Surviving Preschool Sign-Up Season

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Jessica Dees

Surviving Preschool Sign-Up Season

The more we learn about brain development in children, the more important education from an early age becomes.  Knowing what to look for and what to avoid when selecting a preschool for your child can make you an informed parent, as well as take much of the stress out of the entire process.

Claire Haas, vice president of education for Kiddie Academy, a national child care and education franchisor, says that, "All programs have a different makeup of teachers, classes and facilities, so it is…important to visit as many as possible to find one that is the right fit for your family."

Haas goes on to list her top five criteria for evaluating a pre-school education program, inviting parents to get invested in the process, do their own research and not rely too heavily on the claims of a given institution.

1. Start Early. Open houses and enrollment typically take place between Jan-Mar, so beginning your research 12months prior to the start of the school year will give you enough time to be certain.

2. Establish your "must-have" list. This one is very subjective, but boils down to you determining the features and programs that simply must exist for you to be comfortable sending your children every day.

3. Visit as many different programs as possible. This may seem obvious, but consider non-traditional programs as well as educational centers. Give yourself time to see all of the options available rather than just visiting all of the traditional day care facilities in town.

4. Request referrals. This is a two-way street. You'll want to get opinions from other parents at the school you choose to get an honest opinion, but also bear in mind that some programs are so popular that you yourself may need a referral to ensure admittance.

5. Consider accreditation. Even daycare and early education programs have accreditations. It is not a requirement, nor is it the 'be-all-end-all' for determining the quality of a program, but an accreditation can be one more line item to fill your pros and cons list when deciding between your top choices. The most common accreditations are NAEYC and NECPA.

About Kiddie Academy

Based in Abingdon, Maryland, Kiddie Academy has been a leader in child care education for more than 27 years.

Kiddie Academy provides education-based child care for children ages 6 months to 12 years old, including before- and after-school care and summer camp programs.

Kiddie Academy intends to reach 200 Academies by 2012, with all future growth coming via franchising.