Not all preschools are created equal! As a parent, you want the absolute best for your child. Early Childhood Education is an investment in your child and his or her future. It is very important to learn a few essential things about any preschool before you entrust it with your child's early childhood education. Every preschool should be clean, safe and provide a positive learning environment, but there is so much more to a school than simply providing a nice facility and friendly teachers. When choosing a preschool for your child, it is important to ask the right questions. You may be surprised by what you are able to learn. 

• Does the school have a formal, structured curriculum for building fundamental skills and concepts?
• What is the curriculum?
• What is the schedule of daily activities? 
• How much time is spent on each subject? (Language arts, number concepts, art, music, free play, etc.?)

• What is the school's educational philosophy? 
• Does the philosophy fit Your desire for your child? 
• Are the children free to "wander and discover"? 
• Are children to "go at their own pace" or do teachers guide students carefully through a structured curriculum daily building concept upon concept?
• Some schools have a philosophy that teaching structured skills such as reading, and math should be delayed until six years of age.
• Does the school teach art as a skill or is it crafts? Do the children do their own work or does the teacher do it for them?

• What does the school do to each thinking skills (logic skills such as sequencing, patterning, categorizing, and prioritizing)?

• Does the school help children to become self-reliant?
• How does the school foster a child's developing sense of independence?

• What are the daily, monthly, and annual goals?
• How will the school track your child's progress and report to you?