Moms Talk Q&A

Moms Talk Q&A is a weekly column for you and members of the Alexandria Patch Moms Council to answer question, give advice and start a dialogue about being a parent in Alexandria

Last week, we asked the question: How do you choose the best preschool for your child? Is it about the location, hours, before- and aftercare, programs, age, teachers, potty training or something else?

Here’s what some of our Moms Council members had to say.

Jen Desautels, a mom and The Juicebox Diaries columnist:

Preschool seems like eons away when you are focused on making it through the first few months of your child's life.  And then before you know it, you look at your child and they are two or three or even four and itching for more- more books, more storytime, more friends, more activity and you realize that you are going to have to let go of that control that has been yours and yours alone for the last couple of years.

And then... you have to plow through the preschool process. In our area it is not as simple as saying, "Hey, I like that church school up the road and Sally from next year has been going there and makes some pretty awesome art projects. So I think I will just enroll Johnny there." It never happens that way. In fact, if you miss the deadline for applying, you have to sit on the bottom of a heavy waitlist until you reapply the next year. But even before applying you have to narrow down your choices of programs.

Find at least three schools that match most of your criteria. You want a school nearby so that you have sense of community with the other parents. You want your child to be able to join in on playdates on non-school days and it is always a treat to run into one of their classmates (and parent) at a local playground. If you pick a school a ways out of the neighborhood, you run the risk of your child's school "community" being farther away then you probably want.

The age you put your kid in preschool is up to you. It would seem easier to get them in at two and then not worry about it again, but actually there are very few two year old programs in our area so your chance of actually being accepted into a program increases as your child gets older and the school options grow.

Consider the hours that the school runs. Morning is better because it allows your child to come home after lunch and take a long nap in their own bed. When visiting schools ask how they handle potty training. The programs for the younger ones will generally always work with the parents on training, helping parents and child with the transition. But most of the three year old programs in the area do require that your child be potty-trained and able to go completely on their own with no help.

Talk to other parents. They are the ones that know the most. Some schools have very active parent councils, others don't. Some are co-ops, some you are required to provide a snack for the whole class once a month, and some take your child at the school and require that your only activity be that you pay the tuition bill each month. Find what works best for you and your child because it is going to be your preschool too! 

Tara Maglio, a mom and Young Life in an Old Town columnist:

Every child and every situation is unique so this is a really personal decision. I always think it's interesting when parents ask for general feedback about a preschool because in my experience, the choice is really based on fit for your individual situation and family. For me, the top priorities were a combination of curriculum and convenience in terms of location and schedule.

My daughter was in the small daycare center where I work from the time she was an infant and I knew I wanted her to be in a larger environment by the time she was three years old (she would have been only one of two other children in this age group if she stayed at the daycare). I chose not to send her to a larger daycare because I work at a school and have the summers off. It seemed silly to pay for a year round daycare spot when she would be with me in the summers.

I had a preference for a Montessori preschool because my mother is a lifelong Montessori teacher and I needed a preschool that would accept a child who was not yet three in September (my daughter has an early October birthday). I also needed a place that offered after school care until 5 p.m. (unless I wanted to hire a nanny to pick her up from a half day program which again seemed silly because I am off in the summers) and was somewhat close to home (Old Town) or work (Georgetown).

In my dreams, the school would also be diverse and offer foreign language and music as well as after school enrichment programs. In the end, there weren't many options that fit my criteria but I was lucky enough to find school that is an excellent fit! It's not the most convenient for dropoff and pickup but, in the end, I went with a gut feeling about the place that was best for my daughter.

Next Week's Question: How did you find the best pediatrician for your child?