Choosing the Right Preschool – a Guide for Parents

Updated 7 August 2026

Choosing a preschool is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent. There are many options and factors to weigh – but with the right information, a few good questions and a dose of gut feeling, you will find what suits your child. This guide builds on our experience of meeting families in northern and western Stockholm – in Kista, Husby, Akalla, Hässelby and Vällingby.

Six things to look at

According to the Swedish National Agency for Education’s guidance for families in Utbildningsguiden, there are several important aspects to consider:

• The competence and commitment of the staff – and how they treat the children.
• The size and composition of the groups, and the communication between preschool and home.
• The pedagogical profile – and how it shows in practice.
• The design of the indoor and outdoor environments.
• Routines for food, rest and activities.
• Your gut feeling during the visit – how are you and your child received?

Questions to ask during your visit

Do book visits to several preschools – the visit is where you get the real picture. Observe how the staff interact with the children and with each other: do they seem engaged and positive? Ask about the staff’s education and the staffing ratio – the number of teachers per group, and how absences are handled. Look at the outdoor environment, which matters for motor skills and learning. Ask how settling in works and how it is adapted to different children’s needs.

And weigh in proximity: a preschool near home or work makes everyday life easier for years.

Once you have found the right place, the practical part remains – and it is simpler than it sounds.

Applying for a place in the City of Stockholm

You apply through the City of Stockholm’s Edlevo e-service, where you can list up to five choices – both municipal and independent preschools. Your queue date is the day you submit the application, at the earliest your child’s six-month birthday, and the city must offer a guaranteed place within three months. Read more at forskola.stockholm. Independent preschools often have their own queues: with us, the easiest way is to apply directly via our application form.

What makes us unique?

Svenska Internationella Förskolan (SIF) offers a unique bilingual environment where children develop in both Swedish and English. We place great emphasis on cultural diversity and work to foster a sense of global citizenship. We run two preschools in Stockholm: one in Kista, a stone’s throw from the metro, and one in Hässelby. Both are small units – 40 and 19 places respectively – with competent and committed staff, a nurturing environment that stimulates curiosity, age-appropriate groups and a focus on language development.

Would you like to know more or book a visit? We are happy to help with information about the application process and answer all your questions. By visiting different preschools, asking relevant questions and listening to your intuition, you will find the best solution for your family.

This article was translated from the Swedish original with the help of AI.

More from the blog: Settling in · Mealtimes at preschool · Kista · Hässelby