Full-Day Preschools for Kids in Westchester County

Kiddie Academy — White Plains

Offering preschool starting at age 3, and pre-K at age 4, Kiddie Academy of White Plains provides care from 6:30am to 6:30pm. The curriculum is dedicated to preparing children for school, with subjects including math, science, creative arts, and dramatic play. Plus kids have plenty of opportunity for exercise with two outdoor play areas and an indoor playroom. 

Alcott Montessori School —  Scarsdale and Dobbs Ferry

This pre-K class is made up of kids between the ages of 3 and 5, and students take part in activities from music and nature to riding bikes. There are half-day options available (either morning or afternoon), with the full day running from either 8:45am or 9am, depending on the location, to 3:15pm.

All Aboard Childcare Education Center —  Ossining and Valhalla

For parents looking for a pre-K option with longer hours and a year-round schedule, All Aboard, which has locations in Ossining and Valhalla, is a worthy option. Hours are from as early as 7am to as late as 6:30pm every day of the week, including throughout the summer. The pre-K program is for 3- and 4-year-olds, and along with learning, kids can also try their hand at things like martial arts and yoga.

Bright Horizons —  Multiple Locations

Bright Horizons has locations all over the country, including a number right in Westchester—from Armonk to Yonkers. The preschool program focuses on everything from language (writing letters of the alphabet, telling stories) to science and art, as well as things like nature, nutrition, and more. Hours vary depending on the location, but almost all start at 7am and most are open until 7pm.

RELATED: Co-Op Preschools for Families in Westchester

Children's Corner Learning Center has seven locations throughout Westchester County.

Children’s Corner Learning Center —  Multiple Locations

This child care center has seven locations throughout the county, including Briarcliff Manor, Purchase, Scarsdale, Yorktown, Harrison, and two in White Plain. So no matter where you live, you’re likely to find one nearby. All the locations are open from 7am to 6pm, and meals and snacks are included. The pre-K class gets kids ready for kindergarten with lessons and curriculum that are tailored to their needs, as well as lots of time outside.

Discovering Me Nursery School — Larchmont​

While there are morning and afternoon-only options at this Larchmont nursery school, the full-day hours run from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Kids enjoy a variety of activities, from playing with blocks to doing arts and crafts, based on what they’ve learned that day. 

The Goddard School — Hastings-on-Hudson

Hours at this preschool are from 7am to 6pm every day, with summer camp options as well. In the pre-K program, teachers aim to meet kids where they are in the learning process and also urge them “to explore their passions and interests and teach them to recover from mistakes.” There are also activities, including music, and events held throughout the year.

Small World Preschool —  Yonkers

This Yonkers preschool is open every weekday from 7am to 7pm and offers a curriculum based on learning through play. Activities include music, Spanish, art, math, and outdoor play. It also offers a summer camp with outdoor water sports, bouncy houses, and BBQs.

Little Leaf School — Hastings-on-Hudson and Yonkers

Here’s an option for outdoor-loving families: This “nature preschool,” which has three locations in Westchester—at Andrus-on-Hudson in Hastings, at Lenoir Nature Preserve in Yonkers, and at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining—offers a full-day session from 9am to 2:30pm. Kids learn through a variety of activities, including gardening and nature walks, as well as indoor time.

Mamaroneck Community School —  Mamaroneck​

At this co-op preschool in Mamaroneck, the full-day schedule for the 4- and 5-year-old class is from 8:45am to 2:45pm. (There are half-day schedules, as well as early drop-off and extended day until 4pm, too.). The school follows the Creative Curriculum, which “is designed to address academic content while keeping a purposeful play philosophy.”

RELATED: Ways To Ease the Preschool Transition for Kids—and Parents

The Nurtury Montessori features an outdoor area for nature exploration and play.

The Nurtury Montessori — Larchmont and New Rochelle

In the primary program at this preschool—which follows the Montessori method—kids between the ages of 3 and 6 are in the same classroom together. The full-day program runs from 7:30am to 6pm; there is also a half-day option, as well as a school-day option that ends at 3:30pm.

The Worthington Nursery School — White Plains

The full day at this White Plains nursery school, situated on 1.5 acres runs, from 7:30am until 2:45pm, with an option for kids to stay until 6pm. Children must be at least 3 years old, and the school offers a variety of age-appropriate subjects (science, Spanish, French, etc.), as well as activities ranging from yoga to gardening. Worthington follows a Montessori curriculum.

Photos courtesy of the schools

 A version of this post was first published in 2019. It was updated in January 2022.