Choosing the Right Daycare or Preschool
Learning to be socially well adapted takes time, practice and ultimately self-motivation. This is why meeting with other similarly aged children, perhaps at some sort of structured preschool group, can help. Your child will gradually learn what is expected of her both from you and from other adults outside of her family.
As your toddler begins to make the move into the wider world, she becomes aware of social skills, such as learning how to listen and cooperate. The primary way she learns is by example. In other words, how she is treated will influence how she treats others. If she is listened to when she speaks, she will learn to listen to others. And if she feels secure in her place, she won't have to fight to be acknowledged. If you nurture your toddler, you teach compassion. You set the example with your own behavior.
For all of these reasons and more, it's important that you choose a daycare or preschool that accommodates your toddler's emotional, physical and mental development in a nurturing and positive way.
Daycare vs. Preschool
How do you choose between a daycare center and a preschool? The main difference between the two is your child's age: daycare centers are for infants and young toddlers (although many daycares have toddlers aged three and a half or beyond), while preschools are for children ages two and a half or so to six years old. Some daycare centers simply transition older toddlers into a preschool setting within the same facility. Aside from age, the two are similar: daycare centers and preschools must meet the same licensing and accreditation requirement, they cost about the same, and, in general, they can be evaluated using many of the same fundamental criteria.
Think about choosing a daycare or preschool the same way you would think about finding a new pediatrician for your child and expect to invest lots of time and energy in making the right decision. Because so much is riding on your choice - after all, you want your child to spend her days in an enjoyable and nurturing environment - you'll need to do your research. That means checking out local parenting magazines, the Internet, and word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask for referrals from other families; most people won't recommend a place unless they're truly pleased with it. If your child attends daycare already, and if you're looking to move up to a preschool, the caregivers may have suggestions for you.
Once you zero in on a few choices based on cost, distance from your home or work, and other basic factors, call each place and narrow your list to a select few by asking questions. Find out whether the center or school is accredited (it should be) and whether it has clear regulations; a good one should have consistent rules. You should also ask about the teacher-to-student ratio (the fewer children a teacher has to be responsible for, the better for your child since she'll receive more attention). A teacher, no matter how good she is, can't really give the children the attention they deserve if she has to care for more than ten. You also might want to ask about staff turnover, since this is a good indicator both of how happy the staff is and how happy your child will be over the long term.
For Daycare Centers
All accredited daycare centers are inspected for licensing purposes, caregivers are supervised, and a director oversees the entire operation. Staff members at good centers are usually trained in early childhood education so they know what to expect from your child developmentally and are able to nurture her growing skills accordingly. If the center you're considering doesn't hire knowledgeable staff, keep looking.
Look for a good mix of activities during the day to teach different skills such as singing, dancing, and storytelling. Many parents like centers that present creative activities and projects in an organized, structured and methodical way. The best daycare centers feature curricula carefully designed to encourage children's cognitive, social and physical development.
For Preschools
If you're considering a preschool, you may wish to ask about the school's philosophy on educating toddlers. The fundamental principle they subscribe to may be traditional or a hybrid; it may follow the teachings and ideas of Jean Piagét, Rudolf Steiner, or Maria Montessori. Whatever its leanings, it's important that the preschool have a plan in mind for how to teach and care for its students, and that you agree with its general philosophy. Whether you choose a daycare or a preschool, be watchful about placing your child in a setting that has a stringent academic program. “Be wary of programs that claim to teach academic skills or ‘speed up' children's intellectual development,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics in Caring for Your Baby and Young Child. “From a developmental standpoint, most preschoolers are not yet ready to begin formal education.”
Visit and Observe
When you have your short list, schedule visits to the daycares or schools that made the cut. You'll need to meet the directors in person and observe the teachers with the children. You also might ask the school for the names of some parents you could speak to - a staff that's proud of their school's success will be happy to connect you with fellow parents. If your child has a special diet, ask whether the staff members are able to accommodate it. Some centers and schools may offer alternatives; some may request that you supply your own.
Next, bring your child along for a visit. See how she responds to the school and the teachers. Do they seem interested in getting to know her? Are the activities ones she'll enjoy? By watching how she reacts, you'll get a better idea of whether the daycare or preschool is a good fit.
