Hi everyone! I live on the north side and I am looking for a good preschool for my 3 year old son. I would like to have him start ASAP because he is really bored! I have a 4 month old daughter that I have to devote a lot of time to and I would love for him to be able to go to school a couple of days a week to get used to being away from me. He loves to play with other kids and he will be friends with anyone!:) Lets just say that he isn't shy, but he really needs to learn how to share better. When we plays with other kids he wants any toy that someone else is playing with. I know this is normal, but I want him to be in a school setting and get used to sharing and that whole school environment. He has never gone to daycare before so I am afraid if I don't get him in something now then he will freak out when it is time to go to school AND I need a break for a few hours a couple days a week. You know how much energy a 3 year old boy can have!!? Any suggestions or advice??? Thanks!!
My 11 month old goes to Learning Time at 91st and Meridian and loves it there. Before we started going there, I heard all good things from other parents, it's got a great reputation. I have also heard good things about Peter Rabbit from families who send kids there. Good luck!
E.:
My son went through 2 preschools before we found the PERFECT one. The third one is Talking Time. You can look at their website at http://www.talkingtimekids.com. You can also call and speak with either Kari or Crystal at ###-###-####.They are WONDERFUL and your child will flourish there as mine sure has.
The two we went through were VERY large NATIONAL chains with DEGREED teachers and VERY high costs, so BIGGER is definitely NOT always better. I wont share all the issues, but they were pretty major.
I completely understand where you are coming from. Last year I was in a similar situation. My daughter was 3 and really needed to be around other kids her age, however I was a stay at home mom and I hated paying a fortune to send her to preschool when I was at home all day, so I did a lot of searching before I found a great solution.
I enrolled her in a cooperative preschool, Northeast Coop, and we absolutely love it there! The teachers are great! And it is only around $50- $65 a month depending on the age of the child!!!
I was not familar with coops when we started, however I love them!! They idea is that parents help out in the classroom which cuts cost considerably and it allows me to go in and really meet everyone that my kids (both of mine are now in the school) are around and really meet their friends. It is nice to know who they are talking about when they come home from class. And please do not be intimidated by helping out in class. Generally you only have to help once a month which would still give you 7 days a month to get a little break. Also in my experience the people there are very friendly and willing to help each other out. It is like a family, carpooling, helping out with childcare when needed, etc.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any questions.
Also they are having a Open House this weekend, it is a great way to come and check it out. This is the link to the website http://www.necoop.org
Saturday, February 9, 2008
9 am - 11:30 am
Thanks,
T.
Hi E.,
My son (now in 2nd grade) attended Northside Montessori School for 3&1/2 years. We were so sad to leave last year (they school in Montessori philosophy up to grade 4), but we were accepted in the IPS public Montessori program.
They became like second family and we still "drop-in" just to say hello on occassion.
It's a small school, in an old farm house, with about 3-4 teachers in each classroom. The kids are mixed by age not grade and with no desks, the kids are given "choices", move freely between the rooms and use manipulatives and materials to learn rather than paper work.
We paid $390 a month for 5 full days (a STEAL compared to regular day care charges) they are located at 1224 East 52nd St. (Broadripple area) and can be reached by phone at ###-###-####
Good Luck with your search!
V~
Most preschools are registering NOW for next fall. A few might have openings for this year but most good ones have a waiting list. My advice is to start checking into them for next fall. Personally, we LOVE St Peters Preschool in Carmel. My son went for 3 years and my 2 year old is currently going. When my baby gets old enough, she'll go there, too. They start the moms day out program at 18 months and go through pre-k. It's on Carmel Dr just east of Keystone. Open registraton started last week.
The other option is for a daycare type place like Abacus. They aren't really 'preschools' but have preschool type activities scattered throughout the day. They are meant more for working parents and are alot more expensive because they are full-day program (like 6am to 6pm) and kids come and go throughout the day. They are open year-round, though.
Most of the preschools are run through churches (but they are not religious-focus and have pretty much nothing to do with the church) and follow the local school's calendar for holidays and summer vacation. The hours are set each day, like 9am-11:30am so there's a set schedule for all the kids -- everyone arrives and leaves at the same time. They are also much more affordable. A 3 day a week preschool program is around $100/month... but 3 days a week at a daycare type place is usually $100/week.
I am a former pre-school teacher and know without question that the preschool program at East 91st Street church is excellent! They have had waiting lists in the past, but I'm not sure how things stand currently. They also have a MOPS program, so you might want to check into it, too, for the time being if you don't find a pre-school right away.
I know that LEARNING TIME is ALSO EXCEPTIONAL! My roommate's 5 year old was there for over two years and she learned so much. The opportunities there were above average and she LLLLLOVED IT THERE! She STILL talks about Learning Time and her teachers there. She attended the school at 71st and Zionsville Road. I'm not sure if there are any others, but it CERTAINLY would be worth checking into.
Hi E.... You live on the North Side of Anderson? I suggest Park Place Children's Center at Park Place Church of God. They have a FANTASTIC preschool program as well as daycare and full day Kindgergarten. For 3 year olds they would go 9:00-11:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays and tuition was around $80 per month- last year anyway. The teachers are wonderful, caring ladies. My son loved it there.
Peter Rabbit nursery school in Carmel on College. The outside is nothing special, however, the teachers are fantastic and the kids really thrive. My son was reading by age 4 and couldn't wait to go to school every morning. Good Luck!
My 3 year old daughter (soon to be 4) has been attending preschool at the YMCA on M-W mornings since the fall. She loves it, we love it and for us it seems to be a great way to give her something to look forward to & meet new friends while maintaining our schedule at home.
On February 16 the Jordan YMCA is offering a preschool open house. If that isn't in your area you might look at your local YMCA and see if they are doing something similar.
Good Luck!
Hi E.,
I'm doing the same search as you right now. Actually what I have found is a lot of the churches have "Moms Day Out" programs which are only 1 day a week. Some are half days 9-11:30 some are full days 9-2:30. A few churches do offer multiple days a week. Then there are montessori preschools offering 2 - 5 days a week half and full days. They daycares with "preschool" curriculums. My advice ... check out Indychild.com. Go down the far left column to Schools and Education. Once you click they list all the education centers. If you type in a zip code and miles radius it will show the ones around your house. Here is the direct link I just don't know if it will come through correctly.
http://www.indyschild.com/1directorytablebody.lasso?-toke...
All the schools are happy to have you come take a tour and meet the teachers.
Good luck.
