Preschool Recommendations - Plymouth and Wayzata (Sauk Rapids, Rice: daycare, neighborhood, school district)

[trevi]

My family is moving to MN in about a month and we are looking for recommendations for preschools. We have a 3 1/2 year old son who is currently enrolled in a preschool program where we currently live and we are hoping to find another preschool in MN that we would be able to enroll him in. If anyone has any recommendations - I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

[golfgal]

Start with the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program in whatever school district you are moving into. They are FANTASTIC programs and a great way to meet people with kids the same age as your child. They usually have some kind of a preschool type program but they are mainly parent/child programs. HIGHLY recommend them.

[Radical_Car]

One of my sisters does a ECFE where we live and she's had a fantastic experience. Daycare while she is in school is free, which saves you TONS of money. Plus she can have lunch with her kid, and you don't have to spend time driving to the daycare before and after school. I can assume that the preschools they offer are just as fantastic as the adult programs. The only problem was, is that their funding is getting less and less,(My sister is in the Sauk Rapids-Rice district, isd47, if you're wondering) so they ended up not having as many days of school as they wanted, etc. Huge shame.

Here is the link for Wayzata Early childhood
Early Childhood / Early Childhood

[uptown_urbanist]

I'll jump on the ECFE cheerleading bandwagon. It's a GREAT program. Most sponsor a broad range of activities, and include both classes in the evenings and during the daytime (ours also had periodic special events). Ours also sponsored a preschool information night; I'd contact your local Plymouth/Wayzata ECFE programs and see if they have sponsored something similar. At ours they compiled a booklet of all the local preschools and all the relevant information that would be useful when making a decision. We took a one-day/week ECFE class, and about half of the kids were in regular preschool programs on other days. Classes are already underway, but if they have any space you could perhaps finish up the session while using it as a chance to meet other parents, explore all of your longer-term preschool options, and acclimate yourself to your new neighborhood.

[trevi]

Thanks for all the advice. Unfortunately, the ECFE classes are booked. I emailed the director and although the website noted openings, she confirmed the website was not up to date. I will look into what else they have to offer with respect to other parent classes. Thanks!