20 Questions

Questions to Ask on Preschool Tour

Navigate preschool tours with strategic questions that help you understand the program, environment, and approach while ensuring you choose the right early childhood education for your child.

1

What's the school's approach to early childhood education and development?

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Why this works

Reveals their educational philosophy while helping you understand their approach to child development and learning.

2

What's the school's approach to working with different types of children and learning styles?

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Why this works

Shows their inclusivity while revealing how they accommodate different children and learning needs.

3

What's the school's approach to working with different types of families and parents?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their family engagement while revealing how they work with families and involve parents in education.

4

What's the school's approach to working with different types of activities and play?

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Why this works

Shows their play-based learning while revealing how they structure activities and incorporate play into learning.

5

What's the school's approach to working with different types of behavior and discipline?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their behavior management while revealing how they handle behavior and discipline in age-appropriate ways.

6

What's the school's approach to working with different types of safety and security?

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Why this works

Shows their safety focus while revealing their safety protocols and security measures.

7

What's the school's approach to working with different types of nutrition and meals?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their health focus while revealing how they handle nutrition and meal times.

8

What's the school's approach to working with different types of outdoor play and activities?

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Why this works

Shows their outdoor learning while revealing how they incorporate outdoor play and activities.

9

What's the school's approach to working with different types of special needs and accommodations?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their inclusion support while revealing how they work with children with special needs.

10

What's the school's approach to working with different types of communication and language development?

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Why this works

Shows their language support while revealing how they support communication and language development.

11

What's the school's approach to working with different types of social skills and emotional development?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their social-emotional focus while revealing how they support social skills and emotional development.

12

What's the school's approach to working with different types of creativity and artistic expression?

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Why this works

Shows their creative support while revealing how they encourage creativity and artistic expression.

13

What's the school's approach to working with different types of physical development and motor skills?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their physical development support while revealing how they support gross and fine motor skills.

14

What's the school's approach to working with different types of cognitive development and learning?

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Why this works

Shows their cognitive support while revealing how they support cognitive development and learning.

15

What's the school's approach to working with different types of transitions and routines?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their routine support while revealing how they handle transitions and daily routines.

16

What's the school's approach to working with different types of assessment and progress tracking?

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Why this works

Shows their assessment approach while revealing how they track and communicate children's progress.

17

What's the school's approach to working with different types of staff training and development?

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Why this works

Demonstrates their staff quality while revealing how they train and develop their staff.

18

What's the school's approach to working with different types of community involvement and partnerships?

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Why this works

Shows their community focus while revealing how they engage with the community and build partnerships.

19

What's the most important thing for parents to know about this preschool?

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Why this works

Provides key guidance while revealing what they consider most critical for parents to understand about their program.

20

What's the school's vision for early childhood education and how do they plan to develop it?

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Why this works

Shows their long-term thinking while revealing their plans for early childhood education and program development.

Mastering Preschool Tours

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Assess Educational Approach

Ask about their educational philosophy and approach to child development. This helps you understand if their methods align with your values and goals.

Evaluate Environment

Ask about the physical environment, safety measures, and resources to ensure it's a safe and stimulating place for your child.

Understand Family Involvement

Ask about how they involve families and communicate with parents. This helps you understand the level of family engagement.

Question Sequences

The Education Explorer

1
What's the school's approach to early childhood education and development?
2
What's the school's approach to working with different types of children and learning styles?
3
What's the school's approach to working with different types of activities and play?

The Safety Focus

1
What's the school's approach to working with different types of safety and security?
2
What's the school's approach to working with different types of behavior and discipline?
3
What's the school's approach to working with different types of staff training and development?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Focus Only on Academics

While academics matter, also consider social-emotional development, play, and creativity. These factors are crucial for early childhood development.

Avoid Generic Questions

Don't ask questions that don't reveal their specific approach and methods. Ask about their unique educational philosophy and strategies.

Don't Ignore the Social Environment

Consider how well your child will fit with the other children and families. This is crucial for your child's social development and happiness.

Conversation Templates

The Education Explorer

1
Step 1: Start with: "What's the school's approach to early childhood education and development?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What's the school's approach to working with different types of children and learning styles?"
3
Step 3: Deepen with: "What's the school's approach to working with different types of activities and play?"

The Safety Focus

1
Step 1: Begin with: "What's the school's approach to working with different types of safety and security?"
2
Step 2: Explore with: "What's the school's approach to working with different types of behavior and discipline?"
3
Step 3: Connect with: "What's the school's approach to working with different types of staff training and development?"

Further Reading

"The Whole-Brain Child" by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
"How Children Learn" by John Holt
"The Importance of Being Little" by Erika Christakis

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