I’m in recovery from our preschool meeting this morning. I’m the president of our local cooperative preschool. We love our school. As I look around at options for public schooling next year, I realize that while there are a lot of possibilities, there are so many more in the preschool realm.
What preschool should your child attend? Well, that depends in part what you’re looking for out of preschool.
Are you looking for academics, languages, music and instruction in pre-reading and math skills? There are many academic preschools out there, some better than others. Observe a class and watch how the teacher interacts with the students and the parents. Think about how much time your child will have in preschool to create a good balance of academics and play time.
Montessori or Montessori-inspired schools create freedom within a structure. These schools introduce academic topics by encouraging exploration. They’re good for children who need some structure, balanced with a need for independence within that learning structure.
Waldorf programs are full of nature, crafts, and homelike activities. There is not a lot of focus on academics until the children are older. Waldorf follows a specific curriculum that focuses on home-like activities like baking and crafts in the early years.
Reggio Emilia-inspired schools put the children’s interests at the heart of the school. The teacher has curriculum ideas but is willing to be led by the interests of the children.
Our cooperative preschool is another form of play-based preschool. It’s inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and is based on the idea that parents should be involved in their children’s education. In Parent Participation Preschools, parents do education and act as teaching assistants in the school, building a great community around your child.
Why attend preschool? Some do it for the academics, others for the social interaction. We do it for the social aspect, but also because our cooperative preschool is a great community of parents and kids.
Does your child attend preschool? Why or why not?