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It’s that time of year again. We all need to start the planning process for the 2008-09 Weekday School Year, like immediately! Most preschools start accepting applications in mid-January and mail out their acceptance letters in February/March. If you are a first-time stay-at-home mom and you have a child turning one year by the summer, then this applies to you. You are probably thinking to yourself, “you have to be kidding me! People actually send their children to school this young?” The answer is yes, especially in Charlotte. We stay-at-home moms need our personal time – ha, ha, just kidding! This is all for the benefit of our children and their enhanced education. Putting your child in preschool will actually help with his socialization skills, self-confidence and learning ability. I remember when my neighbor told me about this Charlotte phenomenon and I was very skeptical. I was a new stay-at-home mom and this was my job to teach all of these things to my child, not to mention Ansley was all of nine months old when this process began! But I could run up and hug this neighbor every time I see her. This was the best decision I have made for her and I am doing the same with my other three children. They love school and we couldn’t be happier for a variety of reasons.
I have yet to find a complete list of weekday schools in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. But here is a short list of schools that I have friends who attend and love them. Let me emphasize that this is just a hint of preschools primarily in Center City and South Charlotte (trust me, there are tons more!):
–Carmel Baptist Weekday School
–Calvary Child Development Center
–Charlotte Preparatory School
–Christ Church Preschool & Kindergarten
–First Presbyterian Weekday School
–Little Church on the Lane
–Myers Park Baptist Through-the-Week School
–Myers Park Presbyterian Weekday School
–Myers Park Methodist Weekday School
–Providence United Methodist Weekday School
–Sharon Baptist Weekday School
–Sharon Presbyterian Weekday School
–Sharon United Methodist Weekday School
–St. Gabriel’s Cradle
–St. John’s Episcopal Preschool
For a more extensive search, I would recommend you start by looking at some of the weekday schools close by. There is something to be said about a neighborhood school, even at this young age. Plus, you don’t want to spend half of your free time driving to and from, which is usually a skimpy three hour stretch, max anyway. Make sure you interview the director, teachers and take a tour of the school. All of the schools will be happy to accommodate you and will look forward to the chance to sell their school to you. Make sure you inquire about licensing and rating information provided by the North Carolina Division of Child Development of the Department of Health and Human Services. Look at the teacher/student ratio and the curriculum. Many schools offer foreign languages which I think is huge. Most importantly, ask around. Ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. – word of mouth is one of the most important references you can get. Make sure you get on a few waiting lists because these schools fill up quickly. You may get in, but you have to be on the list.
Good luck! Feel free to help me out by adding your preschool, a blurb on why you like it and their web address, please! Thanks!
27 comments
Jen is so right! You must start now! My girls love school and do things there that we would never be able to do at home…finger painting with twins!!! It’s the best thing money can buy.I would have to say to look into Covenant Presbyterian Church, great program there.
Shows just how lazy moms really are in todays world.
Come on, do you think that’s a little harsh? We’re talking about 3-6 hours a week in most toddler programs.Jen P, you forgot Holy Comforter Weekday School on Park Road – great program! We love it!
Both of my children started in the toddler program at Sharon Presbyterian. It is a WONDERFUL school and we have met so many friends there.
Lazy – who are you kidding. Most of my friends have their children in preschool and they are very hardworking. Mine are in preschool and that gives me 6 hours a week to go to the grocery, do laundry, straighten up the house and any other errands that I might have that would be made more difficult taking two of my three(elementary school)children along. I have a great appreciation for the moms that can do everything that needs to be done and have their children with them while doing it. I applaud them and I would never degrade them by saying they are crazy or doing a disservice to their children by not having them in school. More power to you!! To those moms who have made a choice to have their children in preschool – keep up the hard work. We all make choices that are in the best interest of our families and we should be supportive of all of those. You never know when you may need one of these “lazy” moms. I am sure they will be there to help you!!
I totally agree, we are definitely not lazy. My son has gone to preschool since he was one and I have used that time to run errands and do things to keep my house in order. That way when I am with my son I can focus on him and not what I need to get done all the time. He has loved it from day one, and I lan on sending my youngest next year. He attends Myers Park Pres Weekday School, and I highly recommend it.
I just put my 3 year old in school this fall for 2 days a week. I’m of the mindset to keep them home longer. 1 is way too young. Also, I am amazed at parents who say their child loves school but when asked, the child would prefer to stay at home. Yes, as a mom, we need time away from our child but what is more important is being at home with your chid, doing things with them. There is plenty of time for school.
In the University area, the ones I keep hearing recommendations for that are church based are: Stonebridge, University City United Methodist, Mallard Creek Presbyterian and Hickory Grove North’s preschools. I plan on visiting all of these for observation before I make the plunge though.
