Babies grow up all too fast. Before you know it, it will be time to choose a preschool for your child. There are many factors to consider as you search for the best preschool for your child that not only meets their needs but is also the right fit for the rest of your family. Knowing what schools are available to you in Pleasant Hill, CA for consideration and how each one will impact your family is important information as you decide where your child will go to preschool.

School philosophy

It is easy to get caught up in the logistics of enrolling your child in a preschool. High priority items to consider include:

• Tuition costs: Whether or not the cost of a particular preschool fits into your budget

• Location: Where the school is located in regards to your home or work and if the commute time is reasonable

• Reputation: Reading positive or negative feedback about the school can either sell you or be a deal breaker

But one thing that you may not have considered yet is the school’s philosophy, or their approach to education. Once the logistics are sorted out, how your child’s education is administered at the school will have a huge impact on what your child learns and if they enjoy going to school.

The Montessori approach

In a Montessori classroom, your child will be introduced to a different way of learning that will help them develop practical skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. A few exciting benefits to a Montessori education are:

• Independent learning: A child will be given a task to complete and they are allowed as much time as they need to figure out how to complete the task. They learn how to problem solve with no time pressure to move on to the next activity until they are ready.

• Choice: Montessori instructors allow students to choose which activities they want to tackle each day. This interest-led learning allows students to really dive into their tasks because they want to complete it, instead of being told what they are going to do next.

• Fine motor skills: Many stations in a Montessori classroom help children develop their dexterity and fine motor skills through repetitive practice.

• Mixed-age classrooms: Students will be together in a classroom with a three year span. This unique model allows students to learn from older students who may have been in the class longer and it also encourages older students to help the younger ones.

In Pleasant Hill, the best Montessori preschool you can choose for your child is Fountainhead Montessori School. We are ready to care for your young students and help them develop many useful academic and life skills to set them up for a positive school outlook.