How do I choose the best preschool for my child?

Think about choosing a preschool the same way you would think about finding a new job or a new pediatrician for your child. In either situation you would expect to invest lots of time and energy in making the right decision. You would ask around, go on interviews, and seek the advice of others. The same goes for preschool.

Because so much is riding on your choice — after all, you want your child to spend her days in an enjoyable and nurturing environment — you'll need to do your research. That means checking out local parenting magazines, the Internet, and word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask for referrals from other families; most people won't recommend a place unless they're truly pleased with it. If your child attends daycare, the caregivers may have suggestions for you.

Once you zero in on a few choices based on cost, distance from your home or work, and other basic factors, call each school and see whether you can whittle down your list to a select few by asking questions. Find out whether the school's accredited (it should be) and whether it has clear regulations; a good one should have consistent rules that it makes clear to parents so they know what to expect. You should also ask about the teacher-to-student ratio (the fewer children a teacher has to be responsible for, the better for your child since she'll receive more attention). A teacher, no matter how good she is, can't really effectively run a classroom and give the children the attention they deserve if she has to care for more than 10. You also might want to ask about staff turnover, since this is a good indicator both of how happy the staff is and how happy your child will be over the long term.

But that's not all. One thing I think is very important is finding out the school's philosophy on educating toddlers. The fundamental principle they subscribe to may be traditional or a hybrid; it may follow the teachings and ideas of Jean Piagét, Rudolf Steiner, or Maria Montessori. Whatever its leanings, it's important that the preschool have a plan in mind for how to teach and care for its students, and that you agree with the general drift of its philosophy. A school with some ideological foundation is better than one whose philosophy is so indistinct it's mediocre.

When you have your short list, schedule visits to the schools that made the cut. You'll need to meet the preschool directors in person and observe the teachers with the children. They are the ones your child will interact with most, so it's important that you find warm people with lots of experience caring for preschoolers. You also might ask the school for the names of some parents you could speak to — a staff that's proud of their school's success will be happy to connect you with fellow parents.

Next, bring your child along for a visit. See how she responds to the school and the teachers. Do they seem interested in getting to know her? Are the activities ones she'll enjoy? By watching how she reacts you'll have a better idea whether a preschool is a good fit.

Most important, trust your instincts. A preschool may boast new books and toys, have a gleaming new building, and be affordable to boot, but if it doesn't feel right then it isn't. It's essential that you feel comfortable with the school's director, who runs the establishment and sets guidelines for your child and with whom you'll be interacting should issues or questions come up in the future. You should also feel secure and pleased with the teachers, who will be spending many hours with your child day in and day out. At its best, this will be a long and productive partnership.

Source: Babycenter.com

Make parents accountable for their kids’ education

There are few subjects that have drawn more finger-pointing than public education. In Idaho, we recognize that there are shortcomings that need to be addressed. But it’s generally a lot easier to simply blame someone for those shortcomings than to do whatever is necessary of address them.

So who is to blame? Is it the State Board of Education? Teachers? State Superintendent Tom Luna? The Legislature? The governor? The Idaho Education Association? The U.S. Department of Education? The Idaho Department of Education? No Child Left Behind? Local school boards? Voters? The students themselves? Or (gasp) the rumor of a core curriculum?

It may be that in some way or another, each shares some of the blame. However, the party that actually deserves most of the blame is almost never mentioned.

Why is it that parents are rarely, if ever, made the targets of blame for shortcomings in our educational system? The truth is that parents, more than any of the other individuals or entities previously listed, are the root of the problem.

It’s not a matter of bad parenting. Rather, it’s a matter of inattentive parenting and an assumption that schools, rather than parents, are responsible for educating our children.

The proof of this lies in the fact that students spend less than 15 percent of their time in school. For educational purposes, the time spent in schools is extremely important. But how about the remaining 85 percent of a child’s time?

A study released last year by North Carolina State University, Brigham Young University and the University of California-Irvine found that parental involvement such as reading to your children, checking homework, attending school meetings and events and simply talking to children about their school activities has a far greater impact on students’ educational achievements than anything at the school they attend.

The truth is that the best educational tool for children that is available is simply to have parents spend time talking to their children. And that means having conversations that treat children as though they are intelligent adults. Unfortunately, in the computer age it is far easier to simply allow children to waste away their time in front of the TV or playing computer games.

Across the border in Oregon, the Oregon Community Foundation has taken the lead in forming the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative. This project is a partnership with the Community Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, the Meyer Memorial Trust, the Collins Foundation and Oregon State University. The collaborative believes that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers and that it is imperative to invest in strong parenting in order to ensure that children are ready to learn.

The collaborative aims to have all Oregon parents provided with access to high-quality parenting-education programs by 2020. They are focusing their funding on creating a network of parenting programs so that parenting education will become a community norm.

In Idaho, such an effort would likely cause a storm of concern from a vocal minority concerned about government intervention into parenting. The truth is, problems such as low student test scores and a lack of high school graduates going on to post-secondary education can be remedied by parents — if they have the necessary skills to make a difference with their children.

I suspect there are a number of reasons why fingers of blame are never pointed at parents. But to not do that is a disservice to parents and children alike.

Perhaps rather than using test scores to determine teacher pay, we might be better served by using test scores to determine whether parents are allowed a tax deduction for their child.

* Marty Peterson is director of the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research.

Importance of Nutrition for Kids

Nutrition is very important for everyone, but it is especially important for children because it is directly linked to all aspects of their growth and development; factors which will have direct ties to their level of health as adults. For example, a child with the right balance of omega fatty acids in their daily diet has a much better chance at creating a more solid foundation for their brain activity and capabilities later on. Likewise, a child who practices a low fat and cholesterol diet on a daily basis significantly improves their chances of preventing a heart attack; even if heart disease tends to be hereditary within your family.

You will also help promote a better quality of life if you instill proper nutrition trends in your children. It will allow them to partake in more activities and with greater enjoyment. People with high levels of health also consistently report that they enjoy elevated feelings of wellness and wellbeing. As part of this, children are also able to fight off colds with improved efficiency with the support of proper nutrition. And this brings up a vital point in communication with your children: You should always be on the lookout for different ways to make solid connections for your children. You can picture it in your mind like a web diagram, connecting major points with a line for your children to better understand issues. If you actually explain to your child that they won’t have to suffer through those nasty colds nearly as much if they maintain healthy diet.

Another huge reason why nutrition is so important for children is because they simply don’t know enough on their own to naturally choose to eat well. Unfortunately, the foods and snacks that taste the best are usually the worst for our bodies, and a child left to their on whim will almost always choose junk food over fruits and vegetables. Provide them with the right nutrition now and they will learn at an early age what’s necessary for good health. This will also help to set them up for a life of proper eating and nutrition, almost certainly helping them to live longer. Countless studies show that what someone learns as a child is then perpetuated throughout their life. Teach them healthy eating habits now and you’ll perpetuate a healthy lifestyle for them and put them on autopilot on their way to lasting wellness.

Source:childrensheartcenter.org