I’m a first-timer and am prepared for the preschool tours, etc, this month. My child will be 2 in the fall. However, I’m a little afraid we won’t get into something given the preference order most of these preschools have–current kids, sibs, church members and then the rest of us (We’re Catholic–and unfortunately, not at St. Gabes)…Is it true that if you start early, get on a waiting list, you’ll get in–eventually? You could say it’s a numbers game, but at $100 per application and most non refundable, that can get costly…Any advice on that?
I must say that I am offended that one would call me lazy because I send my child to preschool. I feel each family has different needs. My child goes to preschool for the obvious socialization benefit. I work, volunteer, and clean while she is there. (I have never been called lazy!) I feel blessed to have found a place where I know she is loved, safe, and learning through organized play. (Carmel Baptist Wee School)
I would like to request that you turn on the email feature for the posts. There’s a lot of interesting articles that I would love to email to friends! Thank you!
I am offended too that someone assumes that I do not think it is important to spend time with my children and stay home with them. I love my children more than anything, but I believe preschool is giving him lessons that I cannot teach. I use them time to work from home and keep the house in order. I know it is a individual decision, but no one should assume things about other moms who choose to send their kids.
My daughter is at South Mecklenburg Presbyterian in the Ballantyne area. We love it! They have a play to learn teaching philosophy and the children are so happy there. Great facilities- rooms and playground. We were at United Faith last year and the playground there was pathetic and she couldn’t stand the outside time.
To the woman who is worried she won’t get in anywhere because this is her first, I assure you that you will. Last year I was a first timer, and I only put in applications at three schools; Calvary CDC, Myers Park Methodist and Myers Park Presbyterian. I was accepted into all three programs, although I was on the waitlist at Myers Park Methodist for a couple of months. I researched all three programs thoroughly, and all are excellent. I went with Calvary mainly because my child has a late year birthday, and their program put him with children close to his age. We love the program. I can’t recommend it enough.
Forest Hill has an excellent preschool program (located on Park Road). They also have a Mother’s Morning Out program, if preschool doesn’t seem right, but you still need a break.
Does anyone know of a good mother’s morning out in the ballantyne area? I have a 1 year old but feel we need to ease into it a little more…Thanks so much!Oh, and I doubt I’ll be “lazy” during the time he’s in the program! More like get to vacuum without holding the baby because he’s scared of the noise!
I’m not quite sure how anyone could indicate a mother was lazy for sending her child to pre-school. How is it lazy to wake the child on time, get them breakfest, dressed, hair combed, made lunch, in the car (sometimes with more than one child) and get them to school on time, go home, do earrands, cleaning, etc.) Then drive back to pick them up (on a schedule, on time) etc. Children learn wonders in pre-school as well as get a much wider audience in regards to socialization, diversity, etc. They get to play with other children, learn about sharing, taking turns, etc. I know most mom’s also teach this at home, but in my opionion pre-school is an excellent choice for any mom, stay at home or working. It’s in the best interest for the child. NOW, if I was a LAZY mom, I might sit my child in front of a television and let them watch 3-4 hours or Cartoons while I clean the house, do laundry, pay bills, shower, garden, cook, etc… Lazy, I think not. It’s an ignorant statement to make.. IMO…
Don’t forget about First Baptist Church uptown. They have a good program there.
We go to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church Preschool. They have a three day program and a four day for the four year olds. How appropriate that you posted about this as the school sent out registration packets yesterday!!!
Does anyone go to Matthews United Methodist? We had heard good things about it and got a good feeling when touring and are on the waiting list.
A fantastic program for a 9-1 school experience is – TOT Time at Church at Charlotte. I checked out 7 programs and this one was the best for our family.
My son is in his second year at Myers Park Pres WDS and LOVES it. He’s almost 3.5 years old and is an only child up until this point. He goes 2 mornings a week and has consistent interaction with a peer group. I’m not overly focused on the “academic” component to preschool b/c we do all that kind of stuff at home, but the social opportunities are unique and highly valued by my husband and I. And the truth is, I’m a better mother because of the 6 hours of time I get most every week to attend to managing my home, getting in some exercise and sometimes getting a pedicure without dragging my son along. If that makes me lazy, so be it.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion!!!! No one is better than the other. It would be a dull world if everyone had the same beliefs/thoughts.
Carmel Presbyterian Weekday School has such a great family atmosphere. My boys can’t wait to go to school each day to play with their friends. The focus is to help them adjust socially and the education will come a little easier.
How sad to put a one year old in preschool…..what is the point of having kids if you don’t spend time with them?My daughter started preschool when she was 3 and even then it is for 2 days a week. We have precious memories together over the last 3 years that you cannot trade for all the free time in the world. It goes by so fast that they are in school before you know it anyway and then all you have left is regrets if you didn’t spend that time with your child.I am so blessed and grateful that I am a mom.
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If you are looking for a preschool that has flexible enrollment and offers 5 day options, please check Bridge the Gap Preschool out. We are located in North Charlotte at the Charlotte/Huntersville line. Beginning January 2015 we will also offer am and pm options.