Which Preschool Is Right for Your Child?: SouthFlorida.com

Most parents start their child's education with some form of preschool. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 60 percent of children ages 3 to 5 attend some form of center-based child-care program. But in South Florida, the choices seem endless; there are hundreds of preschools in the tri-county area, many with vastly differing principles and methods of teaching. How to choose?

"It's important for parents to tailor their choice of preschool to their individual child because preschool is always the child's first introduction to school," says Anne Rambo, Ph.D., an associate professor of family therapy at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and the author of the book I Know My Child Can Do Better!

Rambo says preschool sets the tone for later years of education. If a child's first experience with school is happy, then she will think school is a happy place-and that's what any parent wants. For those parents investigating preschool for their kids, here's an overview of some of the more popular offerings -and a few unusual choices - available in South Florida.

Montessori Schools

The Montessori method was pioneered by Maria Montessori, who was born in 1870 and became Italy's first female physician, specializing in pediatrics and psychiatry.

Montessori opened a day-care center for working class children in 1907 and discovered that she could teach the older children to help the younger ones. In the classroom, she utilized manipulative puzzles and other hands-on tools - items she had previously used with her mentally handicapped patients. And the results were startling.

Children who previously had no interest in learning were now sitting patiently for long periods of constructive activity. Even the youngest children were eager to learn - especially "practical life" skills such as folding napkins, preparing meals and cleaning up. The behavior of the group changed almost overnight from wild troublemakers to self-controlled helpers.

In 1915, Montessori wrote her first book, and her innovative approach became known as the "Montessori method." Now, Montessori schools can be found throughout the world. The American Montessori Society has over 900 affiliated schools, although there are from 6,000 to 8,000 schools nationwide that call themselves Montessori schools. The Association Montessori Internationale has 189 affiliated schools throughout the country. Although the differences between the organizations' Montessori philosophy is subtle, the American Montessori Society approach is more widespread in the United States because it is less rigid and incorporates aspects of American culture.

A Montessori classroom is filled with children of mixed ages engaged in activity. Some work alone while others work in small groups. The room is warm and inviting, filled with plants, books, art and puzzles. There is likely to be some kind of music playing softly in the background. Children move at their own pace through the classroom, which includes "practical life," "sensorial," "language arts" and "mathematics" areas - each with their own materials for children to work with. The teacher's role in a Montessori classroom is to guide the children. Independence is encouraged, and a love of learning is instilled. Children progress at their own speed, without boundaries.

Is the Montessori method right for every child? Probably not. Some experts say the teacher is too passive in a Montessori environment, and some parents claim that their kids had adjustment problems when moving into a traditional classroom because they were so used to working cooperatively and moving freely around the classroom.

The Waldorf Approach

The Waldorf approach was pioneered by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist and educational theorist. In 1919, Steiner visited the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany, where he was asked by the factory's director to establish a school for the children of the factory's employees. The first Independent Waldorf School opened in 1919. Today, there are over 750 Waldorf schools in 53 countries, but only two in South Florida working toward full affiliation.

Like Montessori, students in a Waldorf classroom are rarely found sitting at desks. You're more likely to see them baking bread from wheat they grew themselves or perhaps playing the recorder. The goal is to educate the whole child - heart as well as head. It's a holistic approach in which spirituality, art and dance play a large part.

In preschool and kindergarten, Waldorf practically ignores academics and focuses on providing children with opportunities for creative play. Television and computers are discouraged. Preschoolers are more likely to play dress-up, cook, paint or sing than learn phonics. In preschool and kindergarten, students are not exposed to academics; reading is not often taught until the second or third grade.

Starting with first grade, children are presented with a "main lesson" every day. During that lesson, which is two hours long, students study just one subject, in depth and from all angles. Unlike a Montessori classroom, where the teacher's role is to guide the child and let the child work independently, Waldorf instruction emphasizes the relationship between the teacher and child. The teacher stays with the same group of children for up to eight years, and a familial bond is created. In South Florida, the Waldorf-related schools are operated by close-knit family members.

Like Montessori, the Waldorf approach is not for every child. In addition, if parents move a child from a Waldorf school to a traditional one, there may be adjustment problems in shifting from Waldorf's focus on creativity to the traditional academic-focused school.

