Hi everybody! I'm shopping for a pre-school for my 3-year-old. What should I be looking for? What kinds of pre-schools are there? I've heard a little about Montessori schools, but aren't they all super-expensive? My church used to have its own pre-school, but they stopped a few years ago; do other church schools accept childeren of non-members? What are the chances that a church school will preach wierd stuff to my kids? What about chains? -Tammy

There are a lot of resources available. First, ask friends and families in your neighborhood. Second, go to your nearest public elementary school and ask the principal about pre-schools in your area (Some elementary schools may offer pre-k services, though these programs usually begin at age 4). Try the internet: [LIST] [*] search google for preschool and your zip code. [*] try 'greatschools.net' [*] Ask your pediatrician (She's probably familiar with a lot of schools and pre-schools). [*]Ask the leaders or members of your congregation (if you attend religious services).[/LIST]

Hi there, I'm new here. Have you checked into your public schools? Here we have at least one PreK class offered per public school, mostly for 4 year olds though. There's the rare PreK 3 one that accepts non-developmentally challenged children - most other Prek for 3 YO's are if they have a delay of some kind. My DD went to one within a public school - same school she now attends Kindergarten. I loved it, so did she! The one thing I liked about it was that she was not in a daycare environment with younger children. She was a big girl, going to real school. She ate her lunch in the cafeteria, went on field trips, did everything the school participated in. By the way, lunch was for the PreK classes only, not with the older children. She went onto PreK-4 and now Kindergarten - she knows the entire school and is familiar with it. There was no transition from a PreK in another location to a brand new school. I'm a HUGE advocate of PreK programs in a public school setting.

I have had great luck with private in home preschools. My daughter went to one for three year olds and another one for 4 year olds. People that do these are usually moms that have teaching degrees and a lot of experience with little ones. The classes tend to be smaller and they get more one on one attention than at larger programs. Just make sure that the teacher does have experience and be sure to look over the curriculm to see that it is not to advanced or not advanced enough for your child.

My son has been attending Sun Rise Preschool for two years now and we love it. He began in a Pre-pre-K class and now he is in Pre-K. Last year we thought that our son may have had a speech delay and were worried about our options. After expressing my concerns with his teacher we began to have short conferences almost every afternoon through the end of the school year. I feel that having a teacher that is concerned about that concerns of the parents plays an important role in a good education. Now, we see a hugh improvement in our sons speech and are extreamly pleased with the help that we received. Open communication is key no matter where you decide to have your child educated.

Make sure, where ever you consider, to ask a LOT of questions. Alot of chain daycare/preschool centers have a lot of under educated, very young people taking care of your child and teaching your child at a time when they are learning their habbits and building their personalities. You'd be surprised what goes on at these places when you are not there watching all day long. I used to work with a large chain and ended up quiting my job and pulling my son out because of what I was seeing on a daily basis during my visits to all of the centers. You have to remember that these workers are making around $7/hour to take care of a room full of children for eight hours per day. Taxing on anyones nerves let alone someone making minimum wage. Ask yourself, "would I invite this person into my home to watch my child?" If you tell yourself no, then listen to yourself. Alot of directors at the larger chains have so much going on all day long that they have NO idea what is going on inside the classroom, as much as they tell you that they do - they do NOT.

I am a preschool teacher out here in the east bay....I've done this for about 6yrs went to college and eveything got all my early childhood education units...I have seen and worked in ashare of my places and I will tell you not all were good...You always need to ask the ratio of kids to teacher..legally 1:12 but a good place will be lower...Where I work me and another teacher have 11 kids its perfect the lower the ratio the better they are able to focus on your childs education..I worked for a place that packed there little classroom with tons of kids 2:24 which is legal but to me not safe if they are out of control or not being occupied with some kind of project...Always ask about their programs what will your child learn there. Ask to see childrens art work because some places will say they do all these activities and they really don't I've seen it. Sometimes people are just out for the money and will say anything to get somebody to enroll their kids..Its sad, but it happens...and I don't get paid minimum wage either I make very good money but you do need to look at the quality of the center and the environment because if you got a bunch of kids running around out of control I wouldn't want mine to go there. Also ask how long they been in business, and how long each teacher has been their because in this field there is a high turnover and think about the child when they get use to one teacher and then they are gone thats no very good they need a sense of security in a place.