{"id":551,"date":"2018-01-17T13:32:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T20:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/?p=551"},"modified":"2018-01-17T14:02:42","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T21:02:42","slug":"choose-quality-preschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/choose-quality-preschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a Quality Preschool"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cloth or disposable, to nurse or use formula, stay at home or daycare…seems like just yesterday you were embarking on those life decisions for your little one.\u00a0 But just because you’re past picking paint for the nursery doesn’t mean decisions regarding your preschooler are any less exciting!\u00a0 At UDA Creative Arts Preschool<\/a>, we believe choosing a quality preschool is not only an exciting decision, it’s just as important!<\/p>\n

Did you know that by the time a child heads for kindergarten, 85% of who they are, their personality, social-skills, and intellect, have already been developed<\/a>?\u00a0 These preschool years are\u00a0critical<\/em> for your child’s development.<\/p>\n

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It’s all about the brain!\u00a0 As your child immerses in experiences, particularly hands-on, self-initiated learning experiences, highways of neural synapses form.\u00a0 The more your child engages, the more synaptic connections are made, the more brain development occurs.<\/a><\/p>\n

So how do you find this quality preschool that will provide synaptic connections for improved brain development, as well as assist your child to develop personality, social skills, and intellect?\u00a0 That’s a pretty tall order!<\/p>\n

What to Look For When Searching for a Quality Preschool-<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0Not All Preschools are Created Equal-<\/h3>\n

There are currently no regulations on what defines a “preschool” in Utah, so there is a wide variety of schools with the preschool label.<\/p>\n

Many schools tout having children “kindergarten ready.”\u00a0 But what does that mean exactly?\u00a0 Does that include social and personality development?\u00a0 Did the children learn ABCs and 123s in a way that fostered a love of learning?<\/p>\n

As a parent, you<\/em> need to decide what your preschool standards are.\u00a0 Here are some ideas of what you can look for:<\/p>\n

1- Age-Appropriate Learning Environment-<\/h3>\n

A learning environment for you may look very different from what a learning environment looks like for a preschooler.\u00a0 Adults like a desk and quiet place to study.\u00a0 Preschoolers, however, are all about creating those synaptic connections.\u00a0 Their\u00a0learning<\/em> looks very much like play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Preschoolers are also just beginning to learn how to hold their bodies still for short periods of time.\u00a0 Rug time and table times should be limited to 10-20 minutes, depending on the age and activity, and involve some small movement.\u00a0 And let’s be honest, a lot of adults are the same way.\u00a0 (Hence the the fidget spinner.)<\/p>\n

2- Language Rich-<\/h3>\n

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There is something to be said for Mother Goose.\u00a0 A quality preschool is immersed in language.\u00a0 You will see books and labels, hear story telling, singing, and rhyming.\u00a0 Children will have opportunities to practice writing their names, letters and numbers, as well as write during their play.\u00a0 They should also have an abundance of opportunities to express themselves verbally, (some more exuberantly than others), especially during dramatic play.<\/p>\n

3- Multisensory Learning-<\/h3>\n

Quality preschools will abound in\u00a0multisensory learning<\/a>\u00a0activities, or opportunities to learn with multiple senses at once.\u00a0 Children’s brains are going to expand and remember more effectively as their synapses are in rapid fire.\u00a0 Multiple learning styles are reached with these activities.<\/p>\n

Plus, it’s just\u00a0fun!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Multisensory learning also encourages children to discover as they feel, taste, smell, hear and see the world around them.\u00a0 This fosters a love of learning and a desire to pursue knowledge.\u00a0 Look for water tables, movement activities, play-doh, singing, art, cooking, and basically all things messy.<\/p>\n

4- Creativity-<\/h3>\n

Do you remember when you were a kid and you could play for hours with toys and friends and your brain just\u00a0imagined<\/em> things?\u00a0 Too many of us have lost that ability!\u00a0 Part of the problem is our culture and schools telling children the “right” way do it.<\/p>\n

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Look for a preschool that encourages explorative, open-ended art.\u00a0 Art should be about the process more than the product.\u00a0 We all like to make choices, and children should feel confident in\u00a0their<\/em> choice of color and technique. Children should also have opportunities to express themselves through journaling and dramatic play.<\/p>\n

5- Character Development-<\/h3>\n

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Academics are of course important, but look for a quality preschool that also teaches social skills and character development.\u00a0 Preschools should encourage development of skills in constructive conflict resolution, cooperation, and respect.\u00a0 What does the school offer to teach your child confidence, problem solving<\/a>, accountability, responsibility, gratitude and compassion<\/a>?\u00a0 You want a school that will reach the “whole child,” and provide guidance in the development of life skills, as well as personality growth.<\/p>\n

6- Integrated Learning-<\/h3>\n

You want to ask about a preschool’s curriculum.\u00a0 How are language, math and science taught?\u00a0 How does the school teach reasoning and problem solving?\u00a0 We recommend you look for integrated learning.<\/p>\n

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Integrated learning<\/a> is making connections across multiple disciplines.\u00a0 You could look at it as the “spoonful of sugar” for learning.\u00a0 It looks like play, but inside the fun is a scrumptious morsel of delicious knowledge the children wouldn’t enjoy in the form of a worksheet.\u00a0 UDA Creative Arts Preschool<\/a> does this through our learning themes.\u00a0 This article <\/a>can give you more information on how it works.<\/p>\n

7-Assessments-<\/h3>\n

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Without a road map (or GPS in our day and age), how is one to get from point A to point B?\u00a0 Quality preschools will asses your child to determine point A in order to\u00a0 create a learning map to navigate them to point B.\u00a0 Quality teachers will keep parents informed of their child’s growth and development.\u00a0 No child is the same, so no learning map should be the same.\u00a0 A quality preschool will work with your child to reach his or her full potential.\u00a0 \u00a0As you look at preschools, find out how teachers asses the children’s learning.<\/p>\n

8- Safety & Love-<\/h3>\n

Above all, your child deserves to be in a safe and loving environment.\u00a0 Is the establishment clean and sanitary?\u00a0 How are bathroom trips and illness handled?\u00a0 And in today’s world, it’s important to find out if employees have background checks.<\/p>\n

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)\u00a0 lists some great ideas on standard things to look for, including the physical environment and management of a preschool. Check out this link<\/a> to their article.<\/p>\n

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Make sure you observe teachers and staff and their interactions with the children, and most importantly, your child.\u00a0 You want your child to feel welcomed, comfortable, and loved.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do to Find a Quality Preschool-<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1- Do Your Homework-<\/h3>\n

Again, you<\/em><\/strong> set the standards, so do some reading.\u00a0 What is available?\u00a0 What is most important to you?\u00a0 Here are some articles to consider:<\/p>\n