How Do You Pick the Right Preschool?

Most parents are actively seeking the best education for their child, and preschool is where we start. The majority of us—myself included—are a bit neurotic about the whole process of weeding out preschools until we find the right one. That's why, with the help of some local preschools, I am going to try and gather as much information as possible for parents in the South Bay area.

Word-of-mouth is wonderful; hoof and mouth is terrible; and neither one of them can tell you what school is the most appropriate choice for your child. One child's paradise could be another child's Inferno.

Let me start by citing some of the most popular types of schools. The ones I am familiar with are:

• Waldorf - A nurturing program that incorporates the spirit, soul and body of the child by creating a home-like environment and letting the children explore through order and rhythmic repetition.

• Montessori - A comprehensive program where Montessori teachers gently guide children to different areas in the classroom, based on their level of interest. The children develop a sense of independence by being able to choose their schedule.

• Play-Based - An energetic program where children learn by playing with other children in a social environment. The teacher leads the children in structured and non-structured activities and gives them ample opportunities to learn by, well, playing.

• Reggio Emilia - An open-ended program that allows the child to lead the way. Children's ideas are given ample attention as the teachers guide their day based on their individual interests.

• Co-Op - A parent-supported program where the parents are an integral part of the teacher's curriculum. Children learn with their parents in a social environment. The co-op program can incorporate many different teaching philosophies.

I know there are more types, so feel free to chime in with the latest and greatest. I don't think any one type is better than the other—I think it truly depends on the child's personality, cost and, unfortunately, the parent's schedule. I urge you to research the different types of schools and narrow down your choices to the schools that fit your child's needs. Once you have narrowed that down, set up interviews with the different preschools and see which one makes most sense for your child and your family.

In the coming weeks, I will write about the South Bay schools that I have attended with Smith. Hopefully, I can provide you with a comprehensive view of our local options. There are a wealth of schools here, so I cannot promise to touch on each individual one, but I can, with some help, give you an idea about some of the great schools we have here in the Redondo Beach area.

I will tell you that we are enrolled in two preschools at the moment. Smith visits the on Mondays and South Bay Adult Co-op preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays (I attend with him on these days, and have the option to take one day off a week).

I'll review the Art Zone next week, and South Bay Adult School the week after. Smith really likes both programs so far, but I am interested to see how each program differs from the other. Selfishly, I love the program that allows me to just drop him off so I can go home and fold laundry without interruption (I live a seriously lame life). But I do love watching Smith interact with other children and teachers at South Bay. We will see which one fits, and go from there. Perhaps we will stick with the current hybrid approach.

One thing to remember is that there are no rules in selecting schools. You can mix and match. You can choose to go one day or every day. Do what fits best for your family, with your child's needs at the helm.