What to look for in a preschool Selecting a preschool can be a very important decision for local families. It helps to be an informed consumer. Naomi Karp of the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education points out that the two key features of a high quality preschool program are the teachers or caregivers and what is happening in the classroom environment. When evaluating a preschool class for a child, she advocates keeping the following items in mind.
Teachers also have to talk to children a great deal.
They should have interesting conversations with one child at a time, with small groups of children and with the group as a whole. Look to see if adults are talking mostly to other adults. Teachers should also know about child development and how young children learn about the alphabet and number concepts. Those with early childhood college preparation are especially well-qualified teachers. That means that every day children should be doing things that develop their language, mathematics and problem-solving skills.