Picking your child's preschool is a huge deal. Where to go? When to go? How long to go? So many questions and concerns.

1.      Get up early.  Reealllllly early!  Because if you wanna get your kid into the top notch, state of the art, school, the one all your neighbors and friends and coworkers want their kids to go to, you may find yourself standing outside in the rain, in the wee hours of the morning waiting for the church school doors to open so that you can be first to sign up to pay an exorbitant amount of cash for your little precious to be a member of their program for no more than two half days per week.  Scary?  A little bit.  True?  Definitely. 

2.      Bring your wallet. Preschool tuition is like pretty much everything else in our capitalist society. There’s a lot of supply and demand involved; the schools everyone wants to get into cost more than the schools that don’t have a 25 family long waiting list. So, if you are dead set on getting your kiddo into Harvard for Beginners then bring your Benjamins.

3.      Bribery. This is one of those rare, almost unheard of, times that you may not want to go with the whole bribery thing. I mean, I’d hate to be responsible for you winding up behind bars, ostracized from the religious community (if you are putting your child into a church based program), the black sheep of your family because you tried to bribe a church official and got belligerent when he (or she) vehemently declined. You should probably just get up super early and do your time in line to secure your place like everyone else.

4.      Go on a field trip.  While it’s important to take suggestions from friends, family, neighbors, grocery store clerks, plumbers, the dentist, and anyone else who has a kid that went to preschool, the best way to get an idea of what school would be a good match for your son or daughter is to visit. Schedule your appointment during school hours so you can experience a class in session. Observe the activities the kids are engaged in, watch how the teachers interact with the children, peruse the playground and make sure the location is safe and kid friendly. And then, go with your gut. Just because BFF sends her little ones there and raves about the program you ultimately must base your decision on your own child’s needs. Schooling experience is subjective and what may be the most appealing aspect of the program to your friend may turn out to just be irksome to you.

5.      Do your research. Try out more than one school, ask for references, look into their accreditation. Choosing where your child will have his or her first formalized learning experience is a big deal, so pull out all the stops and make sure you find a place that both of you will be happy with long term. You don’t want to have a negative experience, and you don’t want the burden or upset that a midyear move could cause. 

Need help finding a place for your little one next year? Don’t miss The 2009 Preschool Fair Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at The Elks Lodge #684. There will be over 30 preschools and child care centers in attendance which makes for a perfect opportunity to get info on all of them! Click here for more info!