The Boston Globe – Jennette Barnes
” As adults begin the day’s chores or power through a morning meeting, 3- and 4-year-olds have their own to-do list: Play maracas, watch caterpillars turn into butterflies, try on costumes from around the world — the business of play. Preschool is founded on play; experts say it’s how children learn best. But not all play is the same. How, then, should parents decide what school is right for their child? They can readily compare cost and location, but quality is tougher to discern. Scituate mom Jen Nylen, who has four daughters under 10, said the teachers’ warm approach was the most important factor when she was deciding on a school. She found it comforting at a time when dropping off her oldest daughter felt worrisome. “I had never really left her with anyone but family,” she said. Her 4-year-old, Isabel, just finished the year at Owl’s Crossing Preschool in Scituate. Some of the most conspicuous things that parents might equate with quality — elaborate amenities, a structured schedule, a big price tag — actually have little to do with the quality of the child’s experience, according to people who think about these issues for a living.”(more)