When do I sign my 3 year old up for preschool?

[mom2mygirls]

When do you sign up your child for preschool for next fall Iam clueless.

[lauren]

It depends on the preschool.... some of them are signing up around now, some do screenings in May/June for Fall (usually public ones). I guess really exclusive ones you would have had to sign up for 3 years ago!!

do you have one that you are interested in? This would surely be a good time of year to call and find out.

[CarrieMF]

I'd call the ones you're interested in and find out. Around here they start registrations in April. The one my girls go to is having an early date the first week of April for those who already have kids in the school. She's doing this because this is the first year she's been open(she has worked in other playschools around here but opened her own when the last one she was in closed). She has been getting many calls from people who don't have their kids in yet so she wants those who already do to have first dibs. She's also going to be done teaching the middle of April, she's due the beginning of May. Usually the middle of April is when the other schools here do it, but if they know she's doing it early they probably will too.

In the city registrations start in Jan. I am surprised it's not earlier here but all the schools do it at the same time. There are only 4 playschools and the demand is high.

[mamaduck]

Its done in Febuary here. We messed up with our first child by waiting until May, and then we couldn't find a spot in a morning class.

[TiredX2]

February here too (though we haven't signed DS up yet )

You could get better (more local info) on your Tribal Board:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...splay.php?f=95

Or, even better, just call a couple preschools you are interested in and ask.

[beccaboo]

Yeah, the three we were interested in all are past the deadlines now (late Feb, early March).

[Kirsten]

Around here, you register in January or February. For those of you who missed it, I'd just call now and sign up if there are spots - or wait list if there aren't. Many first time moms I know registered in more than one school or day/time at their favorite, not knowing what would work with other schedules or just not deciding for sure which they wanted til later.

You shouldn't have to put any money down to wait list - and there is often movement in the wait lists due to people moving or just plain changing their minds.