Choosing the Right Preschool: What Actually Matters
Hello friends!
We know that choosing a good preschool can feel overwhelming. For many families, it is the first time leaving their child in someone else’s care for much of the day. Every preschool promises caring teachers and great learning experiences, but how can parents actually tell which programs are truly high quality?
Early childhood experts have studied this question for decades, and have found that certain characteristics consistently appear in preschool programs that support children’s development and long term success. If you are touring preschools or searching for the right fit, here’s our top 8 tips on the key things to look for:
1) Warm, Responsive Teachers
The most important part of any preschool is not the building, the curb appeal, the toys, or even the curriculum. It is the teachers and the relationships they build with children.
High quality programs have teachers who are warm, attentive, and responsive. They get down to a child’s level, listen carefully, and guide behavior with patience. Children in these environments feel safe and supported, which helps them explore, learn, and build confidence.
Research consistently shows that positive teacher child relationships are one of the strongest predictors of children’s social and academic development in early childhood programs.
Pro Tip: When visiting a preschool, watch how teachers interact with children. Do they greet you with a hello? Do they speak kindly? Do they seem engaged and patient? Do children appear comfortable approaching them?
These everyday interactions reveal a lot about the culture of a school.
2) Learning Through Play
Many parents worry that preschool should look like a miniature version of elementary school with desks and worksheets. In reality, young children learn best through hands on, play based experiences.
High quality preschools provide activities like building with blocks, art projects, pretend play, storytelling, music, and outdoor exploration. These experiences help children develop language, creativity, problem solving skills, and social abilities.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children explains that developmentally appropriate play based learning supports healthy brain development and prepares children for later academic success.
Pro Tip:If you walk into a classroom and see children actively building, creating, and talking with one another, that is usually a very good sign!
3) Cleanliness and the Overall Environment
Cleanliness is something parents often notice immediately when they walk into a preschool, and it matters more than people realize.
A well run preschool should feel clean, organized, and cared for. Toys and materials should be in good condition, bathrooms should be tidy, and surfaces should appear regularly cleaned.
Even the smell of a school can tell you a lot. A preschool should smell fresh and clean, not overwhelmingly chemical or unpleasant. Young children spend many hours each day in these spaces, so the environment should feel healthy, clean, and welcoming.
Pro Tip: Clean environments are not only about appearance. They help reduce the spread of illness and show that a school takes children’s wellbeing seriously. A clean school is a healthy school!
4) The Food Children Are Eating
Another important detail many parents overlook during tours is the food that is served. Children in childcare often eat multiple meals and snacks each day at school. Asking about the food program can tell you a lot about a center’s priorities.
Parents may want to ask questions such as:
What kinds of meals are served during the day?
Are meals prepared fresh or brought in pre packaged?
Are fruits and vegetables fresh or canned?
Pro Tip: Nutritious meals support children’s energy, focus, and overall health. A preschool that puts thought into what children eat is usually thinking carefully about many other aspects of care as well.
5) Reasonable Class Sizes
Another strong indicator of quality is the number of children in each classroom compared to the number of teachers. Smaller class sizes allow teachers to give children more attention and support. When teachers are responsible for too many children at once, it becomes difficult to respond to individual needs.
Research from the National Institute for Early Education Research shows that programs with lower teacher child ratios and trained educators tend to produce better developmental outcomes for children.
6) Strong Communication With Families
A great preschool recognizes that parents are partners in a child’s learning.
Look for schools that communicate openly with families about daily activities, development, and milestones. Teachers should be approachable and willing to answer questions. When parents and teachers work together, children receive more consistent support and encouragement.
Pro Tip: Be sure to ask if the school uses an App for daily communication, and how they handle emergency situations.
7) Watch the Children
Sometimes the best clues are the simplest ones! Take a moment to observe the children in the classroom. Do they seem comfortable and engaged? Are they laughing, playing, and interacting with their friends? Do they appear relaxed around their teachers?
Young children are very honest in their reactions. A room full of curious, happy children often tells you that a preschool is doing something right.
8) Trust Your Instincts
This is an important one- trust your gut feeling! Choosing a preschool is an important decision, and parents should feel confident in their choice. By paying attention to teacher interactions, classroom environments, cleanliness, food quality, class sizes, and communication, families can get a clearer picture of what daily life looks like for children in a program. So how does it make you feel?
Pro Tip: The right preschool should feel like a place where your child will be safe, supported, and excited to learn.
If you are currently exploring preschool and daycare options in Melbourne or Brevard County, using these eight tips while touring schools can help you identify the signs of a high quality program. Every child deserves a preschool where they feel safe, loved, and curious about the world around them
Happy daycare touring!
Toodleoo!
Academic References:
1) Hamre, B. K., & Pianta, R. C. (2001). Early teacher child relationships and the trajectory of children’s school outcomes through eighth grade. Child Development, 72(2), 625–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00301