Choosing the right preschool is a daunting task. After all, you are putting your child’s life in someone else’s hands and hoping they will love and care for them as much as you do. For our fellow Michigan residents, we have struggled, too. Goodrich preschools are top-notch, but it can still be difficult to narrow down the best choice. That’s why we created our Goodrich preschool checklist.
Where is Goodrich, Michigan?
Goodrich is in Genesee County and is a part of the greater mid-Michigan area. The area is very nice, welcoming, and a great place to raise kids.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Goodrich Preschool:
- Distance
- Hours
- Staff
- Cost
- Curriculum
How Far is the Preschool?
While it is common to drive a further distance for the right preschool, there are still other factors to consider. For starters, do you have any other children that need to be dropped off in the morning? When planning for distance, work backward. For example, if you have to start work at a certain time, work backward to everything you’d need to accomplish before then.
Is it feasible? While 20 minutes doesn’t seem like a long time, most preschools aren’t drop-and-go. There is waiting time in between and then the commute back. Most drop-offs can take up to an hour, including the commute, so distance is an important factor to consider.
What Are the Preschool’s Hours?
Knowing and planning around the preschool hours you’re choosing is crucial. Our Goodrich preschool opens at 6:00 AM, but other Michigan preschools may not open until after 8:00 AM. While you may fall in love with a preschool, if it can’t meet all your needs, you may be back to the drawing board sooner than you think.
Plan ahead and write down the times you need the preschool to be open in order to work with your schedule. While it may take some extra time to find the best Goodrich preschool for you and your family, it will be worth it to know you’ve checked everything off your list.
How Did the Staff Make You Feel?
Before you make any decisions, schedule a tour with your final choices. Once you’ve narrowed down your Michigan preschool choices to the final two and you are on the tour, pay close attention to the staff. What is the ratio of students to teachers? Do the kids seem excited and happy?
Pay attention to your gut. Our Goodrich preschool prioritizes the needs of our children and ensures everyone is receiving the same level of care and attention. If you left feeling like your kid would be in great hands, you have already made your choice.
How Much is the Cost of the Preschool and What is Included?
While cost isn’t a factor for everyone, for some, it’s number one. While preschool isn’t considered cheap at any Michigan preschool, the cost and what it covers does vary. If the cost is higher at Goodrich preschools, do your research to see what that cost includes. Extra staff? Meals? New curriculum courses?
If any of these things are important to you when choosing a preschool for your kiddo, it’s important to discuss them with the preschool before enrolling your child. Look at your budget to see what you can afford with everything you are looking for, included and without, and have that information top of mind when talking with the preschool.
Are You Comfortable with the Preschool Curriculum?
The final piece is knowing what they are teaching and if it aligns with subjects you want your child to learn and your values. Do they focus on sharing and other important skills? While some Michigan preschools may follow the standard curriculum provided by school systems in the area, others may have a specific curriculum they have chosen to follow
And that’s our top five checklist. While we could add at least ten other items to this checklist, these are the most common ones people don’t usually have at the top of their list. Remember that you are interviewing them, so ask as many questions as you want to ensure peace of mind before choosing the best Michigan preschool to enroll your child in.