Picking the right preschool for your child is one of the first decisions you'll have to make regarding their education. Preschool-aged children experience immense brain development and achieve 90% of their adult brain volume before they are six years old according to the CDC, so choosing a preschool that will help their development is super important. Here are a few ways you can pick the right preschool for your child.

Make Sure Your Child Is Ready

Before we get into how to pick the best preschool, make sure your child is really ready for preschool. Every child is different, so there is no set age at which your child is ready for preschool, but rather if they show the signs of being ready for preschool. You want your child to be able to demonstrate social skills, follow directions, work with others, and have self-management skills before they go off to preschool.

Visit Preschools

The best way to tell if a preschool is right for your child is by visiting. Most preschools will allow you to visit and observe the classroom for an hour or two so you can see how the children interact with each other, how the teacher interacts with the children, and what activities the children are engaging in. Remember this is preschool, so you'll want to see lots of playing, singing, and drawing. These core activities encourage children to participate in social settings and teach cooperation, taking turns, body awareness, and so much more.

Ask Questions

You don't know the answer if you don't ask, so make sure to ask lots of questions while visiting preschools to help you make your decision. Before visiting, have a list of questions ready to ask. These could be questions like how they accommodate children with special needs, what programs the preschool offers, or even how they handle disruptive children. You also may want to tailor your questions to your child. For example, if your child sometimes has accidents, you may want to ask how that situation would be handled if it happened in the preschool.

Picking a preschool for your child is more involved than choosing a daycare service or childcare center because it is the first real level of their education. Remember that every child is different, so the preschool your neighbor's child goes to may not necessarily be the right fit for your child. By following these tips for picking the right preschool, you can help give your child a head start on their education.