I am a huge believer that preschool can be an excellent place for children to spend their first few years of life.

My mother and even my grandmother have worked in daycare my whole life.

I was always planning to continue working on my career and finding a fantastic place for my kids to learn and grow.

However, when my first child came, we were actually in a place where I could stay home with her.

I was loving being a stay-at-home mom but quickly realized she needed more socialization than my husband and I could provide.

I knew it was time to find a school for her.

We sat down and made a list of the things we were looking for when it came to our children’s daycare.

I would encourage all parents who are considering any childcare to start by listing out priorities and wants.

Then we began our search for a preschool.

How We Searched for a Preschool

We knew that we wanted our children to be in a safe, healthy environment.

It was vital for them to be cared for well and to learn new things.

I wanted to know about potty training and nap time; I believe children do better on a schedule.

We wanted a place they could be themselves and encouraged to build friendships with other children.

We made sure when we looked at new preschools to ask about outside time, a safe playground, or other fun events for children.

Take your time, and ask questions when choosing a daycare for your kids.

The right quality preschool will help ready your child for school and be vital in the development in all parts of their lives.

We found a fantastic church-run program.

I loved the idea of a Parent’s Day Out.

We got to decide between a three or five-day program, and with part-time hours I still got to spend so much of my day being a stay-at-home mom while she got the friends and education she was craving.

The staff was friendly and knowledgable.  There was an outside playground that she loved, and I was so excited to see how much they loved parent volunteers so that I could stay involved.

Preschool Priorities

Set your priorities for a preschool, and trust how you feel when you walk in and meet them.

Finding the right fit in childcare is not only about the right PRICE but also about finding a place that fits your family.