| ts spend a lot of time worrying about whether | | | | care and preschool, if your child will need certain |
| their children are in the right day care and | | | | accommodations. This will also give you a chance |
| preschool. They look around everywhere trying to | | | | to ask any questions about the goals of the |
| decide on the best place on their budget. This can | | | | program. |
| be a very difficult process because you are | | | | Pushing to be the Best |
| putting a lot of trust into the caretakers. Leaving | | | | If you are interested in a day care and preschool |
| your child is hard enough when you know the | | | | that has a long waiting list, because that must |
| caretaker intimately. | | | | mean it is good, think again. Although the program |
| Kids with Special Needs | | | | costs more and focuses on working with the |
| If your child has special needs than it can bring | | | | wealthy, this may not be a good thing for your |
| added stress in looking for the best day care and | | | | child. You will receive care from professionals and |
| preschool. There are a lot of accredited day cares | | | | have your child pushed to succeed. The problem |
| and preschool that have people specializing in | | | | is that some children need less pushing and more |
| working with children with special needs. Searching | | | | coddling for a healthy development. Sometimes |
| for the right place will take time and energy, but it | | | | too much pressure on the child to advance, can |
| will be worth it. Think of it as shopping. Most | | | | be damaging to their self-esteem and end up |
| people wouldn’t buy something without | | | | holding them back rather than moving forward. |
| first seeing the item. In the same way, you need | | | | So it is important that you know your child and |
| to visit each center and meet the people working | | | | what would be best for your child. Does he/she |
| there. Trust your gut feeling. If you feel a little | | | | need a day care and preschool that will push him |
| uneasy about a place, scratch it off the list. You | | | | her to advance or does he/she need a day care |
| need to feel 100 percent comfortable with the | | | | and preschool that will allow him/her to go at his |
| day care and preschool. | | | | her own pace? For more information on day care |
| When you visit each place, request to see | | | | and preschool look online. The right day care and |
| credentials for the person who works with | | | | preschool are out there. It just takes a little |
| children with special needs. You can even request | | | | effort. |
| to speak with the director or principal of the day | | | | |