Ames preschools?

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 10:00 AM

Normally I wouldn't post this here, but this is the biggest forum of Ames residents I can think of... so sorry, but I'm putting it out here!

Our daughter will be 3 next summer. Right now she's at an in-home daycare/nanny situation, but our provider is moving next summer. So, our choices are:

1. Find another in-home provider who will take her to a dedicated preschool (like Bethesda or Adventures or the Waldorf one) three days a week; or

2. Find a dedicated preschool/daycare center where she's there all 5 days a week.

Does anyone have any recommendations on which worked best for their child? Any recommendations on good preschools in Ames? We're leaning towards option 2, but are very open.

**3TrueFans** · 09-06-2012, 10:05 AM

We did the in-home thing when my son was little, up until about age 4 I believe, and then he went to Childserve for a year. We had a positive experience with Childserve, more kids to interact with, more structure compared to an in-home (although our in-home was certified and did follow a curriculum).

**VeloClone** · 09-06-2012, 10:07 AM

My first daughter went to Woodstock (on 13th just east of Grand with the crayon fence), but since that was 20 some years ago I don't think that is there anymore.

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 10:13 AM

3TrueFans - we have some friends whose daughter goes there, too! One of our options was taking her to an in-home and doing one of the 3-days just for next year, then move to ChildServe when she's 4 and they start preschool. I also read that Eagle's Loft and Formative Years each have really good preschools, too, that are NAEC-accredited. So I'm really torn.

Velo - they took down the crayon fence, so I wonder if that's still open!! I loved that fence when I was little!

**VeloClone** · 09-06-2012, 10:16 AM

I can't be sure but I think I remember hearing that it closed around the same time the fence was removed.

It sure was easy to find. If anyone asked, you just mentioned nothing but the fence and they immediately knew what you were talking about.

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

I can't be sure but I think I remember hearing that it closed around the same time the fence was removed.

It sure was easy to find. If anyone asked, you just mentioned nothing but the fence and they immediately knew what you were talking about.

Also, you could say it was "right down the street from the people on Grand with the crazy front yard."

**VeloClone** · 09-06-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Angie

Also, you could say it was "right down the street from the people on Grand with the crazy front yard."

It's one thing to be crazy, it's quite another to make sure everyone knows you are crazy.

**cychosis** · 09-06-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Angie

3TrueFans - we have some friends whose daughter goes there, too! One of our options was taking her to an in-home and doing one of the 3-days just for next year, then move to ChildServe when she's 4 and they start preschool. I also read that Eagle's Loft and Formative Years each have really good preschools, too, that are NAEC-accredited. So I'm really torn.

Velo - they took down the crayon fence, so I wonder if that's still open!! I loved that fence when I was little!

Make sure you visit all the ones you're thinking about having your kids attend. It's good to get a feel for the teachers and the room environment. You'll be able to narrow down your list and make your decision from there.

**Rabbuk** · 09-06-2012, 10:23 AM

Send her to chinese gymanstics school. Is that option out?

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by cychosis

Make sure you visit all the ones you're thinking about having your kids attend. It's good to get a feel for the teachers and the room environment. You'll be able to narrow down your list and make your decision from there.

Thanks! Is November or so too early to do this? I was thinking about maybe touring a few starting in a few months, but I know some places don't let you enroll until late spring, so I didn't know what to expect or plan. I know I'm thinking waaaaay ahead about this, but she's already really interested in school-type of stuff, so I want to find a good fit.

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

Send her to chinese gymanstics school. Is that option out?

Judging from the way she acted when we took her to one gymnastics class earlier this summer, they wouldn't want her.

**VeloClone** · 09-06-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

Send her to chinese gymanstics school. Is that option out?

This one?

Chow's Gymnastics & Dance Institute

**Cybirdy** · 09-06-2012, 10:53 AM

Many of the pre-school only programs start registration in late Jan, so Nevember isn't too early.

Our neighbor sends their 2 year old to ACPC and their daughter loves it. They have preschool programs, but don't see online that they are accredited (they may be).

I've had friends use Eagle's Loft and it seems like they were happy with it. One of my neighbors was on the board of directors when her kids were there and another neighbor works with them on their accreditation. I think I've met the director, she has kids in my kids' classes.

We did pre-school only with our kids since I stay at home. My older two did the 4 year old program at Bethesda (we didn't live here when my oldest was 3 and due to health issues we waited with our middle daughter and didn't do 3-yr-old preschool). Many of our neighbors send their kids to Bethesda.

I think when our youngest is 3 I will look into preschool at Northwood (the converted elementary by the mall that is now preschool-early kindergarten). My middle daughter did early kindergarten there and I was impressed with the program. For 4 year old preschool for her I will look into the Gilbert preschool that is associated with the school district. I know the teacher and she got their program accredited last year. That is almost 3 years away, though. ;) I am hoping by that time they will have expanded their programs--we are such a young, growing district.

Good luck! I have friends that send their kids all over--St. Cecilia, St. John's, Bethesda, even the Union school. I've never heard a bad thing, but experiences have varied.

c

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Cybirdy

Many of the pre-school only programs start registration in late Jan, so Nevember isn't too early.

Our neighbor sends their 2 year old to ACPC and their daughter loves it. They have preschool programs, but don't see online that they are accredited (they may be).

I've had friends use Eagle's Loft and it seems like they were happy with it. One of my neighbors was on the board of directors when her kids were there and another neighbor works with them on their accreditation. I think I've met the director, she has kids in my kids' classes.

We did pre-school only with our kids since I stay at home. My older two did the 4 year old program at Bethesda (we didn't live here when my oldest was 3 and due to health issues we waited with our middle daughter and didn't do 3-yr-old preschool). Many of our neighbors send their kids to Bethesda.

I think when our youngest is 3 I will look into preschool at Northwood (the converted elementary by the mall that is now preschool-early kindergarten). My middle daughter did early kindergarten there and I was impressed with the program. For 4 year old preschool for her I will look into the Gilbert preschool that is associated with the school district. I know the teacher and she got their program accredited last year. That is almost 3 years away, though. ;) I am hoping by that time they will have expanded their programs--we are such a young, growing district.

Good luck! I have friends that send their kids all over--St. Cecilia, St. John's, Bethesda, even the Union school. I've never heard a bad thing, but experiences have varied.

c

Thank you so much! What's crazy, too, is that these places fill up really quickly. Our daughter has done drop-in care at Eagle's Loft and really liked it, so I'm comfortable there, but I want to make sure to really get a good feel for everything. I like the free-learn idea of the Waldorf school for some parts, but I also know that it can delay math skills a bit. We don't have a whole ton of friends with children, so this is all new!

**3TrueFans** · 09-06-2012, 11:03 AM

My son went to Northwood for a year and it was good, more school like atmosphere which I think prepared him for Kindergarten, but you have to be 4 by September to start.

**Angie** · 09-06-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

My son went to Northwood for a year and it was good, more school like atmosphere which I think prepared him for Kindergarten, but you have to be 4 by September to start.

Yeah, and we're late July, so we definitely wouldn't be able to do that for an extra year. But again, maybe that's a good reason to do in-home next year with a 3-day.