Ten Signs of a Great Preschool

Placing your child into a preschool program will further prepare your child for school readiness. However, as with anything else in life, some preschool programs are better than others. What follows is adapted from a list of ten indicators of quality preschools prepared by the National Association for the Education of Young Children:

•  Children are mainly active in the classroom; that is, playing and/or working with other children or materials.

•  Children have access to various hands-on materials and activities.

•  Children receive individual and small-group time with the teachers, and not solely large-group time.

•  Children's work is displayed in the classroom.

•  Children learn numbers and the alphabet throughout the entire day; that is, their learning of these concepts is embedded into everyday activities.

•  Children are given at least an hour to play and explore with few worksheet activities.

•  Children are provided a daily opportunity to play outside.

•  Teachers read to children, individually and in small groups.

•  Children receive instruction that is adapted to their needs.

•  Children and parents are excited about the preschool; that is, children are happy and do not regularly cry or complain.

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