Types of Schools

10 Signs of a Great Preschool

National Association for the Education of Young Children

Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children


If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.

  1. Children spend most of their playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time.
  2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.
  3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group.
  4. The classroom is decorated with children's original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.
  5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.
  6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.
  7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
  8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups throughout the day, not just at group story time.
  9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children's different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
  10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick.

Also ask if the program is accredited by NAEYC. NAEYC accredited programs complete a rigorous self-study and external review to prove that they meet standards of excellence in early childhood education.

Want more information?

Send a self-addressed, stamped, business size envelope to:
NAEYC
Box 517
1509 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

You'll receive a complimentary brochure entitled "A Good Preschool for Your Child."


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Other readers' comments on this article:

  1. This post is hidden because it has been flagged as inappropriate.

    Posted by Lynetta Huffman on Aug 17, 2007 6:52 pm

  2. At my daughter's preschool orientation Iasked if there was    going to be a transition week  and the teacher said that there was no need for that . I feel  unconfortable with that preschool. Is it a good preschool?

    Posted by Leticia Aguilar on Sep 2, 2007 2:31 am

  3. Please send any information concerning becoming an accredited facility.

    Posted by Lisa Duran on Sep 7, 2007 3:39 pm

  4. This post is hidden because it has been flagged as inappropriate.

    Posted by veronique on Sep 10, 2007 3:19 pm

  5. In preparing for my son to attend pre-school, I'd love more inforamtion about preschools and how to select one to ensure I choose the best school possible. Thank you!

    Posted by Jennifer Smith on Sep 11, 2007 8:56 am

  6. thanks for the info...

    Posted by Manor Sy on Sep 14, 2007 11:14 am

  7. I'm looking for informations on "montesori pre-schools in Minnesota.
    Could you help me please,
    Thank you!

    Posted by Elizabeth Kimura on Sep 14, 2007 11:57 pm

  8. This post is hidden because it has been flagged as inappropriate.

    Posted by T wright on Sep 24, 2007 11:40 am

  9. great!

    Posted by kiran on Oct 15, 2007 2:17 am

  10. I'm looking for a pre-school in the Baltimore area that meets the criteria mentioned above.  I'm a certified elementary school teacher and working on a master's to be a reading specialist so I'm very familiar with naeyc's educational research.  I've been trying to find a pre-school in my area that comes close to naeyc standards and it's proving to be very difficult.  Any suggestions?

    Posted by Tara on Oct 25, 2007 3:14 pm

  11. I am looking for a head start program in public scool in Loudoun county Virginia for my grand-daughter, she wiil be 4 years old December 8th 2007.
    Thank you in adavance for your response.

    Posted by Jacqueline Jaffe on Nov 18, 2007 5:40 pm

  12. This post is hidden because it has been flagged as inappropriate.

    Posted by Nadia Burton on Nov 21, 2007 11:11 pm

  13. Can you tell me if there is such a body here in Hempstead, Or East Meadow NY and if there is a list of accredited establishments? Hello, I want to know about this Accredited NAEYC programe. What about Montessori schools? I'm looking for a pre-school in the Long Island NY.
     
    Thanks.

    Posted by Marie Auguste on Nov 24, 2007 11:31 pm

  14. i would like information about the importance of a child going to preschool

    Posted by patty on Nov 29, 2007 2:52 pm

  15. looking for info on starting my child in preschool

    Posted by kelly on Dec 4, 2007 1:48 pm

  16. I'm looking for a prechools at downtown sacramento area..
    please if you know one, Will you let me know?
     
    Thanks,
    Mrs.Rich

    Posted by virginia Rich on Dec 4, 2007 4:20 pm

  17. This post is hidden because it has been flagged as inappropriate.

    Posted by lakmalee siriwardane on Dec 29, 2007 6:29 am

  18. My family is new to the Portland/Clackamas-Happy Valley area and we are looking for a pre-K for our 3 yr. daughter.  We do not need a daycare/pre-k.  I would like somewhere that she can attend a few hours a week so that she can get exposure to other children.  If you know of anywhere, I would appreciate the info.
    Thanks!

    Posted by Vicki on Feb 11, 2008 3:49 pm

  19. Looking for info on "How to select a good Pre-shcool" and looking for one in Medford MA, area.
      
    Thanks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Feb 11, 2008 5:44 pm

  20. In preparing for my son to attend preschool,  I'd like more information about preschools and how to select one to ensure that I choose the best school possible.  In addition, please send me information on "private and montesori schools in Bristol County, Mass.  Thank You!

    Posted by Kathy Damaso on Feb 19, 2008 4:33 pm

  21. I am opening a preschool in my home.  I would live to gain some information on  how parents and communities feel about preschools that take place in someones home versus in a facility.  What type of parent usually chooses an in-home perschool?  What do parents need to see or not see when they come to the in-home perschool?  Any other information would be helpful.  Thank you

    Posted by Melissa on Feb 24, 2008 4:53 pm

  22. Searching for information on setting up standard preschool.

    Posted by kolawole Babatunde on Feb 29, 2008 7:36 am

  23. I'm looking for a head start program in philadelphia pa zip code around 19135 or 19154. Thank you

    Posted by Elizabeth Elliott on Mar 10, 2008 12:06 am

  24. I have been teaching pre-school for 12 years. I love what I do and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. But reading all of the comments I think it is impossible to make every parent happy. Because everyone wants something different. I think if you can find a program that has loving teachers who care about your children then the rest will fall in place.

    Posted by brigitte on Mar 13, 2008 5:39 pm

  25. How can I study by free? because I am very poor students. I can't admission in you college. If anybody help me, I can also admission. I want to hard work.

    Posted by subrato halder on Apr 1, 2008 7:39 am

  26. I THANK YOU FOR TIPS AND WOULD LIKE TO RECIEVED MORE INORMATION

    Posted by NANCY on Apr 6, 2008 6:57 pm

  27. Iam Looking For Preschools In Redmond,WA area,
    Can You Please Help

    Posted by Shilpa Asrani on Apr 26, 2008 6:30 pm

  28. ıs it suitable to learn a second language like english for  a child who is 3 years old.ın other way what is the suitable time to learn the second language .thanks for the info.

    Posted by emel unsur on May 31, 2008 8:39 am

  29. i work at this daycare and fill it should be chosen by the herald standard to be the number one daycare in the area. The girls and the owners all do a great job on a daily basis.  

    Posted by Andrea Grimm on Aug 15, 2008 12:27 am



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