Preschools

Relate to Directory Listing Type:

Preschool Admissions Tips from Experts, Schools, and Moms Who've Been There

Submitted by Suzy Q on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 1:27pm

Finding the right preschool is a challenge for many NYC parents. Of course you want to provide your kids with the best early education experience possible, but there’s also cost and location to consider—and available spots can be in short supply at the most popular preschools. Plus, the sheer number of programs and educational philosophies (are you a Montessori family, or is your two year-old more of a Reggio-Emilia kinda toddler?) can be overwhelming.

Like a lot of other things in this city, finding a great preschool calls for a bit of advance planning and research. But with a few helpful tips, you can navigate the preschool admissions obstacle course. To demystify the process of getting into preschool in NYC, we reached out to admissions consultants, preschool directors, and parents who’ve been there, toured that. What we discovered is that there are as many different and "great" preschools as there are perfectly wonderful children. The right preschool situation is out there for your family!

Are Daycare Kids Better Behaved? This Study Says Yes

Submitted by Elaine Paoloni ... on Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:01am

Torn between a nanny, daycare, or staying home with your kids? Choosing childcare can be a difficult—and deeply personal—decision for any family, and of course involves a number of factors, from costs to the length of your commute. A new study out of France suggests that daycare might offer some significant advantages in terms of our kids' development.

Researchers at Sorbonne Université in Paris followed nearly 1,500 kids from the womb to age 8 as they either attended a center-based daycare or were cared for by a nanny or family member. The daycare kids, particularly those who attended at least a year before the age of three, were less likely to have problems with peers and other emotional and behavioral issues, according to the researchers.

New Bilingual Nursery Threes Program Arrives at the Lycée School

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Fri, 10/05/2018 - 11:00am

The earlier the better when it comes to learning a second language. And that's exactly why the launch of the Lycée's bilingual Nursery Threes Program in September 2019 is really big news for "mamans" and "papas" who are hoping to raise young French-speakers—and anyone hoping to raise bilinguals in today's interconnected world.

Established way back in 1935, the Lycée Français de New York has been considered one of the most renowned bilingual schools in the city for years, providing students with an authentic, immersive French educational experience that features aspects of a classical European education, while incorporating the creativity, ingenuity, and optimism associated with American programs. The school offers an engaging project-based curriculum and rigorous academics across high school, middle school, elementary school, and now preschool. In fact, with the addition of the new Threes Program, the Lycée actually offers the complete "cycle one" of the French primary school system, also known as "the early learning cycle" or "maternelle.

These Great Bilingual and Language Immersion Preschools Make LA Tots Polyglots

Submitted by Audrey M on Thu, 09/06/2018 - 11:35am

We've all heard that children have a much easier time learning a second language than adults do, but it's not always easy to provide the opportunity. If a parent or grandparent speaks another language, having the language reinforced in a community setting can increase a child's interest in playing along. If there is no other language at home, a bilingual preschool may be the only way to give your child the gift of a second language. Immersion preschools can also help to prepare a child to attend one of LA's bilingual elementary schools.

The schools below are organized by language; scroll to the bottom to see them on a map. (We know some great language immersion preschools in Orange County, too!)

Best Events This Fall for NYC Preschoolers

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Sun, 09/02/2018 - 9:20am

Let the fall fun begin! This fall there are tons of events, festivals, and shows in NYC just right for the preschool crowd. From fall fairs with petting zoos to music performances to great toddler and preschooler activities, here are 30+ fall events for NYC preschoolers—and best of all, many events and activities are FREE.

Don't forget to check out our September GoList and Best NYC Fall Festivals for even more great fall events, not to mention our just released Fall Fun Guide. Looking for a special day trip? Preschoolers are old enough to pick their own apples this September or even find the perfect pumpkin.

How to Pick a Daycare That You Actually Love

Submitted by Suzy Q on Mon, 08/27/2018 - 4:00pm

Whether it's your first child or your third, finding the best daycare option for your family comes with its share of challenges. Most parents are looking at factors like cost, hours, location, safety, and child-teacher ratio, but of course, another major requirement is an environment that's warm, inviting, and family-friendly. While trying to find the perfect daycare can make any parent anxious, the relationships and beautiful memories you'll create as a family will make all the effort worthwhile.

To help guide your search for the right daycare, we reached out to childcare program directors, Mommy Poppins editors, teachers, and professional moms to collect their stories and consolidate their advice. These daycare veterans have had time to reflect on their choices, and are ready to share their wisdom and lessons learned, which, together with your area's Daycare Listings, can help you pick a daycare that you actually love.

Preschool Watchlist: 5 New NYC Preschools

Submitted by Suzy Q on Fri, 08/24/2018 - 10:00am

Shopping around for a preschool program is a daunting task. At the top of your preschool criteria list are probably cost, location, and a good personality fit for your child, with class size and educational philosophy factored in as well. Fortunately New York City parents have a broad range of options when it comes to finding the right preschool fit. Interested in bilingual immersion, Montessori, Reggio-Emilia inspired, or a traditional preschool program? Are your goals for your child academic, social, learning through play, or all the above? Maybe your child has a love of nature you would like to see celebrated in an outdoor classroom.

Our Preschool Guide is a resource that can help you find the perfect preschool for your child. Below we've highlighted a few preschools that are new to the MommyPoppins Preschool Directory to add to your watchlist.

Popular Brooklyn Preschool of Science Opens New Location

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/23/2018 - 12:00pm

Where can you find an enormous fish-filled 300-gallon tank and greenery growing sideways from hydroponic plant systems? How about an animatronic stuffed dinosaur, a pixel peg LED light board, and terrariums full of Madagascar hissing cockroaches and crested geckos? Well, would you believe me if I said your child's preschool...?

After nearly two decades as a New York City public school teacher, Carmelo Piazza—known by fans of all ages as "Carmelo the Science Fellow"—opened the first Brooklyn Preschool of Science back in 2013. The Brooklyn native and father of four confesses that he didn't even like science growing up, as he recalls boring slideshows and lectures, but insists that a hands-on science methodology course in college changed all that. Shortly after graduating, he accepted a teaching position at PS 261 and quickly realized the effectiveness of science in motivating kids to embrace other key subjects too.