Preschools in the Capital District Area
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Capital District KidsOutAndAbout Preschool Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Are you planning to have your children attend preschool this year? Or are you thinking about whether it's the best option for your family? Do you have a friend who is thinking about preschool for her kids? If any of these is true, this special annual edition of our newsletter is for YOU! We provide not only options for where to start your search in our area, but also some tips for what to
think about and what to look for as you start the process.
KidsOutAndAbout has a large list of local preschools that have posted to our site; this list is provided in the LISTS/Preschools & Childcare list linked from the menu on every page of
KidsOutAndAbout. In this newsletter, first, we have some featured preschools with descriptions of their programs. Next, we provide a list of links to some additional schools. And last, we provide tips for helping you evaluate preschools when you visit, to see if they are right for you.
Remember: SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER and forward it along! If you or one of your friends is in the market for a preschool, it's a handy
reference.
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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Learning through age appropriate, child specific academics, sensory/motor development and play! Our passion is to provide a sensory/motor enriched environment where children can learn and work towards achieving their developmental milestones! Along with our
wonderful helper ants/educators, Antzy Pantz Preschool is owned and operated by two pediatric Occupational Therapists with a passion for providing age appropriate academics through sensory/motor exploration and play! Interested in learning more about Antzy Pantz? Please feel free to get in touch and one of our helper ants will get back to you as soon as possible!
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Summer Camp registration now open!
Albany Academy stands as the first and only independent, preparatory, Pre-K through post-graduate school welcoming students from Albany, Saratoga, Chatham, Bethlehem, NY, and the entire New York’s Capital Region. At Albany Academy, we offer an innovative model of private education, with co-educational learning in the Lower and Upper Schools and single-sex learning in the Middle School. Our academic programs and curriculum are designed to develop
diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers.
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We offer preschool classes for 3, 4 and 5 year olds at a competitive rate. Our program focuses on working with families to assess strengths and growth opportunities and tailoring lesson plans to meet individual needs. We focus on preparing children and
their families for Kindergarten by offering the best possible start to school.
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Doane Stuart School is the Capital Region’s premier co-educational preparatory school for Preschool through Grade 12 and is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Doane Stuart’s acclaimed Pre-K program nurtures a love of learning during these formative years, helping children build confidence, develop strong social skills, and prepare for a smooth transition to kindergarten. With small class sizes and individualized attention, students thrive academically — many begin reading and develop elementary-level math skills.
Families are often amazed by the depth of learning, from hands-on science and early literacy to collaborative projects and presentations. Most importantly, children gain enthusiasm for school and confidence in themselves.
Discover the joy of learning at Doane Stuart. Schedule a tour today to experience the difference.
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Parker’s progressive approach to early education embraces the premise that children are intrinsically eager to understand the world. A child’s Pre-K years offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for learning. During this period, the child’s growth is rapid
and foundational. Curiosity runs high, and discovery is its own reward. The Parker Pre-K program takes advantage of these inquisitive years through project based experiential learning on a 77 acres campus.
Join us for a closer look at the program in action! Register for the Open House on February 12th @ 9am, or schedule a personal tour.
Also join us for the Forest Toddler Program, Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30am-12pm!
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Thinking about PreK for your 3- or 4-year-old? We invite you to come tour Saratoga Independent School and experience our warm, joyful, and award-winning multiage PreK program. With small class sizes, two teachers in every room, hands-on thematic learning,
weekly Spanish and music, and a 60-acre campus for outdoor exploration, our students thrive through play, discovery, and meaningful connection.
During your visit, you’ll see how our teachers nurture intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development through engaging activities, circle time, and daily outdoor play.
