Choosing Quality in Early Childhood

Providing quality education in childcare centers is essential for fostering the development and growth of young children. Early childhood education plays a crucial role in shaping a child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Research now shows how important early childhood education is in which over 90% of a child’s brain is developed by the age of 5. Choosing quality is even more important than ever, but how do you know what is quality and what is not?

In this quality guide, we will explore the critical components of quality education in childcare centers and provide practical tips for parents and caregivers to ensure parents are choosing the best possible start in life for their child.

Qualified and Caring Staff

Quality education begins with the caregivers and educators who interact with children daily. Ensure that your childcare center employs qualified, experienced, and compassionate staff. Look for educators with degrees or certifications in early childhood education and a genuine love for working with children. A low staff-to-child ratio is also vital to ensure individualized attention and care.

When touring, make sure to ask:

• What do your educators' backgrounds look like and how do you maintain current professional development?

  • At Palms Day School we partner with local university's Education Departments to provide a mentorship program between our highly qualified and passionate educators with teachers in training. In addition, we exceed state requirements when it comes to professional development, staying research-driven and ahead of the norms.

• What does teacher turnover look like in your facility and how do you combat it?

  • At Palms, we place high values on our educators and offer exceptional benefits including but not limited to competitive pay, advanced education opportunities, and state-of-the-art professional development. In turn, we keep our educators happy within our Palms community.

• What are your teacher-child ratios in each classroom?

  • At Palms, we follow state guidelines but with a twist, we offer lower ratios to ensure quality care and education.

You can easily spot quality educators by how well they handle stressful situations. Look for transition and how teachers are responding to the children. Are they using a fun and interactive way to transition children? One example of this would be having the children hop like frogs down the hallway to the lunchroom like at Palms, making transition smooth yet joyful. Also, observe any interactions they are having with the children. Are they down on the children’s level, do they ask a lot of questions, allow the children to come up with the answers, and are they able to facilitate learning all over the classroom, even when they are working individually with one student?

Age-Appropriate Curriculum

An age-appropriate curriculum is tailored to the developmental needs of children at different stages. It should include activities promoting language development, cognitive and motor skills, and social-emotional growth. The curriculum should be engaging, hands-on, and fun to keep children motivated and excited about learning. You should look to see if the curriculum is posted or if the teacher is using a lesson planning book.

Another sign of quality in the curriculum that is easy to spot is documentation throughout the classroom and building. You should see what the children are learning about and have learned in the past. Documentation of learning comes in all forms and could be both low for the children to reflect on and high for the parents to see what they have been doing. Documented learning may also be found through the use of assessments and anecdotal notes, which help with reflection and individualized lesson planning.

When touring, make sure to ask:

• What curriculum do you use?

  • Palms Day School has a unique Palms' Pedagogy (teaching practice) that incorporates a Creative Curriculum base with supplements of research-based, data-proven, learning programs. One of our Palms founders and Chief Education officer, Dr. Emma Duffy, writes bespoke and developmentally appropriate lessons that are tailored to children from our youngest learners in our Bambini class to our oldest students in VPK.

• How do you individualize learning based on each child?

  • Our educators act as facilitators in the learning process. What this means is they partner with each child on their learning journey. They not only form a strong relationship with the children they work with, but they utilize this relationship to create learning opportunities that are bespoke to each child based on their interests and development.

  • At Palms, each learning studio/classroom is unique based on the children that are within the program. For example, no two Palms classrooms are the same because no two groups of children are the same. We design our learning environments around the children because we believe they should not only feel at home at their school but also they should feel valued and respected as individuals within their learning communities. For example, Callahan may love trains and thus you bet that trains will be incorporated in his classroom through reading material, or other various learning equipment so that Callahan's interest is not only represented but something he can share with his peers.

• What form of documentation can I expect to receive or see as a parent/guardian?

  • We utilize many forms of documentation at Palms Day School. Our educators are training in various documentation strategies such as capturing learning through pictures, learning stories, assessments, and portfolio creation.

Play-Based Learning

Play is a child's natural way of exploring the world and learning about it. Quality childcare centers incorporate play-based learning into their curriculum. Through play, children develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions. Although play comes in many different forms, you should be able to see play happening in a purposeful and authentic way.

Watch how the children are playing. Are they divided throughout the classroom or are they all in one section? Are the children in small groups or all grouped together? Are the children playing well with each other or are they fighting? What are they playing with, are the toys plastic or natural? Are the materials in good condition or looking used? Does there appear to be enough for everyone?

Make sure to ask how educators ensure that Play is intentional!

The Classroom Environment

A safe and stimulating environment is crucial for a child's learning experience. Ensure the childcare center is clean, well-maintained, and equipped with age-appropriate toys, books, and learning materials. Outdoor spaces should be secure and encourage physical activity and exploration.

In Reggio Emilia's philosophy, which Palms follows, the environment is often referred to as the third teacher. It should be set up in a way to encourage children to play and learn. The environment should clearly contain all areas of development and everything should represent a way for children to grow and learn from.

A key to the environment of the classroom is how well the children are taking care of it. Is everything dumped all over the place, or is it being used as intended? Are their books throughout the classroom and are they in good condition? Are the colors loud or muted, are there nature elements incorporated such as plants? Would you want to be in this environment for the majority of your day?

At Palms Day School our environments are a huge part of what sets us apart from other childcare centers. Our learning studios/classrooms are designed intentionally and follow the research of Education Guru, author, and Environment Expert Christine Burkholder's DEGI approach.

Communication and Parent Involvement

Effective communication between caregivers, teachers, and parents is key to providing quality education. Choose a childcare center that encourages parent involvement through regular updates, parent-teacher conferences, and open communication channels. This allows parents to stay informed about their child's progress and be actively involved in their education.

"Palms" stands for Passion for Children, Academic Excellence, Lifelong Learning, Mindful Citizenship, and Strong Partnerships.

We seek to build strong partnerships with those within and outside our school community that enhance the educational experience and support the growth and development of our young learners.

Positive Discipline and Social-Emotional Development

Teaching children how to manage their emotions and resolve conflicts is an important aspect of quality education. Childcare centers should use positive discipline techniques that promote empathy, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills. Look for programs that focus on social-emotional development to help children build healthy relationships and emotional resilience.

Palms' educators are all training in the Conscious Disciple Approach that empowers children with skills to create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment.

Health and Nutrition

A well-rounded education also includes attention to a child's health and nutrition. Ensure that the childcare center provides balanced meals and snacks, promotes good hygiene practices, and has protocols in place for illness prevention and management.

One of the Palms Difference in Excellence is fueled by our love of nutrition and belief in full, happy tummies leading to joyful, complete learning experiences. When a child is fed, and their needs are met, then they can focus on holistic learning. Not only do we provide nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks but we also ensure fresh fruit is available throughout the school day.

Check out our snack cookbook for healthy, child-friendly ideas to offer at home!

Continuous Professional Development

Quality childcare centers invest in the ongoing professional development of their staff. This ensures that educators stay updated with the latest research and best practices in early childhood education. Inquire about the center's training programs for teachers and caregivers.

Conclusion

Choosing a childcare center that prioritizes quality education is a significant decision for parents and caregivers. Considering the factors mentioned in this guide, you can make an informed choice that provides your child with a nurturing and enriching environment where they can thrive and develop to their fullest potential. Remember that quality education in early childhood sets the foundation for a lifetime of learning and success.

Visit your local Palms Day School and see the Palms Difference for yourself!