Hi! My BBG are 30mths old, I really want to get them in preschool!
But I dont know the first thing about getting started!
Who do I call? Is there a special preschool commity?
Do you pay?
Anything you can share will be helpful!
Thanks a bunch! Kim

Kim
Wife to Brian
Mommy to BBG @ 32.5 wks)

Check your local yellow pages for listings of preschools. That should be a starting point. Talk to other parents you know about their likes/dislikes. Hook up with other parents that are looking at schools to to check opinions.

What do you want out of a preschool? Learn through play or academics? Part-time, full-time? Nearby school or is a commute ok? Certified teachers? Religious or non-denominational?

Around here, preschool for 3 year olds is usually two mornings a week and range from $90 - 150 per month, per child. Four year olds go three days a week, M-W-F. Costs cary wildly and can range up to $350 per month, per child.

Make sure you get on any waiting lists early. Around here, there are open houses in Feb/March for fall enrollment. Some schools require a deposit to hold the spot. Stop by some preschools with and without your kids. See how you feel. Are the kids having fun? Is it clean? Are the teachers engaged with the kids?

That's all I can think of now!

Best wishes,

Sharon
6 year old b/b/b + 10 year old son

The only idea I can add is to check with your local school district. You may find elementary schools that have preschool (prek)programs integrated with the Kinders. My trio attend a Montessori elementary school in our public school system(prek-grade 5). This program offers preschool for 3 & 4 yr olds, 1/2 day in a Kinder (all day) class. The cost is $80 per child, per YEAR!!!! We had to get on a waiting list in Feb and the "lottery" was in May for the upcoming school year. If one family member gets their name chosen in the lottery, then all family members get in. I would say it's worth a few phone calls. Good Luck with your search.

Amy~
Paige, Austin & Hailee - 5yrs
10/29/98 34w1d
Kenny - 18yrs

Amy~
Paige, Austin & Hailee - 9yrs
10/29/98 34w1d

I agree with Amy, I would check with the local school district. They can probably give you a list of preschools they are familiar with. Then use some of Sharon's tips to find out what you really want. Living in a small town we only had 2 preschools to choose from here or drive 15-30 min. to other towns to attend their preschools. Our school district has a preschool funded by them that takes children with special needs (those who need a little help catching up) and integrates them with those that don't. It is a free program. They always take the special needs kids 1st and the others are picked out of a hat to fill up the rest of the class. We sent our girls to a different preschool. DH's parents & my parents split the tuition between them. The girls didn't qualify to get into the local school districts program, and would have been put in the hat. We were afraid that if they were looked upon as the "normal" kids (not to offend anyone) they might have easily slipped behind. There is a total of 8-10 kids in their preschool they are in. I feel they get alot more 1 on 1 with a smaller class. My DS was in this preschool also and I was very impressed with the teacher and what he learned. That had alot to do with why our trio went there too. I know you are new where you live so the school district is where I would start. You could also find some information from the local health dept. I am sure they know of any child services. Does this help you any? I hope so!

*I've been hoping to find some time to e-mail you some more pics. Maybe this week if all seems to settle down here!LOL! Take Care

Kris & Co.
Nicknamed "Supermommy!" (by DH) to 4 super kids:
(B)Schuyler-7
Spontaneous Triplets born @ 33wks 5-18-99
(G)Katrena-4
(G)Kourtney-4
(G)Kerisa-4

........... Kris & Co. ...........

Thanks Ladies! For your replies! I was on the phone all this morning trying to find some place to take them twice a week for just half a day! But most places wont take them till theyre 3yrs and not until the fall (thats fine and I will do that then, but need something for now) Oh and the ones who will take them now want anywhere from $150.00 to $250.00 per week! Yeah Right! That is way too much for us and it would blow my budget to peices!
So I guess Im gonna try and get them out atleast once a week , w/ grama. I figure we can take them on little feild trips , maybe find some child freindly ceramics class or other child like activities!
I just want them to get more out of their days , now that they are 30mths old! And somtimes I think that they just need more than I am giving them at this point, as far as learning new activities and socializing with other children. So Im also gonna look into dance and gymnastics classes, even just once a week or every two weeks would be good for them. I also looked into the public school systems and they dont take them until age 4 for preshcool! Which will be a yr from now! We have to pschool pre-k programs , when the time comes Ill deffinately get them in there. But until then I have to figure something else out
Thanks again! Kim

Kim
Wife to Brian
Mommy to BBG @ 32.5 wks)

Does your city's Park and Rec dept. offer anything for kids? Our program is pretty extensive and reasonably priced. Gymnastics, basketball, crafts are all available. Check out your library's story time. If not available, check with Borders and Barnes and Noble. Both offer free story times for kids. Our local bowling alley offers really cheap bumper bowling a few hours a week. Like $3 per game, including shoes. My boys loved it at that age. Nothing fancy but it kills an hour or so and it's an "experience."

Best wishes,

Sharon

Thanks Sharon, I just call and signed my trio up for Story time at the library! It starts February 4th and goes until April ( one day a week) Im so excited , not only for them but for me too, cause Im sure to meet some other moms too! (I dont have any friends here, yet But hopefully that will change soon and Im sure I can get some info from those moms as to where else to go with my kiddos!
Thanks so much! Kim

Kim
Wife to Brian
Mommy to BBG @ 32.5 wks)

Another suggestion....
Check with your local High School. My HS has a preschool program as part of their child development classes. There are about 15 preschoolers in the class. It runs approx 2 1/2 hrs/day 3 days a week. There are about 25 Highschool students and 1 teacher and an aide there as well. We are charged $80 a semester each child. (I only have one there now as the girls are at the school dist preschool. They qualified for services...speech, etc...and they go for a minimal fee) But they all started out at the highschool at approx 33 mo.


Kim
Jackie 17 - Danny 15 - Michael 13 - Tommy 9
Isabel, Ryan, Sarah-12/13/99 32w3d

Kim
Jackie 18 - Danny 16 - Michael 15 - Tommy 10
Isabel, Ryan, Sarah-Good GOD!!! They are 6. 12-13-99/32w3d

Try checking with the " community adult school" in your area. When my 3 were little ( they are now 14) I had them in a program from infant all the way until they went to kindergarten. It was very affordable, as "you" are the student. It started out one morning a week, progressed to 2 then to 3 and then the year before kindergarten it was 5 mornings a week. It was called "positive parenting" class and to this day my kids ( and I ) still have friends we made during those years. Good luck as I know how expensive things are X 3 !!

Coletta