Preschool · Choosing

Questions to ask before you choose a preschool

Preschool tours emphasize curriculum and facilities. The answers that predict your child's experience are about teachers, relationships, and hard moments.

By Tammy Gold, LCSW
Author of Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin)

Tammy Gold, LCSW, MSW

Columbia University

20 years in childcare

About the teachers

“How long have your teachers been here, and what's your turnover?”
“What are teachers' qualifications and ongoing training?”
“How many children per teacher in my child's class?”
“Will the same teachers be with my child all year?”

Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer by Tammy Gold, published by Penguin

FROM THE AUTHOR OF SECRETS OF THE NANNY WHISPERER

Guidance from the therapist who wrote the Penguin book on hiring a nanny

Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.

Book an hour with Tammy — $189 → Press and media

About emotional support

“How do you help a child who's having a hard time separating?”
“What happens when two children have a conflict?”
“How do you handle a child who's struggling behaviorally?”
“How will you tell me if you have a concern about my child?”

About a typical day

Ask how much time is spent in free play versus directed activity, how much time outdoors, and what happens at rest time. Then watch a classroom in session. The atmosphere of a room tells you more than any answer does.

Map Before You Act™

Comparing preschools?

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Your Care Map plan for next steps
The Care Map system for your situation

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Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 or email info@caremapmethod.com