| Starting an in-home preschool - or an in-home | | | | to prospective families. |
| day care center with a structured, preschool | | | | |
| portion of the day - can be a deeply | | | | Once you have your plan in place, it's time |
| rewarding undertaking. And, if you're a | | | | to move on to the most important aspect of |
| parent of young children, it's also a | | | | your new preschool: developing a curriculum. |
| flexible way for you to contribute | | | | The curriculum lays the foundation for your |
| financially and still spend your days at | | | | program, making sure lessons progress in a |
| home. | | | | meaningful way and keep the children |
| | | | interested. A good curriculum builds on past |
| From a business perspective, there's never | | | | knowledge while promising future insight and |
| been a better time to embark on the in-home | | | | adventures. |
| preschool path. Today's educated, | | | | |
| professional parents want their preschoolers | | | | There are many companies out there today that |
| stimulated with literature, hands-on projects | | | | provide an ongoing "mail order" curriculum |
| and opportunities for creative play. The | | | | for in-home preschools - many you can find on |
| heavy demand for quality day care options is | | | | the Web. These companies compile and send |
| undisputed. | | | | monthly preschool kits that include |
| | | | everything you need: lesson plans, |
| But starting your own in-home preschool can | | | | activities, art supplies, classroom |
| be daunting. Where do you begin? How do you | | | | decorations, children's literature, parent |
| proceed? Do you have the stamina to provide | | | | newsletters and more. |
| interesting new topics, crafts and lessons, | | | | |
| day after day? | | | | Subscribing to one of these plans can be an |
| | | | easy, affordable way to offer a quality |
| Fortunately, these nagging doubts can be | | | | education without doing all the shopping, |
| easily allayed with a little planning. Start | | | | research and work yourself. With so many |
| by taking a quiet afternoon and sit down with | | | | online preschool programs out there, chances |
| a paper and pencil. Ask yourself the | | | | are you'll find one in line with your beliefs |
| following questions and jot down your all | | | | and teaching philosophy. |
| your ideas: | | | | |
| | | | But before you subscribe to an online |
| *What are my core beliefs? How will this | | | | preschool curriculum, make sure you also |
| shape my program? | | | | consider the standards that parents expect |
| | | | when choosing a program. Yours should: |
| *What is my teaching philosophy? What is the | | | | |
| purpose ofeducation? | | | | *Have a well-developed, detailed philosophy |
| | | | |
| *What do I hope to achieve through my | | | | *Follow a regular schedule of activities |
| preschool? | | | | covering all thedomains of child development: |
| | | | physical, mental, social,emotional |
| *Which of these common subjects - language, | | | | |
| literature, math,science, social studies, | | | | *Help your learning environment become |
| motor activities, physicaleducation, social | | | | stimulating andchild-proofed |
| development - do I want my preschool | | | | |
| toinclude? | | | | *Encourage you and your staff to frequently |
| | | | read to and talkto the children |
| *How will I design and create a stimulating | | | | |
| learning environment? | | | | Using these points as guidelines, you're sure |
| | | | to find an online preschool program that's |
| *What kind of materials will I need? | | | | comprehensive, timesaving and cost-effective. |
| | | | |
| *How will I advertise my new preschool and | | | | So, there you have it. A sprinkle of |
| generate interestamong parents? | | | | introspection, a pinch of planning, a healthy |
| | | | dose of research - and before you know it, |
| Answering these questions honestly will help | | | | you're running a full-fledged preschool out |
| you to define your business - shaping a | | | | of your own home. |
| program that's true to your heart and making | | | | |
| you better prepared to "sell" your preschool | | | | Good luck and happy educating! |