Parents of Preschoolers  Discussion Forum

Name: nimma

hi,
The following checklist is from NAEYC(national assn.for the education of young children)I am posting it here hoping that it would help the parents who are hunting for a good nursery school.After you tour a school and sit through a class,go through the list.
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
1.Is a variety of materials available on open shelves?Is there adequate number of toys and materials available so that kids don't have be forced to share?
2.Are tables and rugs provided?
3.Is self help encouraged by having materials in good condition and always stored in same place?
$.Are set up and cleanup simple/Are these part of the child's activity?
5.Are there outdoor activities?
6.Is the children's work dispayed attractively at eyelevel?
Do the pictures displayed reflect the ethnic and racial variety?Are women and men shown in nonsexist roles?
THE INTERPERSONAL ENVIRONMENT
1.Is there a feeling of mutual respect between adults and children,children and children?
2.Can children engage in activities without being disturbed or distracted?
3.Do adults observe kid's activities and intervene appropriately?
4.Do adults have growth goals for each kid based on their needs and work accordingly?
5.Do adults show kids how to help themselves?Are children encouraged to learn from one another?
6.Can kids paly alone and in groups?
7.when limits are set ,do adults use reasoning and consistently follow through?Are limits enforced?
8.are adults models of contructive behavior and healthy attitudes?
9.Is there a overall warm interpersonal environment?
ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE DEVELOPMENT
1.Are there many oppurtunities for dramatic play indoors and outdoors:housekeeping corner,work props,dressup dolls?
2.Is there a variety of basic visual art media;painting,drawing,clay,dough,fingerpainting,
collage?
3.Is music a vital part of program?
4.Is language stimulation varied:reading books,conversation,question and answer,games?
5.Are there small manipulative toys to build co-ordination?
6.Do children do real things like,cooking,planting seeds,caring for animals?
7.Are field trips planned?Is there adequate preparation and followup of trips?
8.Are there repeated oppurtunities for kids to use similar materials?Are materials available in graded sequence so that kids can develop skills gradually?
9.Do kids suggest and plan activities?How is free choice built into the program?
10.Is the range of activities varied enough to present a truly divergent curriculum?
SCHEDULE
1.Is the time sequence of the school day clear to both teachers and parents?
2.Has the schedule been designed to suit the children?
3.Are long periods of time scheduled to permit free choice of activities and companoins?
4.Are other groupings provided eg:small group activities,one to one adult child contact,large group meetings?

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