• Anyone considering sending a child to preschool

• Anyone considering starting a preschool

• Anyone teaching or considering teaching at a preschool

Available to you is not only Brenda's twenty-five years of varied preschool experience but her wide network of preschool professionals.

BRENDA'S BIO For over twenty five years Brenda has been commited to early childhood  development as a preschool teacher, owner and director. Brenda has had a positive impact on hundreds of students and parents for over three generations.  She is the mother of three grown children and grandmother of six covering a thirteen year range in ages.  Her latest experience in starting, managing and overseeing all activities at a church preschool was, and continues to be, a huge success in preparing preschoolers for kindergarten.   



WHY CONSIDER SENDING A CHILD TO PRESCHOOL

The most important reason for sending a child to preschool is to enhance the early childhood development that prepares him/her to take full advantage of the Kindergarten experience.  A child who starts Kindergarten with confidence, socially skilled and ready to learn is setting the stage, not just for Kindergarten but for the entire educational experience.  While not every child will achieve the same level of preparedness, each child will be better prepared for Kindergarten than if they had not gone to preschool. What is positive development for one child can be very different for another.

   
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT MY CHILD TO LEARN IN PRESCHOOL

• To say goodbye to their parent, caretaker or guardian each day without separation anxiety. It's hard to say goodbye 
• Taking turns and transitioning from one set of preschool activities to another
• Respecting the personal space of others
• There is no hitting, pinching, pushing or biting allowed. When my child complains about another child in his class How to follow directions Developmental issues 
• How to stand and walk in single file for fire drills or moving place to place 
• Recognize colors, letters, numbers and shapes
• Proficient use of scissors, pencils and crayons
• Knowing the meaning of left from right, up from down, around, over and under
• Meaning of opposites
• Sequencing between preschool activities 
• Trotting, galloping, skipping & simple rhythms by clapping & stomping of feet
• Learn to count ten items and count to ten or higher
• Recognize the words for colors in English and Spanish
• How to print their first name using technique employed by the school district where they will attend Kindergarten
• Know how to say their first,middle and last name
• Become enthusiastic about Kindergarten 
• KNOW THAT LEARNING CAN BE FUN!

                                                                                                                                        

• Ask how discipline is handled, keeping in mind the age appropriate response needed for your child. 
• Inquire as to dates of registration for the upcoming school year and obtain copies of brochures and Parent Handbooks. A Parent Handbook will provide important information about the preschool as well as their expectations for you as the parent/guardian of a student.
• Ask about age appropriate class levels.  Knowing when your child is age eligible to attend Kindergarten will determine which level you will want to register your child, i.e. 3 year olds, 4 year olds, 5 year olds or Pre-K.
• Inquire about the education and experience of teachers. Some states require that teachers and teacher aides be fingerprinted by the BCI and FBI.  Also ask if training in CPR, First Aid, Communicable Diseases, Childhood Development and Child Abuse classes are a requirement for employees of a licensed preschool.  Your state may require that they have six hours of training in the initial class and two to three hours every two to three years thereafter.
• Ask about the staff turnover rate.  
• Ask about routine safety procedures in place, i.e. who is allowed to pick up my child when I'm not available when dismissal takes place.
• Do they provide good communication, i.e. monthly newsletters from the teachers and the Director or Administrator.  Is the Director/Administrator a visible participant when your child is in attendance, especially if you need to discuss concerns about your child, the preschool or tuition.

  Ask yourself if the person giving the tour of the preschool spoke only with you or do they include your child in conversations during the tour?  Are you pleased with the way the classroom teacher handled your child's visit to their classroom? Do you feel that everyone on the staff is passionate about child support and development.

   

   

       Suggestions to consider before arranging for a preschool tour

  • Call ahead and ask if it is O.K. to bring your child with you when visiting. If you have younger children have a friend babysit during your visit.      
  • Ask about the appropriate length of time for visiting a classroom and keep in mind any visitor changes the dynamics in any classroom. 
  • Keep in mind that the children in the classrooms you are observing have been together as a group for several months and may seem more advanced than your child does at the time of your visit.  Your child will mature quite a lot during the nine months prior to beginning school in the Fall and you will be amazed at the change during that time.
  • Always keep in mind when your child is age eligible to begin Kindergarten before making a decision about which class to register your child.  Remember, Pre K is always a great option the year before Kindergarten if you feel your child needs an extra year before entering public or private school.    

   

   

CHOOSING THE BEST PRESCHOOL CLASS FOR YOUR CHILD

My experience 

Over the years I have never heard a parent say "I sure wish I sent my child to Kindergarten a year earlier."  However, I have heard many parents lament that they should have waited another year before sending their child to Kindergarten.  This is especially true of communities where children attend Kindergarten all day, five days a week.

Understanding Preschool Classes to help you make the right choice for your child

When choosing the right preschool class for your child it's easy to be influenced by the mother of your child's best friend.  Even though both children have turned four during the same calendar year it doesn't mean both children are ready to be enrolled at the same level.

For example, while one child may be turning four in September the other child may have turned four in February.  Both children may be age eligible to attend Kindergarten in the same year.  The child with the February birthday will be a student with the average age for Kindergarten while the one who will turn four in September may be the youngest student in the class.

Some school districts have a cut-off date of September 30th while other districts may use the last day of December.  Be sure to contact your Board of Education for the cut-off date before making a decision.  

