Importance of Choosing the Right Preschool
The first couple years of your child’s life may seem to fly by. Before you know it, the time to think about preschool enrollment suddenly arrives, and you want to find the best preschools in Chicago. Your child’s preschool establishes their social development and relationship with learning, so choosing the right preschool is very important.
Thankfully, seeking a quality care center or preschool in Chicago doesn’t have to be difficult. By considering a few things during your search, you can narrow down your options and find a preschool that’s convenient for you and offers a curriculum and learning environment to boost your child’s early development.
Factors To Consider When Choosing a Preschool
1) Location and Proximity to Your Home or Workplace
The establishment’s location is one of the first aspects to consider when searching for the “best preschool near me” for your little one. Driving to and from a preschool that’s too far away can take up valuable time. Instead, you’ll want to select a location that’s nearby or easily accessible. Also, take the time to learn more about the preschool’s area concerning safety and traffic.
Find out if the preschool you’re looking at has multiple locations; if so, see if the distance from work or home is reasonable. Many excellent Chicago preschools are just a few blocks from residential neighborhoods, so your options could be closer and more accommodating than you might suspect.
If you work a few miles from home and get off work around the same time a preschool session ends, you can pick your child up after finishing up a shift. Otherwise, see if extended care is an option so the school staff can look after your child after regular school and workday hours.
2) Curriculum and Educational Approach
Leaving your child in the caring hands of a preschool’s staff for the first time can be emotional and challenging. Because of this, it’s worth knowing what type of educational approach the school and its teachers take with their students and whether you think the curriculum is a proper fit.
Are you looking for a more structured routine where children stick to a set schedule, or would you prefer a more open-ended approach that gives every child a chance to grow and explore in ways that interest them? You may want something that combines the two.
The best preschool for 3-year-olds typically strikes an effective balance of fun and education by encouraging social activity with other children, providing a hands-on approach to learning, and keeping activities fun and engaging. However, each nursery school will have a different philosophy from the next, so learning more about each and the logic behind the curriculum and the school’s mission statement can help you make an informed decision that benefits your child in preparation for kindergarten.
See if the preschool offers more details about its curriculum and approach to teaching children through an online brochure or as a printout when you visit their location. This can help you compare schools more directly and confidently decide.
3) Teacher-to-student ratio and Qualifications
A quick way to narrow down the best preschools in Chicago is to determine the establishment’s and its teachers’ qualifications. After all, you probably don’t want to entrust your dear child to a team that lacks credentials proving that they know what they’re doing with kids. Consider asking your pediatrician or friends with kids around the same age as yours for recommendations. If you’re looking at a few schools and a friend tells you about a less than favorable first-hand or second-hand experience, crossing that place off your list might be the best.
Beyond that, ask each school about class sizes and how many students a teacher will look after throughout the day. Although more populated classrooms allow your child to socialize with more peers, they can also be overwhelming for both the children and the instructor.
If a preschool teacher can’t give each student the care and attention they want or need, it can create a frustrating and unfulfilling environment for your little one. Ask about the school’s teacher-to-student ratio to give you a better idea of the environment you can expect your child to have during the day.
4) Facilities and Learning Environment
Before considering preschool enrollment, you should visit the schools on your shortlist. Many preschools offer tours of their premises so you can better understand the environment your child will spend hours in. Take heed of your first impressions upon walking in. A preschool for 2-year-olds should be bright and welcoming, so if you don’t get that immediately, you might want to re-evaluate that place.
You may like what you see initially, but be mindful as a team member takes you through the rest of the facility. Does the rest of the establishment look poorly maintained or needs a renovation? If so, that might be a clue to look elsewhere.
While you’re there, be sure to ask more about the kind of learning environment they have. You might even see a typical day while visiting, giving you a better idea of the environment, including the sense of community between kids and their instructors.
Enroll Your Child in Chicago’s Best Preschool With Bubbles Academy
Parents searching for the best preschools in Chicago don’t need to look further than Bubbles Academy. Our dynamic team of credentialed teachers fosters an inclusive and caring approach while teaching children valuable skills in a fun-filled and accepting environment. We offer an artistic and curiosity-driven preschool curriculum with engaging painting, dancing, and singing activities.
If you’re looking for an enriching “playschool near me” that will teach your child while bringing immense pleasure to their life, contact us today at (312) 944-7677 or register for a class.