Trust Your Instincts
Most importantly, trust your instincts. A daycare or preschool may boast new books and toys, have a gleaming new building, and be affordable to boot, but if it doesn't feel right then it isn't. It's essential that you feel comfortable with the center's or school's director with whom you'll be interacting should issues or questions come up in the future. You should also feel secure and pleased with the teachers, who will be spending many hours with your child, day in and day out. At its best, this will be a long and productive partnership.
Once you've chosen the place, you can help your toddler make the adjustment by allowing her to bring something familiar from home. Some centers have rules on what toddlers may bring, mainly to avoid distress and disruption amongst the other children, so check beforehand. You may want to ask the staff whether your child can bring in a favorite toy, a “lovey” or a photo of you or the family to look at.
What to Pack from Home
You'll probably need to provide a sheet and a blanket (for naptime), as well as diapers (if your toddler wears them), plus wipes and ointment. You may want to provide both a protective ointment that helps prevent diaper rash, such as BALMEX® Daily Protective Clear Ointment, as well as an ointment containing zinc that treats diaper rash, such as BALMEX® Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Cream.
Winding Down
When your toddler comes home, you may find it helpful to establish a routine that includes suppertime, bath time and general wind-down “family time”. Although it's impossible to prevent your child from picking up other children's colds, you can lesson the effect by washing her hands as soon as she arrives home, before she touches her toys and other items in your home. You can turn this into a fun routine by using products that are geared towards her needs. JOHNSON'S® BUDDIESTM Instant-foam Hand and Face Wash makes washing fun and easy. And it's the only toddler hand wash with the unique NO MORE TEARS® formula. Another fun option is JOHNSON'S® BUDDIESTM Easy-grip Sudzing Bar, with a patented pouch that won't get messy and won't slip from your toddler's little hands.
By choosing a nurturing and attentive daycare center or preschool and by helping your toddler adjust to a new routine, you can help her understand that, no matter what changes confront her, she'll always be protected and loved. And such nurturing care will give her the confidence to tackle life's challenges.
Learning to be socially well adapted takes time, practice and ultimately self-motivation. This is why meeting with other similarly aged children, perhaps at some sort of structured preschool group, can help. Your child will gradually learn what is expected of her both from you and from other adults outside of her family.
As your toddler begins to make the move into the wider world, she becomes aware of social skills, such as learning how to listen and cooperate. The primary way she learns is by example. In other words, how she is treated will influence how she treats others. If she is listened to when she speaks, she will learn to listen to others. And if she feels secure in her place, she won't have to fight to be acknowledged. If you nurture your toddler, you teach compassion. You set the example with your own behavior.
For all of these reasons and more, it's important that you choose a daycare or preschool that accommodates your toddler's emotional, physical and mental development in a nurturing and positive way.
Daycare vs. Preschool
How do you choose between a daycare center and a preschool? The main difference between the two is your child's age: daycare centers are for infants and young toddlers (although many daycares have toddlers aged three and a half or beyond), while preschools are for children ages two and a half or so to six years old. Some daycare centers simply transition older toddlers into a preschool setting within the same facility. Aside from age, the two are similar: daycare centers and preschools must meet the same licensing and accreditation requirement, they cost about the same, and, in general, they can be evaluated using many of the same fundamental criteria.
Think about choosing a daycare or preschool the same way you would think about finding a new pediatrician for your child and expect to invest lots of time and energy in making the right decision. Because so much is riding on your choice - after all, you want your child to spend her days in an enjoyable and nurturing environment - you'll need to do your research. That means checking out local parenting magazines, the Internet, and word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask for referrals from other families; most people won't recommend a place unless they're truly pleased with it. If your child attends daycare already, and if you're looking to move up to a preschool, the caregivers may have suggestions for you.
Once you zero in on a few choices based on cost, distance from your home or work, and other basic factors, call each place and narrow your list to a select few by asking questions. Find out whether the center or school is accredited (it should be) and whether it has clear regulations; a good one should have consistent rules. You should also ask about the teacher-to-student ratio (the fewer children a teacher has to be responsible for, the better for your child since she'll receive more attention). A teacher, no matter how good she is, can't really give the children the attention they deserve if she has to care for more than ten. You also might want to ask about staff turnover, since this is a good indicator both of how happy the staff is and how happy your child will be over the long term.
