Choosing the right preschool for infants is one of the most important decisions parents make. Aware that this decision directly impacts a child’s early development and well-being, it’s understandable that most parents feel overwhelmed by the preschool choices available. However, knowing what criteria are non-negotiable will help you narrow your options significantly. This guideline can help you make an informed decision and give you peace of mind that you’re leaving your infant in safe hands.
Benefits Of Preschool For Infants
Enrolling your baby in an infant preschool offers many benefits for you and your child. While some parents may be apprehensive about leaving their little ones in the care of others, studies have shown that a high-quality infant preschool can significantly contribute to a child’s development and well-being. Some of the benefits include:
Infant preschool allows infants to start socializing with peers from an early age. This socialization enables them to develop vital life skills like communication, cooperation, and sharing.
Attending preschool from an early age also has the advantage of helping the infant interact with and get used to other caring adults. It prevents stressful “separation anxiety” from parents later in life and fosters a sense of community.
Socially, an infant preschool is also beneficial to the parents. Parents can connect and befriend other parents with children the same age. This provides an essential and beneficial support system, often leading to a lifelong friendship.
Structure And Routine
Infant preschool centers usually have structured schedules. Establishing routines for feeding, nap times, and play times, develop good habits, and provide a sense of predictability and security.
Research has shown that infants with structured routines experience fewer episodes of erratic behavior and transition into Pre-K more easily than their peers who have not been enrolled in a preschool facility.
Diverse Experiences
Infants who attend daycare have the benefit of being exposed to diversity from a very young age. Being exposed to peers, caregivers, and other families, also exposes them to a diversity of cultures, languages, and experiences. This in turn fosters their appreciation of diversity and broadens their worldview.
Physical And Emotional Development
An infant preschool is geared to provide infants with a range of physical activities that develop gross and fine motor skills. Supervised, age-appropriate activities promote healthy physical development and contribute to a child’s overall well-being. They are also encouraged to communicate (in an age-appropriate manner) their likes and dislikes while learning that choices made come with consequences.
Making choices and dealing with their consequences from a young age, is a life skill that develops emotional intelligence.
How To Choose The Right Infant Preschool
There are various factors to consider when choosing an infant preschool facility. Once you have done a broad search using personal recommendations and online reviews, you can narrow your search to a few facilities that require further research.
Here are some tips that will help you make a final decision:
Start Planning As Early As Possible
Infant preschools with a good reputation usually have a waiting list of infants wanting to enroll. The best time to start looking for, and putting your name on a waiting list, is early in your pregnancy. When looking for an infant preschool ask yourself the following questions:
- When will I need to enroll my child?
- What is my budget?
- How many hours a day will I need care?
- What location must the facility be in – near my home or my place of employment?
Know What Your Expectations Of A Facility Are
Before deciding which facility you will be enrolling your child in, you need to know what aspects are non-negotiable, and which you are willing to compromise on. Non-negotiable aspects include:
- The center adheres to legal requirements.
- Safety
- Cleanliness
- Communication
Center Adheres To Legal Requirements
Every infant and childcare provider must meet the licensing standards established by the Florida Department Of Children And Families. If the facility cannot produce the necessary documents, scratch them off your list of prospects.
Ensure that the facility also adheres to the legal adult-child ratio of 1:4 for all infants 0 – 12 months old.
Caregiver Qualifications
All staff need to have the relevant certification in early childhood education and the necessary background to work in an infant preschool facility. Well-trained caregivers will also have all the necessary First Aid skills for any emergency and are known to provide a more stimulating and nurturing environment for infants.
All caregivers, staff, and all who have access to the children must be able to provide evidence of a criminal background check that clears them to work with/have contact with children.
Safety
Request a tour of the facility and take note of the following safety issues:
- Are all the entrances to the facility secure? Who has access to the facility and what safety measures are in place to ensure no unwanted people enter the facility?
- Are all electrical outlets fitted with protective outlet covers?
- Does the facility have smoke detectors and are they in working order?
- Are poisonous/hazardous substances locked away and stored safely?
- Are all the toys age-appropriate and in working order?
- Are the food and snacks age-appropriate, prepared correctly, and served in a way that is not a choking hazard?
Cleanliness
When touring the facility, ensure that you are happy with the general cleanliness of the areas. Ensure that there are handwashing/hand sanitizer areas in the kitchen, bathroom, and diaper changing areas. Pay special attention to the cleanliness of:
- The food preparation area
- The diaper changing area, and that the dirty diapers are disposed of correctly
- The eating area
- The sleeping area. Is the linen changed regularly and does each child have a specific allocated space?
Communication
Find out what methods are used for communication between caregivers and parents. Confirm that you will be able to receive an update on your child’s progress whenever requested. Also find out what their “pop in” policy is, as you will get a more accurate impression of the facility if you visit without an appointment.
Providence Children’s Academy, Coconut Creek’s Top Tier Infant Preschool
Providence Children’s Academy’s reputation as the infant preschool of choice in Coconut Creek has been earned by its holistic approach to early childhood development. Accepting infants from as young as 6 weeks old, we ensure the youngest members of our community have a safe and nurturing environment to socialize, learn, and grow.
Infants enrolled at our infant preschool facility have the added advantage of being able to continue their education at the same facility, ensuring a seamless transition as they progress through the different development stages.
To view our facility or find out more about our programs, call us today at 954- 570-6914.