Welcome to Irvine Preschools!
Welcome to
Irvine Preschools, the definitive guide to preschools in Irvine, California. This website is dedicated to helping you understand everything you need to know about choosing a preschool for your child. Read our articles to gain an understanding of the different aspects of a preschool. We hope you find this website informative and helpful. Feel free to
contact us with any questions you have.
How to Choose the Right Place for Your Child
A decision that many parents struggle with is how to choose a preschool for their children. There are so many factors to consider that it is easy to become frozen and indecisive. There are of course, some things every parent expects.
- Security. Every parent wants to make sure there is great security in the preschool their child attends. That means well-monitored entry and exit and an awareness of both children, teachers and aides at all times.
- Safety. The safety of a facility is a non-negotiable. Fencing, proper design of the classroom and great shading of the playground are just some of the things to consider.
- Cleanliness. Keeping our children healthy is the final essential of a preschool. Making sure the classes and playground are clean and that there is a healthy food storage and serving approach makes all the difference.
Beyond that, it can get complicated. Where should a parent begin? Here are some of the issues parents face.
- Cost. This is almost always some consideration, especially in these tough economic times. There is something inside of us that thinks, “the more expensive, the better.” That is not always true. There are some affordable, less expensive preschools that can provide your child with everything they need. On the other hand, sometimes more expensive preschools are that way because of superior teaching staffs and facilities. Also, many times preschools will run specials as well as have incentive programs when you get friends to sign up. This can end up saving you hundreds of dollars.
- Location. Again, this is a crucial consideration. Having the school close can make all the difference in the world. Also, consider using a school that is near your workplace. There are several advantages to that. We have an article called Preschools Near Work that will help you consider this aspect in your decision.
- Religious beliefs of the school. For some parents, religious training at a young age is very important. For others, they may want to avoid it altogether. Also, there are many kinds of “religious” preschools. Some have a heavy curriculum in religious teaching while others simply try to instill basic spiritual principles. See our article on Types of Preschools for more information.
- Teaching styles. How does a child learn best? Is it important for them to memorize? How do they get a love of learning? There are actually several opinions about this. This may be one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a preschool.
- Diversity of the children attending. Preschool can be an opportunity to introduce your child to the ethnic diversity of the world. Some preschools have little diversity while others are very diverse.
- Size of the school. Is smaller or larger a better match for your child? What are the advantages of each? You have to be careful though because sometimes “smaller” preschools actually have larger class sizes while a larger preschool may have an excellent child to teacher ratio. Here is some information on In-Home Preschools and some more on Facility-Type Preschools.
- What type of Preschool is the best fit for you and your child or children? Here are the different types of Preschools you can choose from.
- A Home-based preschool. These range from a few up to 16 children.
- A Church-sponsored preschool. Many churches sponsor preschools as a part of their service to the community. Some require membership, most do not.
- A public school preschool. The public school system offers preschool options as well.
- Stand-alone preschool. These are privately-owned, privately-run preschools. They are often found in shopping center complexes.
- “Franchise” type preschools. Examples of this would be Montessori and Kinder-care.
- Volunteer-based and co-op preschools. Some preschools have heavy parental volunteer involvement in an effort to involve parents and keep costs down.
It is daunting when you start considering the number of factors to consider. So, what’s the best way to approach this important decision?
- Knowledge! The more you know, the better decision you will make.
- Self-examination. What are your priorities? What is important to you and what is not?
Take some time to read through the various articles and information on our website. We invite you to make comments on the articles.
Parents have to stick together! Your thoughts and opinions can be helpful to others. If you have questions, feel free to ask them.
Just you being on this site shows that you are a parent who is concerned about the future of your family. With the help you receive here we hope you will make the best decision about your preschool.
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