A young mother talked to me the other day about her child's nursery school She said her three-year-old, who was bright and active, was expected to follow rigid rules. Sitting quietly was not one of her favorite things. I love three-year-olds and have always found them to be full of energy and fun. Trying to regiment them makes little sense. I suggested the mother visit several other nursery schools and gave her some suggestions about what to look for.
The first thing to check is to be sure the nursery school is accredited and not just in someone's house. The teachers should have background checks. Also information about their medical history is important. For example when was their last chest X-ray? Also the school should be clean and warm and welcoming. I would ask what the rules were for sick children. Are they sent home or what if a caretaker is not available to come for a child? If a child suddenly becomes ill or has something like a seizure how far is the nearest doctor's office or hospital? Do the teachers and helpers have CPR training?
What is the daily routine? Do the little children get to take naps? Is any food offered and is so what is it? How many adults are there per child? You can often get answers to these questions if you drop in unexpectedly to see how the children are treated and the general feeling of the nursery school. Talking with some of the parents of children at the nursery school can also be helpful. I have visited some great nursery schools and seen a few that were pretty bad. So a lot of investigating always pays off.
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