When you are the parent of a gifted child, you want to make sure that they have the best possible experience with their education so that their gifted mind can continue to grow and thrive throughout their life. Of course, this whole educational experience starts with preschool. If you are hoping to ensure that your gifted child has a good preschool experience, get to know some of the steps that you can and should take to do just that. Then, you will be able to rest easy knowing that your gifted child will get the best start to their academic career possible.

Find the Type of Program That Works for Your Child

There are many different types of preschool programs available today. Each has a unique approach to teaching children basic social and life skills as well as academic skills. To find the one that best suits your child and their skills and interests, you will need to schedule visits with schools that utilize various approaches.

Pay close attention to how your child reacts to each learning environment. If they seem engaged and interested, this means that it is a program that works for them and the way that they learn. On the other hand, if they cling to you the entire time or are bored and off on their own, it is likely not a good fit. Some of the programs you may want to check out include Montessori, Waldorf, and HighScope.

Look for Child-Centered Preschool Programs

In addition to the underlying philosophy that each preschool is based on, there are also differences in the focus of the classroom environment. There are teacher-centered and child-centered programs. Teacher-centered programs are similar to later classroom environments in which the teacher leads and dictates all activities and may even utilize a lecture-based teaching technique. The children will be focused on the instructor who guides them through activities. 

On the other hand, child-centered preschool programs are more open and individualized. Children engage fully with activities and direct their own learning. The teacher is there to provide assistance and the children get to work at their own pace. This can be especially beneficial to gifted children who may be faster at completing certain projects than their classmates.

Make Sure Class Sizes Are Small

Not every preschool child will have the same skills or interests as your child, even in a classroom full of other gifted children. Because of this, make sure that the preschool program has classes that are small enough that the teacher (or assistant teachers) can give each child individual attention. This will help to ensure that your child will thrive and will be able to get the guidance and attention that they need to excel in every activity.

Now that you know a few of the ways that you can be sure that your gifted child has a good preschool experience, you can get started and get your child started off on the right foot in their school career. Check out http://www.kidscountry.net and talk to educators in your area to get an idea of their programs and class sizes.