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By Mami Daphne

If you have preschool age children and are thinking about enrolling your child in preschool or daycare it is still not too late to do so. Whether you just moved to a new area or ran out of time to register, you can still find a school that matches your family’s needs. Just be sure to take the time to look into them to see what they offer and if it is the right fit for you and your child.

Most schools typically open up registration in January, for the September school year. And there are many local churches and private facilities that run wonderful preschool programs in many communities. Some are full day, five days a week programs while others may be half days or a few days a week. Just remember that if it is a well renowned school with a wonderful reputation you may find yourself on a wait list since the school year has already started. But still put your name on the wait list because at any given moment an opening may come up.

To get you started on the right foot here are the top 5 tips to finding the best preschool or daycare for your family:

1. Ask friends or family of names of preschools they have sent their children to - word of mouth is a powerful way to get information.

2. Call your list of schools and get as much information as you can. Such as tuition, teacher-student ratio, licensed or not, registration date, process of their waiting list, registration on-line, level of cleanliness, security level, and their curriculum.

3. Set up an appointment to take a tour of the facility. When visiting be aware of the security measures, emergency exits, classroom environment, outside play area, and whether the children in class are engaged.

4. If you are registering in January, or when their scheduled registration takes place, be prepared to wait on a long line on the day of registration especially if it is a popular preschool. You may want to make arrangements to have a sitter that day so that you can register your preschooler without any distractions.

5. Mark your calendar with the different registration dates of your top three choices and prioritize which school you want your child to get into first. Your second and third choices will follow if you find that your first choice is full and you end up on a waiting list.

Do not give up if you find that most preschools are full. The best thing you can do is get on their waiting lists and stay positive. Good luck and happy searching!

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