Shopping for Preschools

On one hand, the onset of Spring brings blossoming tulips and magnolias here in the north-east, heralding the approach of warmer, longer, sunnier days. On the other hand, it brings the much dreaded admissions decision season in New York City as pre-schools, nursery schools, and kindergartens in the city begin the process of informing parents whether their child was admitted or rejected or wait-listed. The season becomes joyful if the news is good, and can become colder and greyer than winter if families get a rejection letter. 

The admissions season begins in early Fall, or even late summer, as embarking on school tours and completing application forms seem to take up every waking moment of parents of  toddlers as they strive for that "best" preschool for the beloved apple of their eyes. I can only remind families that there is no one "best" school. Rather, the school that is right for your toddler is the one that works best for you as a family. As a former Director of Admissions of an Upper West Side Independent Nursery/Kindergarten school for ten years I was interviewed on how to shop for preschools and the points I made at that time still hold good. As parents of toddlers prepare to launch into next year's admissions season they might want to take a deep breath and read the pointers which I have briefly presented here so that they can ask the right questions when shopping for Preschools:

Environment - Is the general school and classroom environment bright, spacious, airy, welcoming and child-friendly? Do you see a lot of diversity in the school amongst teachers as well as children? Is the school welcoming of diverse families? Are there indoor and outdoor spaces where young children can learn and play? Do the classrooms allow ample space for the children to move around throughout the day? Are there multiple play areas in each classroom that allow for diverse activities such as Reading and Writing, Art and Painting, Dramatic Play and Housekeeping, Construction and Block Play, Sand and Water Play, and so forth. 

Teachers - Are the teachers and staff well-qualified and experienced? Are the group sizes small and is there an adequate number of teachers in each classroom? What about the teachers' demeanor and approach to children - Are they engaged in play with the children or are they merely supervising? What is the teacher turnover rate?

Curriculum - What is the educational philosophy underlying the pedagogy and curriculum - Progressive, Reggio Emilia, Bank Street, Montessori, Waldorf? Is the school philosophy in sync with your parenting philosophy? Is it a play-based approach to learning or a more traditional academic approach or somewhere in between? Are there plenty of hands-on activities for children to engage with around the classroom or are they spending more time sitting at tables? Is the curriculum culturally responsive - do teachers welcome the inclusion of children's racial, ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds to inform and enrich the curriculum and their teaching? Does the school make an attempt to get to know your child before they start school? Are there any specialty teachers in the school for Art, Music and Movement, Literacy? Most importantly - do the children look ACTIVELY ENGAGED and HAPPY?? 

Calendar and Schedule - Does the school's annual and daily schedule work for you as a family in terms of drop-offs, pick-ups, and holidays? If both parents are working will the school offer an early drop-off or a late pick-up? Are there substantial after school activities for your child? 

Affordability - A preschool does not have to break your bank. There are expensive good schools but also moderately priced good schools. Is the school tuition affordable for you as a family? Does the school offer a sliding scale fee, or a payment plan spread over the year, or any financial assistance?

Access - To conserve time and energy as a family it is advisable to look for a preschool near your place of residence. Over time it is easier and more sustainable if the preschool commute is easy for the parents and for the child. 

The above are just some of the points to keep in mind while shopping for a preschool. I am including a link below to a PBS article where you can get more important information on this topic.


In conclusion I want to reiterate once more what I have already emphasized earlier - there is no one "best" school. Rather, the school that is right for your child is the one that works best for you as a family.