Please help! My daughter just turned 4 months, and I didn't feel that looking now was necessary. That was until a family member informed me that she got her twins (who are now almost 4) on a waiting list for preschool when they were 4 months old. How do I go about finding the best one in my area (Libertyville/Mundelein) and how early do I need to start looking? If anyone has any specific suggestions for schools in my area, please let me know that too. Thanks in advance for the advice!
J.,
I know the "fad" is to have a child registered for a fancy
pre-school by age 1, but I feel it is mostly up to the
child and parent. I did find that most children already
know how to read before kindergarten, so save yourself a
little heartache and move on that way before she goes.
My daughter who is 5 yrs old went to Cherished Children in Mundelein. We had her there since she was about one & a half. I really like the center she learned quite a bit. They also have additional activities available (for a price, of course). She had taken Ballet, Gymnastics, Art (Lil Strokes of Genius) and even spanish class. They also went on field trips. I highly recommend them. I think we had her on their waiting list for about six months but we got the spot when we needed it.
406 Washington Blvd.
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
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C.
This is an excellent preschool in Vernon Hills:
Christ Lutheran Preschool
595 N Deerpath Dr
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
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The teachers all have degrees and most of them have been there for years and years.
Typically registration for a regular school-year preschool (not in a daycare center) is in January if you want to start the following September in my area. Try to call and schedule visits in October and early November if you want to get a good feel for how the kids and teachers relate to each other. The kids should be adjusted to being in school and know the routine by this point, but it's before everything starts to get crazy for the holidays.
If you're planning to start your daughter in preschool when she turns three, the best time to visit is the fall before she goes because there is a high turnover in early childhood positions and you want to meet the director and teachers who will be there when your daughter goes.
Talk to the moms in your neighborhood and see which schools they like and why. You want to find one that is the best fit for your daughter, not just the one that is supposedly the best in the area. Preschool age kids still learn best through playing, so I would steer clear of any program that seems overly academic or competitive. That's too much pressure to put on a child that young.
Relax and enjoy your time with your daughter while she's still a baby. You have plenty of time to find the right preschool for her, and she will have 18 or so years to go to school.
