4 million children are born each year in the United States. While public K-12 education is available to every child, accessibility to public pre-K-12 education varies from state to state. Of the 44 states which support pre-K educational programs, only 11 fully fund those programs.
We parents understand that the first five years of a child's life are critical ones in terms of his development. It is a tough call, however, as you have essentially two choices: either you take charge of that development or you delegate the task to somebody else.
Your Options:
Be a 'stay at home' mom or dad.
Get your child into a good nursery or day care.
Single parents and working parents make the 'stay at home' option virtually impossible these days. The truth is that you have a child and are lucky if you spend a few weeks with it before trundling it off to day care. If you can swing it, do it. It's a huge sacrifice but worth it. One consideration to factor in: the high cost of daycare may offset your net earnings. Think about it. After all you know your child better than any one else. The emotional, cognitive and social development which you can give your child will be finer than anything found elsewhere.
Getting In
If you have lived in your community for a few years, you should know which pre-schools are good and which are not. Their reputations will generally be well-established. 'Good' is a subjective adjective, but what we really mean is "Is the school safe?" "Does it have a good reputation?" Regardless of what you hear from friends and family, make an appointment to inspect the school, interview the staff and file an application if you approve. If you are new to the community, ask your realtor or friends at your church or synagogue. Colleagues at work might also be helpful. Do your own due diligence. Remember: your standards are not somebody else's standards.
Early Registration
It always helps if another sibling has attended the pre-school to which you are applying. If that is not the case, then I advise you to apply as early as you are allowed. Perhaps applying the day after your child is born is a tad early, but you get the idea. Start exploring options just as soon as you can.
Waiting Lists
I know what you are thinking! "Waiting lists for pre-school? He's got to be kidding." Waiting lists for pre-school and nursery schools are common in major urban areas such as Boston, New York, Chicago and Atlanta. If you are the parent of pre-schooler, you have to be concerned about finding a good pre-school which will accept your child. With places are extremely limited and admissions highly competitive, don't be surprised if your child ends up on a waiting list.
