I found these really helpful OP, though she admittedly comes from a particular perspective but it aligns with what I wanted and she is very research based so I found it helpful. She has a checklist you can download (you have to give your email), but it is very detailed. Not like the checklists online.

https://yourparentingmojo.com/choosingpreschool/#

If you want to foster Independence, consider a Montessori program. I think it would be especially good for an obedient people pleaser, because kids in Montessori get to choose what they "work" on. They are not told what to do. So she could learn to follow what she wants vs. what others want for her.

We found a small, one-class Monetessori and with a strong community and a wonderful director, and could not be happier with our choice for our 2 kids.

Anonymous wrote:We arent there yet but what preschool is 100% outdoor play-----?!!!!?

Audoubon is pretty close. https://anshome.org/ans-preschool/

Anonymous wrote:We arent there yet but what preschool is 100% outdoor play-----?!!!!?

OP here. Well preschool is only 3-4 hours a day. This one really is 100% outdoors except for in rain (but maybe still in light rain?). They have a large outdoor space with stations and playground. It reminded me of the Free Forest School classes we'd done. While they practice counting through play and letters in play, there's no formal instruction.

We arent there yet but what preschool is 100% outdoor play-----?!!!!?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing your child needs most right now from preschool is social interaction. Learning to interact and get along with other kids when the social situations aren't so controlled (e.g., not just playdates with pre-approved friends with parents closely supervising). A variety of activities to give them stimulation. Outdoor play is more important than drilling them on math skills. If learning Spanish were important to you, you'd probably also be looking into Spanish immersion for kindergarten and would already have decided it's a priority.

Ultimately, go with your gut. Does the school feel friendly and welcoming? Do kids seem comfortable with the staff? Those are key. Also, don't dismiss proximity. Even with a nanny to drive your child there and back, if your child makes friends and wants to do playdates, it's much easier if the families lives relatively close to you because no one wants to drive across the river for that.

OP here. I would like Spanish immersion. I was a Spanish major in college, but since it's not my first language I don't speak it with my children. I haven't been thrilled with the Spanish programs near me.

I adore my DD, but I really want to build her confidence. She easily gets bullied and she does exactly what we tell her to do always (which is amazing for us as parents, but I would like to raise her to be more independent too). Instead of playing with other children, she loves playing with adults.

There are about 15 Pre-Ks in a 5 minute radius and it's hard to tour them all and figure it out.

I don't know know where you live, but near me (in Arlington), preschools are pretty much all lottery, and people apply to a whole bunch (easily 8-10) in the hopes of getting to choose between 2 or 3. So unless you live in a place where preschools don't fill and you can get in anywhere you'd like, narrow it down to those you have a good feeling about, apply to all, and then see where you get in before you agonize over choosing the "one." Your choice might end up clear once you know your actual options.

Anonymous wrote:I have no idea how to judge which pre-K is objectively best for a particular child.

But here is a non-pedagogical point to consider: having a child attend preschool at their eventual elementary school is very convenient logistically and allows the child to begin making long-term friends earlier. Plus, you often benefit from the broader resources and better facilities that a larger school has (gym, playgrounds, kitchen). And you get to meet parent friends earlier.

OP here. Elementary school starts at Kindergarten so that's not an option.

As a parent with older kids these are some other the things I would look for (if doing it over).

Safe, loving, respectful appropriate language. [I like concepts of responsive classroom - but no "Red Yellow Green" behavior management.]

Teach how to hold a pencil / crayon the correct way. Practice cutting and other functional items to build hand strength.

Lots of play for sharing - and story telling.

Things that are OT related - dressing up, cutting, tracing, balance and developing core strength for sitting.

Trying things and failing - and having fun - and laughing.

The STEM and Math and language will all come later

I have no idea how to judge which pre-K is objectively best for a particular child.

But here is a non-pedagogical point to consider: having a child attend preschool at their eventual elementary school is very convenient logistically and allows the child to begin making long-term friends earlier. Plus, you often benefit from the broader resources and better facilities that a larger school has (gym, playgrounds, kitchen). And you get to meet parent friends earlier.