The following descriptions of preschool classes may be of assistance to you in determining what class would be the best fit for your child to begin preschool:




Mommy and Me Program


Normally this is a weekly class involving learning stations, circle time and snack time lasting no more than two hours.  A loving adult must be in attendance with the child throughout the class time.  Also, children in this type of program do not need to be toilet trained.  It is good if you can find a program like this at the preschool where you plan to register your child.  This type of program is generally available for children 2-3 years old.

Three Year Old Class

Children enrolled in a class for 3's will be experiencing socialization, sharing, development of small and large motor skills and recognition of shapes and colors. The question often asked when you have a child turning four October thru December is, "Which class is best for my child, the 3's or the 4's?"  My recommendation is to enroll them in a 3's program.  Recognizing the 4's class will have children turning five throughout the school year and it is better to have your child be the oldest in a class than the youngest. Most 3's classes are two hours, two days a week.  Most licensed preschools require that the children be able to toilet themselves because of licensing restrictions.

Four Year Old Class

As previously mentioned, making a decision about which class best fits your child will depend upon when they will turn five.  Ask yourself if you plan to send your child to kindergarten the year they are eligible or wait a year until they are closer to their sixth birthday.  If you are having a problem making this decision you can contact your Board of Education for information about what skills a child entering kindergarten should have mastered.  Most 4's classes are two hours, two or three days a week.

Five Year Old Class

Most preschools recommend the 5's class for children who will be entering Kindergarten the following school year when a Pre K class is not available.  The purpose of this class is preparation for Kindergarten.  As with the 4's class, it's a good idea to contact your Board of Education to determine the skills your child will need.  Most 5's classes are two hours and held three or four days a week.  In some preschools this class may also be know as the 4/5's class.

Pre K Class

Generally parents make the decision to send their child to Pre K because of a spring or summer birthday. Pre K is usually five days per week giving the child an opportunity to work on skills such as letter and number recognition, working as a team with their peers, creative storytelling to describe pictures they have drawn and even developing the ability to read simple words.  Pre K is a great opportunity for children to transition from preschool to kindergarten in that they attend five days a week and have an opportunity to complete projects over a period of days similar to experiences in Kindergarten.

Questions to Ask Yourself 

Keep in mind your child's personality; are they introverted or extroverted?  Is your child the youngest or eldest in your family?  Does your child appear a bit smaller in size and physical development than other children his/her age? Is my child's cognitive ability on target or lagging behind?  Do I want my child to always be the youngest in their class or am I more comfortable with them being one of the older members of their class?  When parent's address these types of questions before registering their child for preschool it helps prevent more difficult decisions about sending a child to kindergarten.

Don't be afraid to ask the advice of the Director at the preschool you have chosen for your child.  Their experience and advice is always in the best interest of your child. They have seen the problems that can surface when a child isn't placed in the right class and don't want that to happen to any child in enrolled in their program.

STARTING A PRESCHOOL

• Determine how many preschools are in your area and if the area can support one more preschool.
  

• In starting a preschool the following information may prove helpful:
  Determine the size and scope of the school you want to establish

• Check into the Licensing requirements in your State.

  • Find a facility that meets State and local requirements for a preschool.
  • Determine licensing requirements required by your State for student/staff ratio for each classroom.
  • Develop a budget and determine tuition for each class level you will be having in your preschool.
  • Make sure to allow enough time to put everything in place before the beginning of the target school year.  This involves purchasing equipment and supplies so you have what you need each day.
  • Develop a school calendar.  It is recommended that you try to follow the school calendar of your local community as closely as possible.  Remember, some preschoolers have kindergarten and elementary age siblings and families will find it convenient to have holidays and in-service days coincide with the public schools.
  • Write staff job descriptions and use them faithfully in the staff selection process. Hire people who have a passion for child support and development and avoid the temptation to hire people just because you like them.
  • If possible, have an Advisory Board of knowledgeable people to help in decision making.
  • Always provide the needed supplies for your teachers and try not to micromanage their classroom activities.  If you hire the right teachers, and they know what your expectations are, they will most likely do a wonderful job.
  • Have regularly scheduled monthly staff meetings so the teachers feel their concerns are being heard.  Communicate to the staff that the meetings will last no longer than one hour and be sure to have an agenda in their hands the day before so they come prepared for discussion or questions to ask.  If at all possible pay them for attending staff meetings; if nothing else it will force you to keep meetings to an hour.
  • Have enough substitute teachers available for emergencies and staff illness.  It is highly recommended that if you have a teacher and a teacher aide in your classrooms that you move the aide into the teaching position and call a substitute for the teacher aide position.  The aide knows the daily routine and it makes for a better transition. 
  • When a teacher aide subs for the teacher they should be paid the teacher's rate for that day.
  • Know what the average hourly rate is for preschool teachers and teacher aides in your community and pay a comparable or better rate. 
  • Knowing you are their support system will mean a lot to the teaching staff.  If the teaching staff feels appreciated they will be your best advertiser in your community.  Good management is a lot cheaper than advertising in the newspaper. 
  • If possible have a large sign made to advertise registration at the site for your preschool. It helps to have an easy to read brightly colored sign that displays the name of the preschool and the phone number that can be easily read by passing drivers.