Finding the right preschool for your child is an important process for any parent, but finding the best preschool for a child with developmental or other delays can be particularly challenging. With so many preschools to choose from, how can you find the right fit for your child? Early intervention is key.
Early Identification/Early Intervention
The right preschool will help children mitigate learning challenges, make great strides in their educational, social, physical, and emotional development, and put them on the path to sustained academic success. Some of the signs that parents can be looking for in young children may be a difficulty following what seem to be simple multi-step directions (“Hang up your coat and come sit down.”), or having trouble finding words that you know they know. Parents should be aware if their child is exhibiting challenges with: attention, focus, and self control; transitioning from one activity to another; social skills; receptive and expressive language; and independence and resilience.
Neuropsychological Assessment/Psychoeducational Evaluation
How can you tell if what you are seeing in your child is within the range of “typical” development, or if they are experiencing delays that might warrant early intervention? The most reliable and standardized method is to take them for a neuropsychological assessment (sometimes referred to as a “neuropsych”) or a psychoeducational evaluation. A psychologist trained in early childhood development will spend several hours with your child to assess their cognitive functioning, receptive and expressive language skills, memory and attention/focus, emotional regulation, and more. The results of the evaluation will help you target the preschools and early interventions that will work best for your child. Special education preschools will often require neuropsychological assessments as part of the admission process.
Letting Go
Letting go of the “perfect trajectory” you had planned for your child can be difficult, but you will give your child the best shot at future success by finding a school that will serve their individual needs best. As one parent put it, “My advice for parents that are having a child that is struggling in school would be, don’t wait. Don’t wait and don’t hesitate to get help. It’s very easy to get hung up on the concept of your child being labeled as a child with learning disabilities or special needs. This is not about a label. This is about getting your child the help that they need.”
Get to Know the Schools
Once you have a clearer understanding of your child’s developmental needs, it is time to begin researching preschools. If you are able, take the time to visit the schools in person; speak to the admissions officers. If you are able to tour the school, you should see happy children at learning and at play; ask yourself if you can see your child engaging with these future peers or in this way. Ask if there are current parents with whom you can speak about the school and the preschool program. The more information you have, the better you will know which schools fit the needs of your child best.
Head of School Dr. Scott Gaynor stressed the importance of taking action early so as to prevent the effects of learning failure later in a child’s educational journey. He said, “We believe it’s very important to get to young learners before they experience academic failure. The right preschool program can give them the support and academic tools they need to be successful so that they can actually change their academic path.”
Learn more about Stephen Gaynor School’s Early Childhood Program