Points for choosing a right kindergarten / pre-school

As a mother, I am so stress when choosing a kindergarten / pre-school for my kid. I google a lot, asking around. I believe there are also parents who is same as me, stress and worried that will make a wrong choice for your kid.

Here are some of the points that you may take it as a reference, hopefully they may helps those who is also in the troublesome when choosing a preschool.

1) Understand your basic needs

You must clearly understand the reason / main point by sending your kids to kindergarten. Full daycare / half daycare? Focus more on academic? As for my husband and myself, we just want our son to mix around with kids only, but not the academic basic. Thus, i am only looking for play & fun learning pre-school, no books, no homework. And, if possible, with the Montessori system.

Montessori is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. They emphasize learning through all five sense and individual pace. 

2) Location
It's an important point for me who is staying in the traffic jam area.  I don't wish to awake my son very early in the morning. Lack of sleep will makes them lost of study interest, (may makes then fear to go to school too), also not in a good temper.

Furthermore, if someday you are not available to send and pick up your child personally, is the transportation service available? As I know most of the kindergarten do has transport service around their area only.

And, for those working parents, if you have to be at office at 8.30am and the school is only open at 8.30am, with no early morning care, i perhaps, it's probably a NO-NO for you. 

3) Fees

After a few surveys, I found that most of the school have supplementary fees, material fees, book fees, uniform, insurance, extracurricular activities fees, either annually or half yearly. And, some of the cost is for half day session only. Parents are advise to check it out clearly with the principal. For myself, i am looking for an affordable school fees, so it will not be a burden for us.

4) Teacher & Environment

What is your first impression with the principal or teachers during the visit? Are you comfortable with them? Do you like their environment and facilities? Is the place clean and tidy?

I personally emphasize in hygiene, especially the dining place and toilet. And, my husband is more emphasize on the big area, for the kids to run and play around. 

5) Teacher and Student Ratio

I don't like a big group class as i felt that the teacher may not paying attention to your kid. Thus, this is a must question i will ask when i pay a visit to any kindergarten, And, the best for me is not more than 15 pax in a class.

6) Age

What is the age range they accept? As i understand, most of the kindergarten only accept toilet-trained children or 3 years and above. 

7) Security

How's the pick up system? Locked gate? How if the parents have any emergency, how do you identify if any closed relative or friends were asked to assist on the pick up? 

8) Field Trip

Except for studying and playing in the kindergarten, any trips organized for them? As it will be a vulnerable leaning experiences for the kids

9) Foods included?

Most of the school include lunch and snack. Also, I will check out their menu, to make sure that the school doesn't provide any junk foods.

The best for you to make the best decision is bring along your kid to pay a visit, and talk to the principal. Looking around with the environment, look at your kid response and if he is able to express, you may ask whether he loves it or not.

Coming next, I will write down some pre-school information around Ampang area that I have visited. or called. so far, I had visited 4 pre-school. However, it's all my personal opinions only, it's only a sharing info. Your expectations and your favourite might not be the same as mine, but I hope it would help those who staying near Ampang area only, as I found out, not much mummies comments on Ampang area kindergarten, especially Chinese mummy.