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