Preschools

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for general info on preschools, and recommendations for good local schools in the Camberville-Arlington area. I've got a child that will be turning 2 this January, and I'm confused about the "2.9 years old" cut-off. Does that mean 2 years, nine months, or should I convert 12 months to base 10 and then multiply by 9? I'm overthinking this because with a kid turning 2.9 right around September 2009 start dates, this distinction could be relevant. Also, are all schools hard and fast with this cutoff? If you know of a local school that isn't, please let me know.

Comments

[melodiousjoy.livejournal.com]

2.9 means 2 years and 9 months. This confused me too when I first moved here. This is for licensing, the state defines preschool age as beginning at 2.9. I would assume its a hard and fast rule if you are looking into licensed programs.

[turil.livejournal.com]

The age minimums are not a completely rigid rule, unless, perhaps, you are dealing with a municipal school that transitions into a city kindergarten (though I don't know that for sure).

I don't have any specific school to recommend, except for saying that you're far, far better off with a non-profit center, and even better off with a coop (where parents work a couple of hours a week in the classroom). I've worked at Harvard Yard Child Care Center (only open to Harvard affiliates, unfortunately, and extremely expensive) and it was very good for the most part.

But really, you want to pay most attention to the teachers who will be in the classroom your kid is in, rather than the center as a whole, since you can easily have fantastic teachers in a less than fantastic center, and vice versa.

I highly recommend NOT giving your kid to the for-profit chain center in David Square (the one that is next to Au Bon Pain, and used to be right Horizons). They have extremely high teacher turnover, and horrible corporate policies for curriculum and over work their teachers like there's no tomorrow!.

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

Arlington has a publication about preschools and early education programs.
More info here: http://www.arlingtonfamilyconnection.org/options.html

Are you on the SomervilleMoms yahoo group? The prschool topic comes up a lot, The archives are private so you'd have to join (send an intro message), but once you've joined you can do a keyword search:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/somervillemoms/

[angerona.livejournal.com]

2 years 9 months :)

If you live in Cambridge, Cambridge preschools are great, although one never hears about them much, and the wait list is very long.

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Two years + nine months. I'm not sure how close to the line your child is, but if he or she is within a couple of months, and is pretty damned bright, you might be able to make a convincing case - if they're potty trained. If not, forget about it.

[masswich.livejournal.com]

2 years 9 months, and in my experience there is not much discretion. I too recommend coops if you have time- they are cheaper and the parent involvement is a big plus. The Agassiz Preschool in Porter Square allows kids starting at 2.2, which is nice.

Childrens-Village.net

[boywonder.livejournal.com]

Your child should be just the right age to enter Preschool.

Here's a great one (Children's Village) right off the bike path and over the bridge in Fresh Pond. It's been there for over 30 years. Has a HUGE outside area and great teachers with lots of families from Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington and elsewhere.

Childrens-Village.net (http://www.childrens-village.net)