Ideally, a preschooler's day will follow a set schedule with little deviation. This will give your tot a sense of stability, so he or she will know what to anticipate — whether it's snack time, story-telling, nap time, lunch — and help especially young children feel safe and more secure throughout the day.

Check to see if there are gates surrounding the school and its play area to keep young children from running out onto the street and to prevent strangers from coming onto the property.

Be sure to look for fire alarms, first-aid kits and plugged electrical outlets, and ask the teacher what the procedures are in case of an emergency, and whether the teacher is trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid.

Also, the closer the school is to your home and work, the easier it will be to reach your child in an emergency.

Look for a sandbox, jungle gym, building blocks, hand puppets and dress-up clothes — all the tools your child could need to stimulate his or her imagination.

Picking the perfect preschool might be a long and maybe frustrating task, but at the end of the day, both you and your child will be the happiest with a well educated, well-thought-out decision.

This column is provided through the Hawai'i State Teachers Association. Phyllis Oda is a preschool coordinator at the Department of Education's Windward District Office.