https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:11:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688160 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 15:26:47 +0000 looch 2688160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would get a good understanding of the schedule, do they follow a town school closure calendar? What is offered in the summer, is there any kind of preferred sign up for the next year in terms of time slots? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688157 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 15:22:16 +0000 hellobeeboston 2688157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: this is a great point! Our preschool sends out a newsletter about the class every Friday with stories of what they did during the week, photos, and 'quotes' from a bunch of the kids from questions they asked. I love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688130 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:57:51 +0000 KayKay 2688130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing that's kinda random, but I would ask about, is whether you could get a copy/email of whatever parent communications the school (and the individual teachers for your LOs age) used that week/month/etc. </p> <p>I think school-wide newsletters can give you a good vibe for the place, the administration, and usually include some pictures of the kids doing their activities without parents or guests around. </p> <p>And I think the individual teachers' communications (usually at least monthly, if not weekly or more often) will give you a better sense of how they actually implement whatever curriculum they are touting (e.g., play-based, more academic, true NAEYC, etc), as well as a feel for how engaged and "good" (for lack of a better word?) each teacher (or the school as a whole) is. For example, one preschool my DD1 attended linked to all of the different teacher's monthly newsletters, and my DD1s teacher's was by far the worst -- it was basically just a word doc and didn't show much planning for their activities, just a list of topics. Now, I don't think that necessarily means teachers who do that are bad, but just that they aren't going above and beyond, and it looks especially bad if some/all of the other teachers are! Or if one school has awesome ones and another doesn't...that might be telling, too.</p> <p>I also agree with @mrs. lion: about the art. It's definitely a sign whether the teacher(s) understand and appreciate development and age-appropriate activities! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688045 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 12:14:50 +0000 gingerbebe 2688045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Daily schedule<br /> 2. How they handle the potty<br /> 3. How much outside time<br /> 4. Curriculum structure<br /> 5. Security<br /> 6. Ratio<br /> 7. Hygiene<br /> 8. Overall vibe</p> <p>We chose our sons preschool because it was really cozy and normal. All the teachers know all the kids regardless of age or classroom and they are all really warm and loving. They get the kids outside as much as possible, even when it's sorta muddy! They do lots of messy art projects and they are super positive about potty training and feel strongly about making it a positive experience. They do a good job with secure check in and check out, there's only one entrance to the school through the directors office, and infant rooms have cameras. Open stall bathrooms. When they are outside they do counts and checks every 15 minutes on a clipboard. The class ratios are low - my son had 5 kids when he started and currently has 8. They have a theme each week and the teacher posts what they will be learning about each day on a calendar (today is koala bears, the letter K, and the color white, for example) so parents can reinforce at home if they want. What I really appreciate is that they provide a good predictable schedule and structure for the day, but within that there is a lot of unstructured play and creativity happening. They are constantly cleaning and disinfecting. They play music in the classrooms all the time. The teachers and directors are always accessible by phone or app, and there's constantly letters and newsletters and notes coming home, and reminders via email and app. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688038 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 11:58:21 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2688038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Who has access to the school? What are the stranger safety procedures? </p> <p>What is the toileting policy? How many sets of eyes are in the bathroom, who are these people, how involved do they get when helping your child wipe or cleaning accidents?</p> <p>For outdoor time, what is the sunscreen policy? Which products do they use?do they apply after faces are wiped?</p> <p>What is the sick policy?</p> <p>How involved are the parents? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2688035 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 11:54:09 +0000 autumnleaves 2688035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: excellent points! I definitely want LO to have opportunities to be messy and creative/ not have the teacher cut and paste for him. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687978 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:55:03 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2687978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The biggest tells for me about the quality of a preschool is the general vibe (does it fele chaotic? do the teachers seem stressed?) and the art they display. If the art looks like the teachers did it and/or forced a kid to sit still and make a craft it is a definite no to me because it sends me the signal that the teachers dont understand child development. If the art on the walls looks like kids got ahold of the craft cabinet and did their own thing, that is what I am looking for. Process art for the win. </p> <p>This of course is in addition to ratios, safety, cleanliness, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687858 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 06:47:56 +0000 autumnleaves 2687858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: thank you! I work so I definitely will ask about how flexible they are with days as his current center has let us change days but I am guessing not all part time preschools do.<br /> I don't get to talk to his teacher now since she is not there when I drop off and it is nap time when I pick him up and I would love to talk with his teacher and know more about LO is doing in school. I will definitely ask next week on our tours about this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687638 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:08:56 +0000 Kemma 2687638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you work at all? If so, I would ask how flexible they are if you need to occasionally change your schedule. Our preschool has been really good about me swapping days and not charging me for an extra day which has been a really nice surprise!</p> <p>How do they feel about messy play? I love that my kids can go to preschool and get messy so I don't have to at home...</p> <p>Do they encourage you to interact with the teachers at pickup and drop off? I love being able to chat with the teachers and have never felt pressured to get the kids in and out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687538 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:29:02 +0000 autumnleaves 2687538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: @Foodnerd81: thank you!!! This is great! I would love it if they have an organized drop off/pick up. And it would be much nicer for him to have the same kids in his class each day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687505 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 15:58:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2687505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also- if it's part time, is it always the same kids in the class like my daughters preschool you can do MWF or TTh, so her class is always the same. Other friends have a more flexible schedule so the kids changed based on the day, but she has flexibility to add a day or take one away if she wants, or switch the days she goes. Pluses and minuses to both but worth thinking about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687351 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 14:34:33 +0000 Foodnerd81 2687351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely find out about schedules, and think about how they will work with your younger one's nap schedule (like I have my older doing 4 mornings next year vs 3 longer days that would have pick up during the baby's nap time. ) </p> <p>Drop off and pick up- again, if you have a younger one, not having to get out of the car is nice. That said I have to go inside for drop off and pick up and it's annoying to get the baby out of the car but not a big deal. </p> <p>Good/ snacks/ lunch- what do they eat, do they provide or you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687294 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:53:25 +0000 hellobeeboston 2687294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do part time preschool M,W,F from 9-12, for my 4yo.... Some things we asked about:</p> <p>Potty accidents (luckily LO was fully trained when we started, but nice to know how they handle accidents for sure!)</p> <p>Snacks/Lunch - if they do it, do they provide, what to pack</p> <p>Naps? if you do a longer day, some places do this</p> <p>Outdoor time - this was big for us, we wanted to make sure LO go outside a lot, we chose a nature preschool which does half of their days outdoors (weather permitting)</p> <p>'Curriculum' - how are the days structured, what fine &amp; gross motor skills are they working on, how preparing the kids for K, etc. Some schools we looked at were more school focused doing early math/science, and some were more play/social focused... all depends on whats important for you at this age</p> <p>Pickup/drop off ... I like to know what the procedure is, how long it will take, can i be late? what happens</p> <p>Sick policy -- these are pretty much all the same, but good to ask</p> <p>Vacation schedule... We had to factor in when choosing M,W,F, that the majority of holidays fall on a Monday, so you miss out on class those days.</p> <p>Hmm... can't think of anything else... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-part-time-preschool#post-2687276 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:45:03 +0000 autumnleaves 2687276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 will be 3 in August and we are looking at transitioning from the daycare center he has always gone to (FT through 21 months and PT since). Our biggest reason is costs but I would also like to see a smaller class size and more learning opportunities.<br /> We are touring a handful of preschools next week as now is apparently the time to register. What questions would you ask? I am planning to ask how they handle pee/poop accidents as one of my friends had issues with a teacher who would send her 3 year old daughter to the 2 year old room when she had accidents and that experience as a whole has led to long term problems.<br /> TIA </p>