Editor’s note: For the Love of Parenting is a local parenting advice column coordinated by Krystal Arnot, director of the Little Learners Center in Eureka. When parents have questions, she’ll share strategies here.
Q: I’m starting to look at preschools for my child but it all seems overwhelming. What are some good questions to ask and steps to initiate the process of making this next step successful for my little one and mama?
A: “Child care is stressful; you want the best loving and caring people around your children. When looking for daycare for my children, my typical questions were, what program or curriculum they used? This was important because I wanted to know if they were providing education while still playing. If the child care has a program where it can go based on income, this is always a question since child care prices are super high, and also in high demand around the community. Some child cares do not provide meals; asking that is also a plus. Times of operations: Some folks have to work early and some get out late from work. How do they take naps? Where do they get their funding from, because there is private and there is federally partnered child care, like this you know who to contact if they are being discriminatory to a child with disabilities or any child in that matter! Also, do they take Changing Tides if the parent have vouchers for day care? Go visit the site and stay and see how they are with children, check playground, how they sleep on nap time, is there heat? All these questions might sound like too much but are questions that need to be asked. Also wanted to let any mom out there with children with disabilities that NAEYC is teacher code, not ADA laws! Read the code of conduct books and check if they are going by the teachers code or if they are actually following ADA laws.”
—MaKy
A: “Don’t feel bad about visiting lots of preschools! Don’t feel bad about liking one more than the other, or not liking the one that your friend recommended or that is supposedly the best. Visit in home day cares too — my son went to one that we absolutely loved and it really ended up being an extra family for him. But whichever type of school you choose, be sure to talk to the teachers and make sure you feel comfortable in the space. It’s also good to understand that when you are visiting a preschool you are seeing one moment of what is a very busy room — it might not be what you expected in that moment, but if you look at the overall environment and the way in which the teachers interact with the kids and whether the kids seem engaged, that should tell you a lot about the school. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Look for things in the classroom that you know your child will enjoy, this can also help later when you speak with your child about the school. To prepare yourself and your child I recommend talking a lot about the transition beforehand! If it’s your child’s first time at school it will probably be a difficult separation at first. You might want to give yourself some extra time for drop off the first couple days, to speak with the teachers and to try to engage your child in an activity. But I’m a firm believer that when you say goodbye it’s goodbye. No lingering, no coming back if your child is crying. It’s always hard to hear your child when they are distraught but no waiting in the hallway or just outside the door will help, it will only make it harder on yourself. Your child will calm down and learn to lean on his caregivers for comfort, and dropoffs will get easier. Go to library and check out books about going to school, draw pictures of what your child’s ideal care center might look like — let them describe it. Talk to fellow moms in the community but the most important thing is to follow your gut to find the right fit for you and your kid and to know that in time the whole family will fall into the flow of being in preschool and will probably love it.”
—Bekha
Have a parenting question? Send it to letters@times-standard.com with “Parenting” in the subject line.
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For the Love of Parenting: Looking for a preschool? Here are a few questions - Eureka Times-Standard
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