For Daycare Centers
All accredited daycare centers are inspected for licensing purposes, caregivers are supervised, and a director oversees the entire operation. Staff members at good centers are usually trained in early childhood education so they know what to expect from your child developmentally and are able to nurture her growing skills accordingly. If the center you're considering doesn't hire knowledgeable staff, keep looking.
Look for a good mix of activities during the day to teach different skills such as singing, dancing, and storytelling. Many parents like centers that present creative activities and projects in an organized, structured and methodical way. The best daycare centers feature curricula carefully designed to encourage children's cognitive, social and physical development.
For Preschools
If you're considering a preschool, you may wish to ask about the school's philosophy on educating toddlers. The fundamental principle they subscribe to may be traditional or a hybrid; it may follow the teachings and ideas of Jean Piagét, Rudolf Steiner, or Maria Montessori. Whatever its leanings, it's important that the preschool have a plan in mind for how to teach and care for its students, and that you agree with its general philosophy. Whether you choose a daycare or a preschool, be watchful about placing your child in a setting that has a stringent academic program. “Be wary of programs that claim to teach academic skills or ‘speed up' children's intellectual development,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics in Caring for Your Baby and Young Child. “From a developmental standpoint, most preschoolers are not yet ready to begin formal education.”
Visit and Observe
When you have your short list, schedule visits to the daycares or schools that made the cut. You'll need to meet the directors in person and observe the teachers with the children. You also might ask the school for the names of some parents you could speak to - a staff that's proud of their school's success will be happy to connect you with fellow parents. If your child has a special diet, ask whether the staff members are able to accommodate it. Some centers and schools may offer alternatives; some may request that you supply your own.
Next, bring your child along for a visit. See how she responds to the school and the teachers. Do they seem interested in getting to know her? Are the activities ones she'll enjoy? By watching how she reacts, you'll get a better idea of whether the daycare or preschool is a good fit.
Trust Your Instincts
Most importantly, trust your instincts. A daycare or preschool may boast new books and toys, have a gleaming new building, and be affordable to boot, but if it doesn't feel right then it isn't. It's essential that you feel comfortable with the center's or school's director with whom you'll be interacting should issues or questions come up in the future. You should also feel secure and pleased with the teachers, who will be spending many hours with your child, day in and day out. At its best, this will be a long and productive partnership.
Once you've chosen the place, you can help your toddler make the adjustment by allowing her to bring something familiar from home. Some centers have rules on what toddlers may bring, mainly to avoid distress and disruption amongst the other children, so check beforehand. You may want to ask the staff whether your child can bring in a favorite toy, a “lovey” or a photo of you or the family to look at.
What to Pack from Home
You'll probably need to provide a sheet and a blanket (for naptime), as well as diapers (if your toddler wears them), plus wipes and ointment. You may want to provide both a protective ointment that helps prevent diaper rash, such as BALMEX® Daily Protective Clear Ointment, as well as an ointment containing zinc that treats diaper rash, such as BALMEX® Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Cream.
Winding Down
When your toddler comes home, you may find it helpful to establish a routine that includes suppertime, bath time and general wind-down “family time”. Although it's impossible to prevent your child from picking up other children's colds, you can lesson the effect by washing her hands as soon as she arrives home, before she touches her toys and other items in your home. You can turn this into a fun routine by using products that are geared towards her needs. JOHNSON'S® BUDDIESTM Instant-foam Hand and Face Wash makes washing fun and easy. And it's the only toddler hand wash with the unique NO MORE TEARS® formula. Another fun option is JOHNSON'S® BUDDIESTM Easy-grip Sudzing Bar, with a patented pouch that won't get messy and won't slip from your toddler's little hands.
By choosing a nurturing and attentive daycare center or preschool and by helping your toddler adjust to a new routine, you can help her understand that, no matter what changes confront her, she'll always be protected and loved. And such nurturing care will give her the confidence to tackle life's challenges.
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