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