There are various elements you are going to want to check out when picking a preschool for your child. Make sure the preschool's educational philosophy aligns with your parenting philosophy. Make sure you like the teachers and facility that run the preschool. Visit the preschool and evaluate the physical environment of the preschool. When you evaluate the physical environment, start outside the building and work your way inward.

#1 How Does the Outside of the Building Look?

The outside of the building doesn't tell you everything about what is happening inside of the building, but the outside of the building should be clean and safe. The fence around the playground should be upright and in good shape. The playground equipment should be well taken care of. Make sure the playground and outside area looks both safe and engaging.

#2 Check Out Their Transportation

Next, if the preschool ever drives the children anywhere, check out their form of transportation. Does the van or bus look like it is well taken care of? Can they show you the insurance and maintenance logs for the bus? Don't sign off on transportation for your child in any vehicle that doesn't feel safe.

#3 Examine the Cleanliness of the Classroom

Moving inside, check out how clean the classroom is. It is natural for a preschool classroom to look a little lived in; however, when you look at the details, it should be clean. Are there cobwebs in the corners? Is there dust on all the shelves? Do the toys and equipment in the classroom look like they are wiped down and sanitized on a regular basis?

As you look at the cleanliness of the classroom, look for signs that the classroom is vacuumed, dusted, and surfaces are wiped down daily. You want your child learning in a clean environment.

#4 Does the Classroom Feel Child-Friendly?

Finally, look at what is actually in the classroom. Does the classroom have child-size furniture? Does the classroom have engaging toys and learning material? Are there lots of visuals and words around the classroom? Is children's work displayed in the classroom?

You want a classroom that is filled with child-size furniture and engaging learning materials where your child will be able to learn independence while learning at all time. A classroom that has children's work displayed around the classroom is a sign that the children's work is valued and lets you see what the children are learning.

When you check out a preschool, be sure to evaluate the physical environment. Make sure the physical environment is safe and promotes your child's development.

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