After negotiating the traps of infancy and toddlerhood, with well-intended (or not-so-well-intended) people questioning your choices around vaccines, weaning, sleep routines or disciplines, the next parenting hurdle is picking the right school to send your precious child. A school that will not only foster growth and excitement but also be academically rigorous (at an appropriate level) for your budding scholar. The school must be top rated (but affordable!), encourage play and exploration (with structure!), and provide nothing but the BEST for your snowflake. Easy, right?
Having done this twice, I am an authority on the subject. And I am willing to share my wisdom with other moms who are embarking on this journey for the first time.
There is no BEST school. Only the best for YOU. Some children may benefit from a quieter setting with more structured indoor activities, while some, like my feral daughter, require free range outdoor play. Her previous school did not offer enough space outside for her to roam, so we switched to a facility with a HUGE outdoor play area (grassy lawn) and a valley (trench) where the kids can play without structure for hours. This move was at the sacrifice of a more structured, indoor, academic setting, but my wildling was not thriving under that environment, so we moved on. Take a searching inventory of your child’s personality and use that as your compass when picking a preschool.
Mother DOES know best. Social media, family, and mom’s groups have taken their toll on our collective mom-esteem. We are encouraged to question every choice, examine every instinct, and often go against our better judgment if the collective opinion says so. You DO know best for your child! The buck stops here. And when picking a school, YOUR instinct is more important than all the A-ratings, positive Yelp! reviews, or endorsements from your friends.
Reserve the right to change your mind. After all your hours of research, interviews with staff, and enrollment fees, it may become clear after a few months that your perfect school is not a perfect match. That’s ok! My oldest spent over a year at her first school before we found a better match. Children are constantly growing and evolving, and so are their needs. Make the best choice based on current information, and when new information comes in, make a change! Avoid long term contracts or commitments to allow yourself the flexibility to regularly assess how your student is doing and try new things as needed.
Bottom line: listen to your gut, make the best choice for you and your offspring, and keep an open mind as your situation (and child!) change. You’ve done a great job making choices for your family thus far. Stay the course, momma.
Here are a few more helpful links posted by Jacksonville Moms Blog.
Send Your Kids to School Tuition Free in Jacksonville
A Mom’s Guide to Preschool, VPK & Kindergarten
Finding the Courage to Homeschool
Guide to Childcare, Preschools & Schools in Jacksonville
About the Author
Michelle Kaiser, founder and lead tutor at m.power tutoring, is a Michigan State University graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. After several years working in the public and private sector, Michelle took time off to raise her family. Now, when she isn’t empowering students in math, she is spending time with her three children (9, 3, and 11 mos), hard-working husband, and energetic pup. She believes math is a building block of critical thinking skills that are so critical to students. Early intervention can turn subpar math students into superheros!
Wonderful advice. We just had to choose a new daycare and it’s always tough to choose who to entrust your babies with. <3 Good to know if I need to change in a few months, that's okay too.