortable and happy.

As a former preschool director and State of Connecticut certified head preschool teacher and having raised three children of my own, I can empathize with the stress and worry this season in life can bring. When you are entrusting the education of your child to another, you want to make sure that your child will be in competent hands because these years are formative in developing a love of learning and positive social interactions with peers and teachers.

Many of my friends have little ones who are reaching preschool age and I can see how hard it can be to choose just the right school. I recently spent a week at Enchanted Garden’s preschool on Route 35 in Ridgefield and interviewed its founder Judy Hirt-Manheimer, an educator and expert in the field who has practiced her craft for more than 30 years.

In addition to the brightly colored space designed and painted by Jim Henson puppet creator Tim Clarke, one obvious thing I observed was that this is not the cookie-cutter preschool that so many are used to. The room is cozy and carpeted and has a little village along one wall, music is playing, kids are interacting in small groups or playing independently and teachers are actively engaged with the children.

Every two weeks the school introduces a new theme for the learning activities. When I was there in May around the time of Cinco de Mayo, children learned to count in Spanish and learned some Spanish words as well. Students used musical instruments to play along with Mexican songs, tried on a sombrero, did the Mexican hat dance and read Mexican and Tex-Mex folktales. Chef Noah taught them how to make quesadillas and fresh salsa, and they examined genuine artifacts from Mexico, including pre-Columbian clay figures, a hand-woven blanket, dolls, jewelry and musical instruments. They learned how to make Mexican tissue-paper flowers, which they used to decorate the room. Background music included Latino children’s songs.

Enchanted Garden’s preschool integrates nature study, cooking, science and the arts into its school year and summer camp. In science, students studied monarch butterflies and learned about their migration to Mexico each year. They created colorful butterfly kites, intricate wands and beautiful prints.

For Earth Day the children grew plants from cuttings and rooted them in water. Outside, they started preparing their organic garden, which will include pumpkins grown from seeds saved from Halloween at The Hickories, one of their monthly field trip destinations.

Throughout the day, teachers are helping children with Kindergarten readiness with letter and number games, puzzles, one-on-one and group reading and writing activities.

So how can you be sure to choose the right preschool? Take a tour with your child and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Can you picture your child thriving in this environment? Is it nurturing and kind?
2. Are there activities available which your child will find exciting and engaging?
3. What is the school’s philosophical approach to learning?
4. Are there opportunities for dramatic/fantasy play and how are creativity and self-expression encouraged?
6. Do children have adequate time for free play and are there indoor and outdoor exercise opportunities?
7. What precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of the children?
8. Does the environment feel warm and inviting, or is it cold and institutional?
9. Do students seem happy or do they look busy or bored?
10. How does the school meet individual learning needs?
11. How does it teach positive social interaction with students and teachers?
12. Are the teachers happy and excited or do they look bored? Ask about the staff turnover rate and how long they been with the school. Also, inquire about their academic backgrounds and teaching experience.
13. How does the school keep parents informed? Is there a newsletter? Do you get e-mail updates? Can you e-mail or phone the teachers with questions?
14. How does the staff help children resolve conflicts? How are issues like hitting, throwing and biting addressed? Do parents and teachers work together to deal with issues as they come up?
15. How does the school handle illnesses? Are there health professionals connected with the school?

Wendy Mitchell is a former preschool director, State of Connecticut certified head teacher, and currently serves as Community Outreach Director for the Enchanted Garden in Ridgefield, Conn.

Photos by Wendy Ann Mitchell