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Preschool for beginners
What Sugar Land Parents Need
To Know Before Choosing A Pre-K
� Sugar Land Magazine � Sugar Land, Texas 2006
January 15, 2006
By Vivian Moore
 Printer Friendly
Looking for the perfect preschool for your child should be as easy as A-B-C and 1-2-3, but many Sugar Land parents become
overwhelmed by a whirlwind of questions: daycare, preschool, Mother�s Day Out or Montessori? Part-time or full-time? Accredited or nonaccredited?
The questions are endless, and it is impossible to recommend one school to fit the needs of every child (and parent) in Sugar Land, so here�s a guide to get you started and an accompanying resource list so you can call,
visit and ultimately decide on the best school for your child.
Daycare or Mother�s Day Out
A daycare is just that: day care. Their primary function is to provide child care when a parent is away. While a daycare or MDO generally offer some form of education, it is not their primary purpose. However, some
daycares and Mother�s Day Outs may provide accredited and nonaccredited preschool classes within their programs.
Preschools
A preschool program has a set curriculum in order to better prepare a child for elementary school. An accredited preschool has received an �endorsement� offered by one or more organizations. This is a voluntary process
initiated by the school usually to validate their program. Remember, many accreditation organizations exist, and if the preschool you�re interested in has a source of accreditation, check it out before assuming it is a
quality program.
Montessori Schools
A typical preschool Montessori will have a mixed age classroom (usually 3, 4, and 5 year olds) so that the children not
only learn from the teacher but from each other. Children are encouraged to explore information by using hands-on tools and by sharing with his or her classmates. Montessori schools have an independent accreditation
process, so check with the school for their information.
What Should a Preschool Teach?
The primary focus should be to teach a child how to interact in a classroom environment: how to share, wait in line, listen to a story, raise their hand, etc. Once a child understands �the basic rules to classroom
behavior,� then the child will begin to feel safe and secure. �The one thing that parents should be extremely careful about is if the curriculum is developmentally appropriate for their child�s age. There are so many
things that a 4 year old could be doing to learn their numbers and letters instead of working on worksheets. Young children need to use all of their senses when they are learning,� said Diane McCullen, kindergarten
teacher in the Lamar school district. Unfortunately, sometimes preschool children have to be taught in kindergarten how to hold a pencil, annunciate or write letters. �Reteaching is extremely time-consuming and
frustrating for the child,� added McCullen. So, do not forget to verify if a preschool�s curriculum will complement what your child will be taught in kindergarten.
Submit your Sugarland news to [email protected].
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