When you begin to look for a preschool for your child you'll notice that most of the schools look the same. There will be teachers and children and small tables and chairs; there will be children's drawings on the walls and toys on the shelves. The critical differences between one school and another may not be in the classroom environment, but in what the teachers and children are doing. In some schools, the children will spend the day playing with whatever strikes their fancy while the teachers watch and answer their questions, in others, the children will spend much of the day seated at the table all coloring in the same shapes and pictures while the teacher guides them explaining what to do and how to do it

Once you decide to enroll your child in a nursery or preschool, how do you locate a school? he first step is to ask yourself some practical questions, such as

? How close to home do you want your child to be? It's usually best to look at schools near your home or near your workplace.

? What hours do you need your child to be in school? This may depend on your work or school hours, or the schedules of other family members

? What part of your family budget can you spend on school? If you find more than one school within your range, it may be wiser to go with the school that pays its teacher caregivers more and therefore costs more Schools that can pay their teachers a little more generally attract a better trained staff Keep in mind, however, that the most expensive school you can afford is not always the best for your child You may want to do some research into how a school you are interested in is funded Some facilities are subsidized by the state or federal government and can provide excellent programs at lower cost Others are church or synagogue based and provide high quality care that may be subsidized by the religious community.

? Do you want a creative activities-based playgroup setting or a more formal educational setting? Again, your child's age and temperament will probably determine the program.

Once you have decided on your criteria, how do you find the school you want? One of your best resources will probably be other parents who have had or currently have children in a preschool program. Ask parents you know in your neighborhood and in your workplace. You could also ask your child's doctor and others who are familiar with local preschools, including librarians and teachers. If you can't get recommendations in these ways, you might start with your telephone book Yellow Pages, under the headings "Nursery Schools" or "Preschools." Talk to the kindergarten teachers in your local school district to see if they have any recommendations.

When you decide on one or more places to consider further, the next step is to actually visit the school. You will need to go when children are there to see some of the activities and how the kids interact with the adult staff. You will also need to speak with the adults who will be taking care of your child. Also make a point of talking with other parents to find out what they like and may not like about the place. You should also take your child for a visit before making a definite decision.