DAYTON, Ohio — Zach's mom was frantic after he was expelled from school. She was furious at the director for taking such action. The mom's financial and family resources were extremely limited and she was desperate. After evaluating her son, I agreed with the school's decision.
Zach was only 4 years old.
It may seem unusual that such a young child was discharged from school, but expulsions from preschool are not that unusual according to a 2005 study conducted by the Yale Child Study Center. The center estimated that each year about 5,000 3- to 5-year-olds are requested to leave their preschool. There are some definite racial, gender and program differences among who is expelled.
Boys are expelled at a rate 4.5 times that of girls, and 4-year-olds are asked to leave at 1.5 times the rate of 3-year-olds. Youngsters enrolled in religious or private programs are expelled at rates higher than preschools in public school settings. Black preschoolers were expelled at twice the rate of whites or Hispanics.
Zach's mom was inclined to arrange for a relative to take care of Zach, rather than dealing with another preschool. However, he was really the type of youngster who needed a structured preschool setting. His family life was chaotic, and his well-meaning mom was overwhelmed trying to get through the day. While I worked with Zach's mom on how to get his behavior under control, I also offered her the following advice on selecting a good preschool for her son.
1. Select a structured, pre-academic curriculum for Zach. There is an ongoing debate among early childhood educators. Some have argued that preschools should provide a loving and warm environment that encourages creativity, socialization and self-discovery. There is plenty of time later on for learning academics. Others have recommended focusing on learning more traditional academic skills that will help children when they enter kindergarten.
Most children do absolutely fine with a more unstructured approach because they are living in homes where they are already adequately stimulated with learning opportunities. Zach wasn't living in such a home, so a more structured approach was best for him.
2. Observe the interactions between teachers and children. Spend enough time in the preschool to look at the ways that adults interact with kids. Are expectations clearly stated and consistently enforced? How do adults deal with misbehavior by the kids? Is there a warm, loving, and fun environment? What is the ratio of the number of adults to kids? Look for an ideal ratio of no more than 10 children for each adult.
Talk with the teachers and the director. How long have they worked at the facility? What are their educational backgrounds? Do the adults seem to really enjoy the kids, or is there a whiny and negative environment? Speak with other parents whose children attend the school.
3. Look carefully at the facility for safety, supplies and space issues. Don't expect a preschool to be a model of order, but it should be clean and relatively neat. Look for any safety issues. Is there enough outdoor play space? Are there lots of play materials, and are they kept in good condition?
Ask to look at the bathrooms and kitchen. Look for cleanliness and safety. Are sinks located near the toilets? Preschools can be challenging environments to maintain good health practices, and hand washing is one of the most important practices to reduce the spread of disease.
4. Are there programs for parental involvement and support? Are there support groups for parents? Are special resources available to help parents like Zach's mom? Access to mental health services reduces the expulsion rate in preschools by 50 percent.
Trusting your children to the care of others is an extremely important decision. Take your time and do your homework before making such a decision. After your child begins preschool, stay involved. Make unannounced visits, ask questions, and offer to help out.
Gregory Ramey, Ph.D., is a child psychologist and vice president for outpatient services at The Children's Medical Center of Dayton. For more of his columns, visit the Dayton Children's Web site at www.childrensdayton.org and sign up for FamilyWise, a free e-newsletter for parents. Send comments to Ramey at rameyg AT childrensdayton.org.