Evaluating a preschool curriculum can help you to determine whether a preschool is suitable for your child. Knowing what to look for can make the process of choosing the right preschool a whole lot easier for parents.
Look for variety when evaluating a preschool curriculum. You want your child exposed to different areas of learning and development. Each day should have time for physical activity (keep those kids moving!) as well as quiet time, which should include reading. Your child should have plenty of opportunities to interact with other kids, both one-on-one and in groups. This can help them to develop social skills, especially if they previously spent most of their time at home without other children. The preschool should also have time for arts and crafts, and of course meals, like lunch and snacks. Every so often the curriculum should change, in order to keep children stimulated and constantly learning new things.
The preschool itself should have a wide variety of things to entertain and inspire your child, such as books and toys. TV, movies and video games should not be a primary activity in the preschool you select.
While it may be tempting to judge a preschool based on how much of concrete things (letters, numbers, etc.) your child is learning, try not to. At this age kids are learning in a variety of ways and developing the skills to be curious students later on in life. In fact, since most kids aren't ready for formal education yet, it's best to steer clear of preschools that claim to center on academic skills. Instead, look for a preschool curriculum which encourages your child to be an independent free-thinker who's not afraid to explore her creativity. Some preschools have a curriculum that is focused on one area, such as learning a specific language. While this is okay, make sure it is still meeting the needs of your well-rounded tot.
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