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Private Schools

Types of Preschool

Early Education Options

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You want to give your infant the best possible start in life. So you are thinking about finding a preschool which will pick up where you left off as a parent and educate your child according to your wishes. Let's look at the various types of preschools available.

Montessori

Montessori Cottage, Fallsington, PAMontessori Cottage
Dr. Maria Montessori believed in following the child. Her Casa de Bambini educated thousands of Rome's poorest children in the early part of the 20th century. Montessori schools usually offer classes for toddlers through kindergarten. Many Montessori schools have primary and middle school grades as well. Only a handful of Montessori schools offer the high school grades even though Dr. Montessori planned her method to cover all levels of instruction.

Waldorf

Brightwater SchoolBrightwater School
Rudolph Steiner developed his first school in 1919. It was for the children of employees of a cigarette factory in Waldorf-Astoria in Germany. Like Dr. Maria Montessori Rudolph Steiner believed the societal change could only come about through quality education. The curriculum in Waldorf schools is based on the philosophy known as anthroposophy which was Steiner's own creation.

Reggio Emilia

Primary SchoolStockbyte/Getty Images
Reggio Emilia strictly speaking is not actually a type of school. Schools which embrace the Reggio Emilia approach are said to be 'Reggio Emilia inspired'. As with Montessori and Waldorf, Reggio Emilia had its beginnings as a way of educating children from families of modest means.

Progressive Schools

Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia schools fall within the category of schools we define as progressive schools. There are also approximately 100 private schools serving the preschool programs which do not follow those philosophies. They embrace a variety of approaches, theories and philosophies which place them firmly within the progressive camp. In this group are the dozens of laboratory schools which many universities host and operate within their education departments.

Religious Schools

If your religious beliefs are any important part of the way you are raising your child, then you will want to consider a religious preschool. Unless you are absolutely familiar with a school, don't assume anything, even if it is a match with your religious beliefs. Do your due diligence and confirm that the teaching style and what is being taught jibe with your needs and requirements.

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