Choosing the right preschool for one's child is essential to his or her cognitive and social development so it's important that parents ensure the one they select provides a nurturing and enriching learning environment. The best way to evaluate what a school has to offer is to visit it in person. When it comes time to tour a preschool Medford Oregon families should be sure to look for the following key elements.

The overall impression of the school should be one of cleanliness, that is no bad smells, and floors and classroom materials should also be reasonably free of dirt and debris. Messiness should not be confused for uncleanliness however, since mess is the natural result of children being busy at play in an environment that encourages them to do so freely. Children should each have their own storage cubby, and access to child-sized washrooms. The room should be arranged into various centers that each feature a particular activity, and there needs to be easy access to classroom materials and snacks.

Independent and group play are the main vehicles through which young children learn. A healthy preschool environment consists of a classroom abuzz with the action of children playing and interacting together, and participating in "circle time" with their teachers to hear stories or sing songs. The emphasis should be on free play as opposed to structure.

The preschool age group is normally made up of three to five year-olds, teachers need to be able to relate well to the students and ready to provide assistance with any problems including squabbles which inevitably happen between classmates. Focus should be on the unique personality of each child, and helping them to build on their strengths and overcome their obstacles.

It is also important that these teachers use the right body language when working with young children, so the students will feel comfortable approaching them and so they view the teacher as someone who cares and is there to always support and encourage them. This involves positioning one's body at the same level as the child's, by kneeling or crouching if necessary, and establishing eye contact during communications.

There should be plenty of the children's artwork displayed throughout the classroom. This shows that creativity is valued in the class and gives the little ones a sense of pride and accomplishment when they can see their creations on display. Children need the freedom to do their own thing artistically at this age and a good school will emphasize this.

There should be a wide variety of interesting play materials available to stimulate creativity and exploration, all of which are in fairly good condition, safe, and suitable for this age group. Examples include a large selection of books, arts and crafts materials, dolls, cars, building materials, and play centers to encourage imaginary play such as a doctor's office, kitchen, and dress-up clothes.

The teachers should also watch each child closely to get a general sense of his or her progress, and to recognize any potential areas of difficulty the child may encounter. Parents should be made aware of any delays early on, so the issue can be addressed in preschool before the child starts kindergarten.