In my first post for Madres Hoy, I have decided to talk about the six most important aspects that must be taken into account when choosing a nursery school for children. Yes, I know! Some of you are going to tell me that the school year started a few days ago, but some children's educational centers, especially subsidized and private ones, usually accept enrollment throughout the year. Also... perhaps there are families who are moving cities and need to read some type of guidance on what type of nursery school to choose.
Making the decision to take children to nursery school is always difficult for parents. They also have a hard time having to be separated from their children, and on many occasions, they feel insecure, restless and have a hard time not knowing how their little ones are. For this reason, I always recommend that parents research the educational centers in the area where they live and take their time before taking the final step.
Before starting with the six important aspects, I would like to remind you that nursery schools (not nurseries) are educational centers. That is, children are not simply brought in to be cared for, fed, and entertained until their parents arrive for them. They are spaces where the little ones develop creativity, imagination and autonomy. Places where they experiment, share, learn and discover.
Now, we are going to delve into what for me would be the keys to choosing the nursery school.
Legality
This section may seem like common sense to you, but there are some spaces (to call them in some way, of course) that do not have the appropriate license to be a nursery school or an educational center. And those who form it are not child educators, teachers or education specialists.
For this reason, it is necessary to inform yourself and ask the directive staff of the center if the professionals who work in the school they are qualified to work with children on a day-to-day basis.
Security
It is essential that the space in the nursery school where the children go is one hundred percent safe. Do not be afraid to ask the center for the safety regulations (adequate windows, furniture and doors) and ask the management staff for the guidelines they follow to prevent the risk of accidents and what they do if one happens.
Economy
I would be lying to you if I told you that money should not be taken into account when choosing nursery school. Every family has to be aware of what it can and cannot afford. In this regard, I also recommend that parents investigate and be informed since many educational centers that claim to follow the Montessori or Waldorf philosophy are excessively expensive and then leave a lot to be desired and rarely apply these methodologies.
Proximity
Here we can talk about several cases. If either parent works at home, the ideal would be to choose an educational center that is as close to home as possible. In the same way, if both parents work, it would be convenient if the nursery school was not too far from the workplace. since if the child for any reason becomes ill or something happens to him, you have to go to the center as quickly as possible. Another alternative is that the school is close to a relative in case the parents work far away. For that, they will have to authorize the specific person so that they can go to pick up the children in case the parents cannot do so.
Methodology of the center
Perhaps this is one of the most important aspects of which I am naming. It is essential that parents know the type of methodology that the nursery school that their child attends has to apply. There are free and respectful schools, alternative schools, schools that are focused on nature, traditional schools…. I mean, there are a lot of varieties. Again, I recommend that you search for information on all of them and then make the decision.
Academic
Here we can talk about the learning style applied by the educational center with the children: creative, innovative, game-based, active, participatory ... For this, it is essential that the necessary meetings be held with the management and educational staff. Parents have every right to ask about the schedules of nursery schools. In addition, they are usually very useful when making the best decision.
And you, what have you taken into account when making the decision to choose the best nursery school for your children? I would love to read you in the comments!
Welcome Mel! a great article, the aspects to consider before deciding which school to take the children are very well detailed. I think that if I had seen myself in that situation (my children started school at 5 and 4 years old) I would have noticed above all the closeness and safety, but now I realize how important methodology is.
A abrazo.
Hello, Macarena! Thank you very much for the welcome. I am really enjoying your blog. For me the methodology and the educational project would also be the most important. Because safety and legality is common sense, although as I said in the post, not all children's educational centers comply with it. A kiss, and thanks again! 🙂
Very good article, but I would also take into account the ratio, that is, the number of children in a class. Sometimes the private ones are exceeded and a class with 8 babies is not the same as with 12 or more.
Hello Maria! How could it happen? You are absolutely right and I strongly agree with you, the ratio is also very important in nursery schools. As you well say, it is not the same to be with eight babies than with twelve. Thank you for the contribution! 🙂