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How can I tell if the preschool I am considering is a bad choice?

Choosing the right preschool is very important to your child’s development. If you’re concerned about choosing the wrong one, then there are several things you can do to figure out whether your choices are good or bad. Here are a few things that indicate a preschool may not be the best choice:

Bad word of mouth reviews. The best sign of a bad preschool is any negative feedback from parents. If other parents have said it’s not great, then it’s best you look elsewhere.

Lack of rules. You don’t want your child to go to a preschool that’s too rigid, but it does need to have rules. This is particularly true when it comes to things like sick day policies and bullying. Look for schools that have no documented health and safety or emergency policies, and cross them off your list!

A boring syllabus. If the preschool you’ve considered has a boring and staid syllabus, that doesn’t stimulate or excite the children there, then you’ll want to move on. Schools that don’t have room to explore and grow, and the tools for children to do that, are not usually the best choice.

Poor staffing. If the teachers and caregivers at the preschool you’re considering are under qualified, or unqualified, then you need to look elsewhere. Likewise, if they’re poorly paid, or poorly treated, then they’re unlikely to give their best to the children in their care, or they might find new jobs. A high staff turnover at a preschool is not a good sign!

Poor facilities. If the preschool you’re looking at is unsafe, or unhygienic, then you should definitely look at other options. Injuries and diseases from your child’s school is not something you want, so if you don’t like the look of the facility itself, stop considering it.

Lack of proper licensing. Depending on the area, preschools need to have certain licenses. Check whether the one you’re considering does. A license that’s a week or two out of date is one thing, but a school that’s not licensed at all is also not subject to regulations!

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