5 Things I Wish I Knew When Applying For Preschool
This post originally appeared on Recess Urban Recreation
Got preschool on the brain? So do we!
Here are 5 tips that should help parents feel more prepared when applying to preschool for their child(ren). These tips are ones I have heard from several preschool directors and early education consultants.
Every preschool is unique. I wish that all preschools followed the same process and formula but unfortunately, this is not the case. Given this, it really helps to know your audience. This means making sure you do ample research on each preschool and their process. If the school has an application deadline, make sure you apply well before the deadline. If the school requires a tour before applying, make sure every decision maker in your house attends. If you are looking into a coop preschool, make sure you can follow through on the time commitment required. Most of this information is available on KidAdmit as well as on the school’s website.
There is no such thing as a feeder preschool. In the age of diversity, most preschools and K-8 schools are looking to attract a diverse group of families rather than pulling directly from a specific preschool or daycare. Diversity in ethnicity, socio-economic makeup, and neighborhood are all factors. Schools love to say that they attract families from all over because of their sought after program.
But there are definitely directors who can help you navigate choosing the right K-8 school. This is very important if you need someone to guide you through the Kindergarten process. Like every other industry, it’s all about relationships. Many preschool directors have great relationships with certain private K-8 schools in which they can help families make the most out of their applications. A reference letter from a reputable preschool director can be very helpful when applying to private grade schools. As for public schools, there is no way to work the system, you get what you get.
Make sure you are not only applying to super competitive preschools: You may have heard the horror story that your friend applied to 8 schools and didn’t get into any. This can happen when people only apply to super competitive schools. It comes down to the math. Most preschools have approximately 10 openings each year. Once you factor in siblings, you are competing with hundreds of families for a handful of spots. How can you prevent this? Keep your options open and apply to schools that are wonderful neighborhood gems but may not be listed in that top 10 list of preschools. Just because a school is super competitive doesn’t mean it’s the best school for your child and just because a schools isn’t super competitive doesn’t mean it’s not a wonderful school. There are many factors that can make a school competitive; anything from how long they have been around to how much advertising they have done. Most schools are set up to think about the kids, not always business - which is a good thing.
Be careful when listening to advice from others: This is the #1 reason why there is so much anxiety around applying for preschool. Parents are always asking other parents tips and tricks on how to get into a school and this advice can be very misleading. If you hear that it took an exorbitant amount of creativity or money to get into the right preschool, like putting together a multi media presentation or a large donation, this simply isn’t true. Preschool directors are looking for families that are passionate about their school and are excited to be part of the community. They wish they could accept more children into their programs but ratios and ample attention to each child prevents this with good reason. If you want to make sure they know you’re interested in their program, simply ask them how they would like to be communicated with in order to stay in touch. You don’t want to be that parent constantly calling and preventing them from doing their job. You do want to simply thank them for everything they have shared and let it be known that they are your number one choice should anything open up
Lastly, there is no reason to feel overwhelmed with this process. We’ve surveyed lots of families and 90% got into the preschool of their choice. Just stay patient, keep an open mind and all will work out. Remember, no one ever asks where you went to preschool.
If you are hungry for more information on getting ready for preschool and if you live in the SF Bay Area, come see Aki of Parenting Paths and me at the next Solving the Preschool Puzzle Workshop at Recess Urban Recreation on 10/14. I can guarantee that you will leave with a better understanding of what to look for and how to find it. Won't that be nice?