Seeking Advice on Preschools from Fairfax/Grove to Downtown

Hi Kim,
Contrary to what the other posters think, research has shown that children who attend preschool - even for one year of pre-K - do significantly better in school. And just ask any kindergarten teacher if she can tell the difference between children who have or haven't been to preschool. The benefits are social and behavioral, on one level, and attitudinal on another - children are excited, not afraid, about what a school day has to offer. This is the kind of attitude you want.

Okay, I'm off my rant. You should tour some schools to narrow the type of school you're looking for - there is a very wide variety, and no, they don't all teach the same things. There are plenty of preschools in the greater Fairfax area, but since you're a working mom and will need full time at some point, I would strongly recommend that you take a look at the JCC. Don't bother with preschools attached to private elementary schools unless you're going to go to private school later on. And the thing about waiting lists - with sibling preference, some schools are really full years ahead. This is still the reality - preschools are small!

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find a lovely school for your baby.

S. Eiges
L.A. School Scout
www.LAschoolscout.com

It depends a lot on what you are looking for in a preschool. Do you want a play based preschool or one that starts in with letters and numbers and is more educational in that way? How many hours do you want them in school? There are definitely schools for working families and then families who don't need as much. Get the Fiona Whitney book on preschools. THat will give you a nice over view and lots of info on each school

Let me just chime in on the don't worry side! I have a 3 and 5 year old. We started touring preschools when my first was just around a year old because I was spurred into the same panic as you are experiencing. I am glad I looked around because I found that the schools that matched my family's needs were not the ones with the pre-birth waiting lists! It is easy to get caught up into the "best preschool" frenzy, but really, it comes down to what is right for you and your little one. That may be the cool school, it may not. I agree with the comment to check out the various religious schools, because they often provide an incredibly nurturing environment, but again, it depends on you and your child! Good luck and don't worry that it wasn't yet on your radar, you have a solid year or so to figure this all out!

Most schools have a long waiting list for kids under 3..but at 3 i think it's shorter..b/c i put my son's name on the list for Kid's Klub in Pasadena and he's 3 ..the wait was only a couple of months and he starts soon but he had to be potty trained..i think all preschools want them potty trained by 3 and it doesn't cost as much to have them in school at that age..i'm excited about the school..they seem like really sweet people there and the school looks fabulous..i didn't get any bad vibes there i usually have great intuition. You should check them out.

Hi Kim,

If you're interested in exploring Jewish preschools in the Fairfax/Grove/Downtown areas, I can help. I'd also suggest looking into Mommy and Me groups as a way to determine which preschools communities feel right to you. You have lots of options, and most places are not experiencing serious capacity issues this year, so no need to panic about availablity! Feel free to contact me anytime; the Concierge service is complimentary.

All the best,
D.

D. Markovic
Concierge for Jewish Education
Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater LA
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____@____.com
http://www.jkidla.org
www.twitter.com/jkidla

Apparently there are still a lot of mommies who saw Baby Boom and take it seriously! No you're not too late, and there are all sorts of alternatives for you. First, if you are religiously affiliated, there are lots of preschool choices. For example, Temple Beth Am's Pressman Academy and Temple Isaiah have excellent preschools. The presbyterian preschools are outstanding. The Jewish Community Center on Fairfax and Olympic is open to all students. Their ratio is approximately 60/40 Jewish. It is a true community school. If you are not interested in a religious-affiliated institution, there are many independent preschools, including Center for Early Education on Melrose and Alfred. These are costly and there are waiting lists. Is it worth it? Well, some folks feel that the networking opportunities of such a school are worth every penny. If you're in "the business," and the status of having your child in the school will provide a benefit in that regard, then it's an option. Some folks find the concept of "my child goes to bleh bleh preschool" revolting. The children will learn the same anywhere. As long as they are in a clean, supervised and friendly environment, you shouldn't have to pay a king's ransom with occasional supplemental financial commitments in order to have your child learn to socialize with other kids. The bigger issue down the line will be whether your child is potty-trained and which schools will take cutie if he/she isn't yet potty-trained. The benchmark is usually 2 years, 9 months. My kids were not potty-trained at the start of school, but the school helped. Some schools are very rigid about this. Take a look at the parents and see if you will get along with them. Preschools are playdate factories, and if you don't want your child socializing with these kids, or you have nothing in common with the parents, the school is not for you. Best of luck!

I personally think the mania about preschool is insane. Certainly you want to find a nurturing, fun place for your child, but I truly don't think preschool is going to make or break your child's academic career. It's really more about learning social skills and learning to enjoy learning. I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old, and we didn't start looking at preschools until our first was 2. We didn't get on any wait lists. There were only a couple in our neighborhood us that had wait lists, and we didn't care for them. There are tons a preschools out there, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.