Hundreds Flock to Preschool Night

Hundreds of families scoured the pamphlets and information booths and spoke to teachers, directors, and other parents in hopes of finding the right preschool for their child.

Redwood City’s annual Preschool Preview Night Wednesday evening exhibited preschools and childcare centers from Belmont to Palo Alto, including, of course, Redwood City.  The event was organized by the city and by the Redwood City Mothers Club, with Bay Area Parent Magazine doing the advertising and publicity, according to Kristen Anderson, Redwood City childcare coordinator.

“As a city, we support the development and operation of those businesses that provide important services to parents and their children,” said Anderson.

“We don’t support them financially; they are independent. Some are non-profits, some for-profit, some school-district run … but we do make resources available to them,” she said. 

The Redwood City Mothers Club, a local community group for moms and families in Redwood City and surrounding cities, compiled a packet of dozens of childcare places with information such as whom to contact, pricing, philosophy, and student-to-teacher ratios.

Sarah Cornwell, chair of the Redwood City Mothers Club, said the “social aspect” of what preschools offer is the biggest part parents are interested in so that the child doesn’t feel overwhelmed later on in kindergarten. She said this is the 16th year this event has been put together.

The club, with over 500 members, offers playdates, moms' nights, family events and online support for anything from finding a pediatrician to getting acquainted with the community, Cornwell said.

“Even though it’s a large group, there’s that immediate sense of trust and community,” Cornwell said of the club.

Each preschool or childcare provider had information set aside for parents and displays to portray its center. The price to rent a booth ranged from $35 to $50, depending on the size of the booth, according to Cornwell.

One childcare provider was busy handing out fliers and business cards to prospective clients. She said she liked the opportunity to meet so many parents at the event but added that she is already well-known.

“They’ve heard about me and my teaching … And the parents love that I give them lots of attention," said Varuni Nanayakkara, owner of You and I Montessori School in Redwood City. "When children are young, it’s about the parents as much as the children.”

Parents discover gems at the preview event that they may or may not have known. Courtney Caccia, a local mom, said she discovered at the Preschool Preview Night a few years ago and now both her children have gone through the school, ages six and four, with one still there.

Open Gate Nursery School is a co-op program, which means the parents are very involved in the classroom.

Tracy Chad is also a mom from Open Gate Nursery, with her youngest of three children starting the program soon.

“The most important thing when finding a [childcare or preschool] is to visit the school and go with your gut feeling for what’s a good fit for your individual child,” Chad said. 

The Redwood City Mothers Club is also holding a kindergarten preparedness night in early November, when teachers, principals and administration will sit in on a panel discussion about school lottery systems, skill sets for going into kindergarten, vaccinations, school tours, and more. 

For more information on The Redwood City Mothers Club, or upcoming events, visit its website here.