How do I find a preschool?

[megs4413]

I haven't the faintest idea how to start looking since we're not going with the public school here. I had intended to homeschool but DD insists that she wants to go to school and I need to figure out where that might be to see if it will work for us. How do I go about looking? I did a simple google search, but I have no idea what I'm really even looking for. we're in the STL metro area so I'm sure there are plenty of options but I just don't know where to start...any advice is appreciated!

[Koloe]

Phone book.

Ask neighbors and friends where they have sent their kids to and what they thought of different schools.

If you are looking for a particular philosophy of education, such as Montessori, there are websites that will list schools they have accredited.

Maybe call the school district and see if they have any listings.

Maybe a Family Resource or Early Childhood center would have a list of area pre-schools.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

First, figure out what you want -- days, hours, age mix, just play or some academics, religious or not, parent involvement or not, cost. I'd probably start with some sort of online search for something close to your house. I've also always found great lists/ads in our local free "Town family magazine" that I pick up at the grocery store on the free racks -- check to see if you have anything similar. Ask around for recommendations. Maybe check the tribal area here for like-minded mommy recommendations in your local area.

From there, eliminate the ones that don't meet your basic criteria. That will probably still leave a long list if you are in a metro area -- within 1 mile of our home in suburban San Diego there are 25 preschools! Then you make phone calls and ask for basic information and visit (without kid) those that seem likely matches.

[eepster]

Signs outside churches. In our area most pre-Ks rent space from churches even though most are not religious. That was how I started my search and it let me see a wide variety of educational philosophies.

After I decided I like the Montessori philosophy, but couldn't afford the location near us, I looked specifically for Montessori schools. I found the one I'm sending DS to at http://www.amshq.org/schools.htm

One of the main things to look out for is daycare centers that call themselves schools. There are a lot that do that.

If you really would prefer to HS her she might be happy with just getting to attend classes like Music Together, etc. My towns recreation dept offers several for kids 3 and up (If they had offered more than just one for under 3 yo I would have just done that instead of sending DS to school.)

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Evan&Anna's_Mom

and visit (without kid)

It certainly is easier to talk if you don't bring the LO along, but I can be hard to schedual babysitters and one may wish to visit several. All the ones I visited were OK with DS coming along, so if you can not find someone the watch you LO then you should still go visit and take her. In the end I was actually kind of nervous that the one I finally chose for DS was the only one he hadn't seen and we did a second visit with DH and DS along to make sur they were both comfortable with it.