We’d love to welcome your family—schedule a tour today and apply for the 2026–2027 (and beyond) school year! www.siskids.org/tour
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Hetty's Brilliant Minds is a faith based childcare center that offers innovative, year round, before school, full day and after school educational preschool as well as infant care. It is at the heart of our vision to offer a program that addresses the whole
child. The mission of our childcare center is to provide a safe, loving, and encouraging environment that not only meets children's developmental and academic needs, but also their spiritual needs. As a provider of a creative learning environment, it is our mission to instill confidence, self-worth, and Christian morals in every child. The center will provide a faith based curriculum taught by certified teachers with an emphasis on creative learning and development through various activities
such as: games for problem solving, reading, listening, speaking and writing to strengthen vocabulary, creative and discovery learning, literacy development, structured learning in problem solving and logical thinking. We strive to NURTURE,…
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For over six decades, Niskayuna Cooperative Nursery School (NCNS) has been a pillar of early childhood education, proudly serving families in Niskayuna, Schenectady, Albany counties, and beyond. Our affordable preschool model is rich in history and reflects
our unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds in an uplifting nursery school community. Using a play-based learning model fosters a lifelong love of learning.
In a co-op community preschool, parents are not just spectators in their child's educational journey; they are ACTIVE participants, working with the teacher to run the preschool. Every family contributes to making up the magic that adds to the NCNS school culture, keeping it an affordable preschool rich in interpersonal experiences, steeped in meaningful connections.
This hands-on approach allows parents to witness their child's first steps into the world of learning. Parents foster a deeper understanding of their child's unique learning styles and preferences. It's a…
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Our World Montessori is a diverse and vibrant community of learners. Our children explore and work together in a warm and nurturing home-like environment. Our World was founded in 2004 by American Montessori Society-credentialed teacher, with 20+ years of
Montessori teaching experience, Jennifer Graham. It is now led by American Montessori Society-credentialed Head of School Diane Lanci. Our World Montessori is a thriving school serving and educating over 60 children from 18 months through kindergarten.
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RiverRun Montessori is staffed with experienced and caring teachers who design hands-on and thoughtful lessons for children ages 3 through grade 6. A carefully prepared environment enhances self-confidence and self-discipline; it feeds intellectual and
emotional growth and nurtures the whole child.
RiverRun follows the educational philosophies and methods of Maria Montessori - practicing the ‘study of life’; implementing a whole-child approach that considers the intellectual, physical, creative, and spiritual dimensions of each student; and providing an individualized educational experience.
The traditional Montessori curriculum fosters student initiative in the learning experience, hands-on learning with authentic Montessori materials, students are lead to immersion in thematic cultural and scientific studies, and focuses on achieving social harmony within its community environment. Elementary students work research-style, either independently or in small groups. They move from…
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What kind of preschool best suits your child?
Those nice parenting articles always tell you to make sure you choose a preschool that best suits your child's personality--but then rarely provide any specifics on what will give you those clues. Children vary widely in their responses to different situations. Think
about where your child falls on the following dimensions, and think about your own personal preferences for what a preschool experience should be like for your child. Then, when you visit preschools, ask the administrators (and observe yourself) about how well the school's philosophy matches your children's needs. - Playing and learning: Do these seem like separate times at the preschool, or are play and learning time integrated?
- The setting: Is your goal to get your child used
to a school setting, or is it important that the setting feel more like home?
- Specific learning goals: Do you have academic milestones or religious needs that you would like met? Think about this before you set out, and refine your thoughts as you visit more schools.
- Introverts and extroverts: If your child falls on one end of introvert-extrovert scale, it's important to realize this and see what would be expected of them at each preschool (especially important for the
introverts).
- Active play: Does the school provide resources for physically active play that match your child's needs?
- Rest: Kids have different rhythms and requirements for rest. Think about what your child's specific needs are to ensure that they will be accommodated.
- Structure: Some kids do better with lots of structure, while other families feel that they already have enough structure and prefer that a preschool ensure lots of time for unstructured play and
interaction.
- Discipline: What happens when kids misbehave at school? Does the school's philosophy match yours?
- Safety: Safety is a big concern. Think carefully about your standards for keeping kids safe, and observe how the school meets your expectations.
If your child attends (or attended) a great preschool that is not currently on our big preschool list (the easiest way to find out is to search in the big search bar on the top of every KidsOutAndAbout page), please
email me back and we'll contact them immediately to see if they'd like to be on this list! |
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