As a parent of a toddler, I’m glad I can avoid picking a school for the next few years. I haven’t thought about putting her on a wait list of preschools, 3 years in advance and hope that decision won’t come back to bite me! Hopefully this list will help you as much as it did for me. Selecting a school shouldn’t be stressful, but you should be informed.
1. Visit Schools on Your List During School Hours
The prettiest classrooms in the world don’t mean anything until you visit them when the teachers are in action. Once you have your list of potential schools, coordinate with the administration for visits. It may be a good idea for you and your spouse to visit separately if time allows, so you can compare independent thoughts after. Observe the various teachers’ styles and how the students interact with both the instructors and each other. You may want to think twice about a school that prohibits parent visits outside of Back to School Nights. They may demonstrate an inflexibility that may prove hard to work with, should your children become their student.