October 1, 2026
There is a particular feeling that comes over you when you walk into a preschool for the first time with your child's future in mind. Maybe your little one is on your hip, curious about the colorful walls. Maybe you've left them at home and you're trying to imagine them here, laughing, building, growing. It's exciting. It can also feel overwhelming.
How do you know if a place is right? The paint looks nice, the educators are smiling, the toys are tidy. But what's actually happening beneath the surface? Choosing your child's first educational environment is one of the most meaningful decisions you'll make in these early years, and you deserve to feel confident about it.
This checklist is designed to help you look past first impressions and ask the questions that really matter. At Runningbrook International Preschool, where we've welcomed more than 1,200 families from over 35 countries since 1993, we know that informed parents make the best partners. So let's walk through this together.
Before you even ask a single question, your eyes and ears will be gathering information. Research in early childhood development consistently shows that the quality of relationships and interactions, far more than fancy equipment, predicts positive outcomes for young children. The landmark work of developmental psychologists, and consensus from organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), points to warm, responsive adult-child interactions as the single most important feature of a high-quality program.
So as you tour, notice:
Remember, too, that children develop at wonderfully different rates. A quality program understands that the two-year-old who speaks in full sentences and the two-year-old who prefers to observe quietly are both developing beautifully. As you watch, notice whether the environment seems to make room for many kinds of children.
Here is where your checklist becomes your best friend. You won't need to ask every question, but having them ready means you leave the tour with real clarity rather than a vague good feeling.
At Runningbrook, our child-centered approach means that learning flows from a child's natural curiosity. When a group of children becomes fascinated by rain on the window, that moment becomes a lesson about weather, cause and effect, and language, all through play. That's early childhood development working the way it was meant to.
Small group sizes and dedicated, experienced educators are not luxuries, they are the foundation of warm, responsive care. When you ask about staff retention, a program that keeps its educators year after year is usually telling you something important about its culture.
This last question matters deeply in a multicultural city like Santiago. In a genuine multicultural environment, children don't just learn a second language, they learn to see difference as something natural and enriching. For our families coming from many countries, bilingual education at Runningbrook has meant that children grow up comfortable moving between languages and cultures, a gift that lasts a lifetime.
A tour is a two-way conversation, not a sales pitch you simply receive. Here are practical strategies to help you gather what you really need:
Here's something worth holding onto: you are the expert on your own child. No checklist, no educator, and no glossy website knows your child the way you do. The questions above are tools to help you match what a program offers with what you already know your child needs.
The right questions shift a little depending on your child's age. For our youngest ones in Growing Steps (6 months to 2 years), ask about consistency of caregivers and how routines like feeding and napping are honored. For Playgroup (2 to 3 years) and Kid's Club (3 to 4 years), focus on how play, social skills, and emerging independence are nurtured. For Pre-Kinder children (4 to 6 years), explore how curiosity and early literacy grow naturally without rushing children into formal academics before they are ready.
Across every stage, the goal is the same: an environment that builds self-esteem, social confidence, creativity, independence, and curiosity. These qualities aren't taught from a worksheet. They grow when children feel safe, seen, and free to explore.
Choosing a preschool can feel like a lot of pressure, as though one decision will shape your child's entire path. Take a breath. Children are remarkably resilient, and what they need most is to feel loved and valued, both at home and in whatever caring environment you choose.
The very fact that you're reading a checklist like this tells us something lovely: you care deeply, and you're doing the thoughtful work of a dedicated parent. Trust that care. Ask your questions, watch your child, and listen to your own instincts.
When you're ready to visit us, we'd be honored to answer every question on your list, and the ones that come to you along the way. For more than three decades, Runningbrook has walked alongside families just like yours, and we'd love to walk alongside you too.