Seven years ago, I became a mom to a tiny baby who was only 5 and a half pounds and almost one month premature.  It was at that point when I realized how much I knew about having a child, and it was the approximately nothing.  Yes, I knew how to feed him and how to change his diaper,  but when it came to thinking about what my child care options were and later preschool, I truly knew nothing.  For example, the fact that there were all different types of nannies - live in, live out, part time, full time - and that nannies were different from babysitter who were different from au pairs.  And later, someone clued me in to the fact that many preschools on Long Island hold registration almost a full year before your child will actually attend school there and although it seems a little bit crazy, this is usually the point in time when preschools are offering their lowest prices.  And then there was the fact that there are different types of preschools that operate according to  different philosophies of learning and teaching.  These were some of the the many reasons that LIParentSource.com was born in October of 2006 - I knew that there had to be a better and easier way for families to learn what I had learned.

Choosing child care or a preschool can be a daunting task, with so many different options to choose from.  Registering for preschool so far in advance is difficult because it is hard to imagine what your child will be like in one year's time.  Yet, you don't want to skip preschool registration alltogther and later see that your child is absolutely ready to go.  Start researching your options early and take your time so that you do have choices! We have incredible child care and preschools in our community and it is worth doing the research to find the fit for your family, and most importantly, for your child.

You can find some great tips and questionnaires on how to go about finding the right school for your child and the questions to ask the directors. There is also a list of some of the preschool philosophies which is important when trying to figure out the right match for your child. Click to find a complete list of Preschool Programs & Daycare >>

Your child spends the majority of their day in school, even in preschool, so be sure to communicate with your teacher and principal or school director and follow the notices that come home from the PTA, School Board, administration, etc. to stay informed.  As a parent, you should never be afraid to ask for help or share your concerns if you do not feel your child's needs are being met. After all, your child's education is the key to opening up many doors for them in the future.

Keep reading for more great information! As always, we welcome your comments, questions and feedback, just send an email to us at info@liparentsource.com.  Have a great week!

We have fantastic guest blog posts this week from local business about choosing a preschool.  Click on the titles below for more information on each topic....

• Choosing a Preschool from Dr. Rhya Jerrold, M.S.Ed., Director of Early Childhood Education at the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview
• What is a co-operative based preschool? from Francine Touliatos Maione, President of the Parent Board at Intercommunity Nursery School in Lynbrook
• What do you ask when choosing a preschool? from Kim Schepps, Chairperson of the Parent Committee at The Early Childhood Learning Center at Temple Beth David in Commack
• Choosing quality child care from Bright Horizons of Woodbury
• Au Pairs as a child care option from Lori Brust, Local Child Care Coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair
• Interviewing a caregiver from Selena Fass, owner of Absolute Best Care in Syosset & East Hampton

For more information on any of these topics, contact the contributors directly - their contact information can be found in our Resource Directory >>.  We thank all of our contributors very much for all of the amazing information they provide us with!

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything.

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

LOCAL RESOURCES | PARENT PERKS DISCOUNTS | NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

Last week we announced our giveaway of tickets for a fantastic event.  Have you heard about the KISS Program, run by the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview? KISS stands for Kids In Special Services and the program provides services to high functioning children with learning and developmental disabilities.  The goal is to create a nurturing environment and community by providing a comprehensive range of programs for toddlers through adulthood, allowing each person to be happy and reach his or her own potential.  The KISS Program offers programs like school vacation & holiday programs, classes, summer programs and more and parents who have been a part of the program have only the best things to say about it.  On February 6, from 8-11pm, KISS will be holding The 4th Annual Bowling for Kiss Classic at AMF Syosset Lanes.  Bowling, dinner, drinks & raffles - it's a super fun night.  We want to send one couple to the event, so visit our Contest page to find out how you can win these tickets! You can still enter, but time is ticking.....

Click HERE for a full listing of preschools & childcare by category