Reggio Schools

True Reggio Emilia preschools are rare in the United States; there are just a handful of them around the country. But preschool teachers - and parents - are becoming familiar with Reggio ideas and incorporating them into many other preschool settings.

The Reggio approach hails from a town in northern Italy by the same name. After World War II, parents in the town decided to create quality preschools to ensure a better future for their young children. In 1963, the city of Reggio Emilia took over funding for the preschools. Like Montessori, Reggio emphasizes the physical environment in which the children learn; often the classroom is referred to as "the third teacher."

Art plays a large part in a Reggio-based curriculum, where, as in Montessori and Waldorf, the focus is on a holistic approach. Reggio teachers believe that children use "100 languages" and that spoken language is just one form of expression, so art becomes a means for children to express their many emotions and ideas. Children may learn their letters, for example, by forming them in clay or wire. Children, parents and teachers are seen as equal partners, and parental involvement is mandatory at a Reggio school.

But, like the other preschools mentioned above, Reggio is not right for every child; some children, for example, benefit from more structure in the classroom.

Cooperative Preschools

A cooperative preschool is organized by a group of families with similar philosophies. Most employ at least one professional teacher, but his or her efforts are supplemented by the parents, who are required to participate.

Parents are involved in all aspects of the schools operation, from educational instruction to janitorial services. That's why tuition at cooperative preschools is often lower than that charged by traditional preschools - in some cases as low as $20 per month.

Cooperative preschools, also known as parent-participation nursery schools, date back to 1916, when a group of faculty wives at the University of Chicago organized the first program. There are just a handful of cooperative preschools in South Florida.

Cooperative preschools are similar to traditional ones, although you're likely to find more adults in the classroom. Children benefit from the extra attention, and parents have an opportunity to observe their children as they learn and grow. But cooperative preschools are not for every family. Since parents are required to be involved, cooperative preschools are not appropriate for families in which both parents work outside the home. And, since parents work closely with other parents and children, they must enjoy being around other people and children.

Traditional Preschools

By far the majority of preschools in South Florida - as anywhere - are "traditional" preschools, meaning that the teachers and directors subscribe to a time-tested, research-based preschool curriculum.

Using common preschool materials such as puzzles, blocks, crayons and clay, puppets, rhythm instruments and imaginative play areas such as a toy kitchen and an area filled with dress-up costumes, these preschools provide a place for socialization and beginning academics. Through circle time and story time, children learn colors, shapes, numbers, animals, alphabet letters and lots of songs.

The quality can vary widely, but many South Florida preschools offer exemplary child-centered programs. Often Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio and other methods are incorporated. The best traditional preschools strive to serve all children and help them to make the best transition possible to "real" school.

How to Make the Right Choice for Your Child

When choosing a preschool, compare schools - and methods of instruction -carefully. Visit each school under consideration, check for proper licensing and teacher-student ratio, spend time in the classroom and speak with administrators, teachers, students and other parents to ensure that the program is right for your child. Double-check the credentials of the director and the teachers in your child's classroom. Ask about teacher turnover. While any school will have some teachers leaving, a quality preschool should have several teachers on staff who have been at the school for some time.

Don't assume that because your neighbor's child attends a Montessori school and is doing well that it is right for your child. It might not be, and you might be starting your child's education off on the wrong path if you don't choose wisely. However, if other parents rave about a particular school, it's definitely worth looking into for your child.

When checking out a curriculum, be wary of any that seems too academic or advanced for your child. Look for preschools that center everything on the children and their well-being, not on what's best for teachers or parents. Be sure to check for affiliation as well. The name "Montessori," for example, is not copyrighted; as a result, it's best to check with one of the affiliating organizations to locate a reputable school.

Anne Rambo suggests checking with the school to see if you can bring your child in for an hour or two to participate in a class. "The best way is to put your child in the mix so he can get a feel for the program," she says.

And remember to put your child first. "Think about what your child likes," Rambo says. "Does he like structure? Is he gregarious? Does he enjoy outdoor play? These things parents know best about their own children."

Robyn A. Friedman is a freelance writer and mother. She lives in Boca Raton.