Parents in search of the perfect preschool should look for a balance between education and playtime, according to a checklist being released this week by education experts.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children, a D.C.-based nonprofit that runs a voluntary accreditation system for child care centers across the country, is publishing 10 tips to make parents and educators aware of the association’s revamped standards — the first major overhaul of the system in 20 years.
“Research has shown how the early years really are learning years,” said Alan Simpson, a spokesman for the association. “But it’s important to maintain a sense of balance. … [It is] important for children to be children.”
The association’s new standards will take effect in September and focus more on how the educational curriculum is incorporated into the overall program. Teacher education requirements will also be stricter. In order for a preschool to get the stamp of approval, the majority of teachers will be required to have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood development. The new checklist puts the requirements into an easy-to-understand format for parents.
Boosting the education level is a positive change, said Rhonda Gilhuys, director at the Bright Horizons Children’s Center in the District.
“It’s not babysitting,” she said. “It really is teaching and growing children.”
There are no federal standards for early childhood programs, leaving it up to nonprofits such as NAEYC to help parents find the right place for their kids. The Washington region has nearly 200 accredited preschools, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
But accreditation is not mandatory, and only about 8 percent of preschool programs nationwide are accredited by the organization.
“When a parent goes into a program, they obviously want to find quality,” Simpson said. “The idea behind the new checklist is to help them know what they want to look for.”
Top tips for parents
This week the National Association for the Education of Young Children will launch 10 tips for choosing quality child care programs on its Web site, www.rightchoiceforkids.org. The tips include:
1. Look for positive relationships.
Teachers should make children feel welcome and encourage them to work and play together.
2. Pay attention to the curriculum.
A program should address a child’s social, emotional, physical, language and cognitive development.
3. A program should have ongoing assessment of the child’s progress.
4. Teachers and families should create learning goals for a child and teachers should meet regularly with parents.
