The way the children in the classroom are behaving will tell you a lot about the room's environment. If children are sitting around looking bored or playing by themselves, it may not be a classroom where creativity and friendship are encouraged. Children should look as though they're engaged in their activities and enjoying one another's company. Unless it's story time or nap time, a preschool classroom should also be filled with some chatter and laughter.
In a preschool classroom, teachers shouldn't be standing at the front of the room lecturing. Teachers should be spread throughout the room, playing with small groups of children and assisting those who need additional help. They should be warm and friendly, and the children should seem to like their teachers. The teachers should also be speaking to children in simple language that they can understand. Since preschool is a time for exploration, teachers should also be letting children engage in hands-on activities rather than scolding them for being messy and having fun.
Preschoolers learn through a variety of creative activities, so a preschool classroom should be filled with opportunities for learning. A classroom should be stocked with art supplies, blocks and make-believe materials like a play kitchen and dress-up clothing. Classrooms should also hold at least several dozen age-appropriate storybooks. Toys and books should be stored on low shelves so they're accessible to children. Classrooms should be filled with color and decorated with students' art work and posters depicting colors, shapes or the alphabet.
Most young children are full of energy and endlessly curious, so it's easy for preschoolers to get hurt. Having a low ratio of adults to children helps ensure that children are supervised at all times, so ask how many teachers and aides are assigned to each classroom. Since preschoolers may try to climb on furniture, all classroom furniture should be sturdy and all sharp objects should be stored out of children's reach. Take a tour of the playground and any other outdoor areas. If there are roads nearby, ensure that there are sturdy gates and fences around any play areas.