Choosing the right preschool for your child can be a challenging task. Not only do you want to make sure that they’ll be learning the tools they need for kindergarten and elementary school, but you also want to make sure that they will enjoy fun-filled days with teachers who love them. At Growing Center in Bonita Springs, we understand just how important a quality preschool education is for your child, which is why we are proud to offer a secure, quality, fun, and nurturing educational environment. Continue reading to learn what to look for in a preschool, and contact us today to schedule a tour! We look forward to partnering with you.
Classroom Environment
A preschool classroom is typically a child’s first exposure to a school setting, which means that it should be bright, colorful, and inviting. At the same time, be conscious of preschool classrooms that have so many different things hanging from the ceiling and posted on walls that they create a stimulus overload for your child. There is a balance between providing enough engaging material and overwhelming the senses.
The classroom should also have an open floor plan with plenty of low shelves, tables, and chairs so that children are easily monitored and able to access things. Bathrooms should also be within view of the teacher to make sure that the children’s safety can be monitored at all times.
Active Play
There are a wide variety of different types of active play that promote both gross- and fine-motor skills in preschool-age children. All children need both types of play, which promote not only the further development of motor skills but are also necessary for their health and well-being. Regular exposure to different types of active play will help children develop the larger muscles they need to walk, run, play, while other activities develop the smaller muscles they need to write, ties shoes, and pick up objects.
Teacher Qualifications
If you ever watch a preschool classroom for a bit, then you might think that all they are doing is playing. However, a good teacher has specific reasons for the different types of activities that are taking place in the classroom. If you aren’t sure what educational value exists in building towers out of blocks or making pretty colors in the water in an ice cube tray, then be sure to ask the teacher. They should be able to tell you right away the purpose for that particular activity and how your child is benefitting. For example, building with blocks helps to develop spatial reasoning while mixing different colors in the water helps children learn about color theory — blue and yellow make green.
Student Assessment
Before you respond with fear about your child being tested when they are in a child development center, read a little about the type of testing that is actually done. Testing in preschool is not even remotely close to the types of tests they’ll face in middle school or high school. Rather, the testing done at the preschool level helps teachers to have a clearer picture of where each child is developmentally, emotionally, and socially. These tests are non-academic in nature, and help both you and the teacher determine whether your child is truly ready for kindergarten or if they would benefit from one more year of preschool.
Choosing the right preschool for your family can be a challenging decision, which is why Growing Room in Bonita Springs strives to provide you with the information you need to make the right choice for your child. If you are ready to see what we have to offer, then please call and schedule a tour at our child development center today. We look forward to helping your child develop a love for learning.
