Preschools in the Long Island Area
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Long Island 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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Buckley Country Day School is an inclusive community that nurtures the whole child and builds a foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond. With a mission-driven curriculum, Buckley sparks curiosity and inspires a love of learning from an early age, preparing each student to thrive throughout their educational journey. Alumni consistently credit the school with igniting their lifelong curiosity. Situated on a beautiful 28-acre campus in Roslyn, Buckley welcomes children as young as nine months in its Together Time program, Pre-Nursery beginning at two years of age, and offers rolling admissions through grade seven. RSVP for an upcoming Open House to see how Buckley…
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YMCA Preschool Open Enrollment for 2026-2027 School Year! The YMCA of Long Island's Early Childhood/Preschool Programs are committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for young children to learn, grow and develop social skills. Our teachers create a warm and loving atmosphere while offering a developmentally-appropriate, engaging curriculum, where children can play, discover and learn. Age range: 18 months* - 4 years old. *Please check your local branch as ages vary per location. Learn more and register at: ymcali.org/childcare
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Oasis Day Camps offers the perfect “first camp” experience for young campers ages 3–5 who haven’t yet completed Kindergarten. Our nurturing Early Start Imagination Camp (ESIC) program provides a gentle, structured introduction to daily camp life with age-appropriate routines and activities that help children feel safe, confident, and excited each day. With a curriculum designed to strengthen social skills and both fine and gross motor development, campers enjoy a balance of outdoor play, arts and crafts, sports and games, enrichment activities, quiet time, and swim lessons. It’s the ideal foundation for joyful, screen-free summer growth. Locations in Manhattan, Westchester and Long Island.
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At Friends Academy, we blend academic rigor with Quaker values to cultivate compassionate, confident, and independent learners from Pre-K through 12th grade. Our educational philosophy is rooted in timeless principles like simplicity, integrity, equity, and stewardship, which guide students to think deeply, act with purpose, and contribute meaningfully to the world. By fostering a sense of community and valuing peace and inclusivity, we help students navigate challenges with grace and respect, preparing them to be thoughtful leaders. We emphasize real-world problem-solving and civic engagement, equipping students with the tools to make a difference. With a commitment to financial…
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We are a full day Nursery School open 7 am - 6 pm Monday thru Friday. We are family owned and operated for 21 years. Our sister school, Growing Tree Nursery School was founded 41 years ago. Growing Tree North has children ages 3 months thru 5 years old. Families may choose 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week. We have a fully equipped outdoor playground, a indoor gym, a infant gym, a STEM lab, and a children's library. There is a lot of communication between home and school including weekly newsletters, a monthly calendar and daily sheets.
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Here at Ready Set Grow, we focus on education and play in order to provide your children with the highest quality education experience while simultaneously providing them the opportunity to learn precious skills like independent thinking, socialization, creativity, critical thinking, and more. Our preschool children experience a day full of stories, math and science, imagination, physical activities and more! We have created tailored programs specifically designed to pave the foundation of your child’s future in education. We offer preschool classes for children ages 2, 3 and 4 years old.
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Pee Wee Folks has been providing childcare since 1981. Our programs have been modified to meet the ever changing needs of our community. We offer a variety of services which include a full summer camp program and a before and after school program for elementary school children. Our philosophy is to provide children with every opportunity for social, emotional and academic growth. Founded in 1981 by Michele Gembressi, we provide a safe, warm and loving environment in which children flourish and parents feel comfortable leaving their children. PeeWee Folks offers year round programs for preschool and school-aged children.
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Wind ‘N Willow is a NYS Licensed Pre-School. We have been caring for and educating young children for more than 15 years. We have 3 classrooms and we accept children starting age 18 months – 5 years old. Wind ‘N Willow is a 12-month Pre-School Learning Center. We offer a 10-month option for those families who wish to keep their children home during the summer months. We offer an early drop off at 7:30 am and a late pick up 6:00 pm. Summer Camp – 7 weeks of summer camp plus a June 2-week pre-camp
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For Over 50 years, Crestwood has been giving children the best gift of all - a fun, creative and joyful learning experience that will last a lifetime. Lifelong learning begins with our toddler, nursery, pre-k and kindergarten school programs, where our warm and nurturing faculty guides our 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds through the beginnings of cognitive and social development. Our small class size and low student/teacher ratio facilitates a stimulating environment in which a solid foundation for learning is forged. A program rich in language is the focus of our pre-school curriculum augmented by iPads, art, foreign language, music, science and physical education. Together these programs…
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Holy Angels is a child-centered, family-sensitive Catholic School. We are dedicated to the development of the whole child: intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. Our students are challenged to learn, lead, and serve as Jesus taught. Holy Angels Regional School, founded by the Holy Union Sisters in 1923 as St. Francis DeSales Catholic School, was established as a regional school in January of 1977 as an opportunity for parents in eight neighboring parishes to provide elementary education in an atmosphere of Christian concern and faith values. In the Diocese of Rockville Centre it was the second such regional school and, at present, is one of sixteen…
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The Laurel Hill School is a recognized New York State private school located in East Setauket in Long Island's western Suffolk County. Laurel Hill offers educationally enriched day care in its Preschool toddler, nursery and pre-kindergarten programs. Kindergarten, and elementary school grades from first through fifth grade shape LHS' Primary School. The Middle School includes sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Special summer day camp programs are available throughout the preschool, primary school, and middle and junior high school years.
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Bridges opened in September, 2013 as a fully independent, federally recognized not-for-profit, offering Preschool through 8th grade, an “all-through” school with no need to change schools at various grade points. Our school embodies the meaning of what a good school community, or "school family", should look like. Our students are known as individuals and pushed to be the very best they can be, all due to the care and concern of experienced teachers who look out for their academic and social-emotional well being, and families who are involved within the life of the school.
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Our Lady of Grace Montessori School has the reputation of being a warm, nurturing environment where children are accepted for who they are and challenged to become the best possible person. Adhering to New York State standards and curriculum within the context of a Catholic/Christian atmosphere, we offer a nurturing environment and a curriculum that follows Dr. Maria Montessori’s methods of self-direction and discovery. We recognize that parents are the child’s first educators and are therefore an integral part of their child’s educational journey. These tenets, in tandem with specifically designed classrooms and materials, are the tools our teachers use to encourage our students to…
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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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