In a college town like Palo Alto, you definitely won’t have a hard time finding a good preschool. Palo Alto’s many educators are well-trained in early child development and passionate about encouraging the interests, abilities, and talents of each child. Before enrolling your child in a preschool, make sure that their curriculum agrees with your family’s values and education goals. Preschools in Palo Alto don’t come in one-size-fits-all shapes; rather, they make use of different methods to make learning fun, easy, and effortless for young children. Start your search with five of Palo Alto’s best preschools.

Parents Nursery School

If you and several families share the same philosophies and educational goals for your children, consider a cooperative preschool like the Parent Nursery School.  In a cooperative school, families hire a qualified teacher to give their children the preschool education they deserve.  Aside from taking turns assisting the teacher in the classroom, parents also maintain, administer, and take care of the school’s business aspect on a rotational basis.  It sounds like a lot of work, but there are many advantages to a co-op education. For one thing, tuition fees are lower because of the shared work. For parents, a cooperative school also means playing an active role in their children’s early education while they form strong relationships with other parents. For children, a co-op education gives them the opportunity to play and learn with other kids of their own age, as well as the chance to interact with adults other than their parents.    

Preschool Family

Since 1946, Preschool Family’s parent-participation program has provided an exciting play-based curriculum and a nurturing environment where children learn with their parents.  Like a co-op school, this parent-participation school requires parents to be present in every class and learn with their child. Attending classes give parents the chance to know more about their child and develop a deeper relationship with him or her. Unlike a co-op school, however, parents don’t have to take turns maintaining or running the school. Instead, Preschool Family requires parents to attend parent education adult classes, a series of lecture-type evening classes about parenting and early childhood education. This is a unique educational experience that you cannot find anywhere else.   

Bing Nursery School

Stanford University’s award-winning Bing Nursery School provides quality, part-time preschool education to children two to five years old. Under the guidance of well-trained educators, children are given the opportunity to enhance their cognitive abilities and learn social skills through exploring the natural environment and playing with each other. There are two programs available. The Two-Year Old Program slowly introduces toddlers to a group environment so they can develop language, social skills, and physical skills. The Nursery Program has a healthy balance of child-directed and teacher-directed activities in carefully-prepared environments. Using books, music, dramatic play, toys, and computers, the Nursery Program encourages a child’s innate curiosity and love for learning.

Stratford School

Parents who prefer a more traditional, academic environment for their little ones should look into Stratford School, a learning-based school with a strong focus on excellence and knowledge.  Their preschool program accepts three and four-year-olds and gives them the academic foundation they need for formal education.  At Stratford, your child will be engrossed in science activities, sing songs that help them learn letters or math, and get physically fit using dance and outdoor play.  All together, these activities promote your child’s cognitive growth and prepare him or her for over a decade of learning.

Luane’s Little Explorers

If you’re more concerned about taking the toddlers out of the house to see the world rather than strict academic preparation for kindergarten, consider Luane’s Little Explorers. This preschool provides children with a unique educational experience. Instead of learning abstract concepts in the classroom, children are taken to exciting field trips around the community and in natural settings.  Class is held twice a week and includes a cultural, nature, or community-based trip plus an interpretative activity in the classroom.  The program accepts kids age 1 ½ years to 3 ½ years, as well as the inclusion of their parents, grandparents, or nannies in the activites. You can even take a younger sibling to a field trip!

These are just a few of the wonderful preschools in Palo Alto where you can begin your search.