Anonymous wrote:The thing your child needs most right now from preschool is social interaction. Learning to interact and get along with other kids when the social situations aren't so controlled (e.g., not just playdates with pre-approved friends with parents closely supervising). A variety of activities to give them stimulation. Outdoor play is more important than drilling them on math skills. If learning Spanish were important to you, you'd probably also be looking into Spanish immersion for kindergarten and would already have decided it's a priority.

Ultimately, go with your gut. Does the school feel friendly and welcoming? Do kids seem comfortable with the staff? Those are key. Also, don't dismiss proximity. Even with a nanny to drive your child there and back, if your child makes friends and wants to do playdates, it's much easier if the families lives relatively close to you because no one wants to drive across the river for that.

OP here. I would like Spanish immersion. I was a Spanish major in college, but since it's not my first language I don't speak it with my children. I haven't been thrilled with the Spanish programs near me.

I adore my DD, but I really want to build her confidence. She easily gets bullied and she does exactly what we tell her to do always (which is amazing for us as parents, but I would like to raise her to be more independent too). Instead of playing with other children, she loves playing with adults.

There are about 15 Pre-Ks in a 5 minute radius and it's hard to tour them all and figure it out.

I have 3 kids, 2 of whom are now in elementary. My third is in an in-home daycare and I'll be looking for something else for him soon. So, I'll just share what I look for and why, based on my experiences. I look for a facility where the kids seem happy and safe. And one that is clean. I watch the interactions between the staff and the kids - are the interactions warm, loving, firm (when needed) and age-approrpriate? Are screens used often? How much do the kids go outside? How much do they play versus doing academics? I do not care at all about academic prep. I don't care about STEM activities or reading preparation or any focus on those things. Those concepts come through play, through being read to, through experiments and through social interaction. I don't want screens present. I care much more about the feel of the place and how the relationships between kids and providers feel than any bells and whistles.

The thing your child needs most right now from preschool is social interaction. Learning to interact and get along with other kids when the social situations aren't so controlled (e.g., not just playdates with pre-approved friends with parents closely supervising). A variety of activities to give them stimulation. Outdoor play is more important than drilling them on math skills. If learning Spanish were important to you, you'd probably also be looking into Spanish immersion for kindergarten and would already have decided it's a priority.

Ultimately, go with your gut. Does the school feel friendly and welcoming? Do kids seem comfortable with the staff? Those are key. Also, don't dismiss proximity. Even with a nanny to drive your child there and back, if your child makes friends and wants to do playdates, it's much easier if the families lives relatively close to you because no one wants to drive across the river for that.

It seems like the ones that push reading and math appeal more to lower income parents and the ones that push outdoor play/Montessori are the opposite.

I am not in early childhood development, just a fellow mom. But, I do not think it's black-and-white. There is no magic list that will tell you how you should value Spanish vs arts. What is important to you? And where do you think your child will be happy? Language was very important to me and I was set on sending my kids to a language immersion preschool. But after touring that particular preschool I did not think that it was the right fit for my kids. In contrast, when I walked into the preschool that my kids ended up attending, it just felt right. A lot of it depends on personal preference, on your kids' personalities, and on the particular school. For example, I know that many parents swear by Montessori, but I found the one Montessori preschool where my kids went once a week as toddlers to be stifling. Good luck, OP. Sorry, I was not of much help.

I've been touring a lot of Pre-Ks for my 3.5 year old for next fall. They vary drastically. Some have arts, some teach in Spanish, some are 100% outdoor play, some focus mostly on reading and math (??!). Some have little desks just like an elementary school classroom and some have no desks and tables only for art. I'm having trouble figuring out what my child needs. I've read a lot that early academics are not beneficial. My DD already reads a bit (sounds out words, knows letters/numbers) but I don't want to push it at all and don't see that as a positive. She's very smart, but a bit of a people pleaser. We'd like her to gain confidence and enjoy playing with kids her own age. She's with a nanny now and her 2 younger siblings.

Is anyone up on early child development and can tell me what I should be looking for? I'm specifically not looking for a daycare because we have the nanny and she'll drive her (although I do wish they started at 8am so I could drop her off on my way to work, but every single one starts at 9 am).