Main Line Early Childhood Education Fair

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Photos by Jen Capone Photography

As parents we all have at least one thing in common, we all want the very best for our children. We want them to excel and succeed in everything they do. We encourage them to do their best and cheer them on along the way. This all applies to their education too. We want to offer our children the best education out there. For some this might mean getting them into a top-notch private school which comes with a hefty price tag. To others its finding the right after school program to supplement for whatever may be lacking in their child’s current educational program.

This is unexplored territory for me. My daughter is now ready – more like begging me each and every day – to start school. I’m just now getting around to looking at different schools and programs available so my daughter can start preschool. If you had asked me last week what programs I thought would be a good fit for her, I would have said either putting her in a day care that offered a preschool curriculum. I didn’t know what else was out there, let alone what was available right in my neighborhood.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Main Line Early Childhood Education Fair hosted by Main Line Parent as a parent of a preschool aged child as well as a media correspondent. I tried to keep both perspectives in mind when looking into each school and program on exhibition at the fair. I’m pleased to report that this fair opened my eyes to an entire scope of options available to our children.

For some children, the structure and stability that through an academic geared school is the right fit. Others may thrive better in a program that emphasizes free play and hands-on learning. The key to finding the right fit for your child is knowing their strengths and weaknesses. We need to look at school through our children’s eyes and try to find something that will suite their needs and interests, allowing them to excel and love learning.

In addition to the various preschool programs available, there are also other options like nature camps, foreign language enrichment programs, science and art programs and gymboree classes just to name a few. For children who are struggling in school, there are programs like Brain Balance who focus on the child’s weakness and help them overcome the optical that stand in their way.

For my child, a hands-on method seems to work best. She’s about to better understand and retain the information that’s presented to her. Although I would love more than anything to be able to enroll her in a prestigious and academically geared school, I believe she will do better and thrive more in a school that’s more geared towards her learning style. Ultimately, what’s most important to me is that my child loves learning. Now that I have a better understanding of what is available, I’m able to evaluate the programs that meet my child’s needs.

When looking into preschools for your child, a few things to keep in mind are:

  1. Don’t let a price tag scare you away from a school. Most schools offer some kind of financial assistance which can cover a portion up to the entire tuition.
  2. Keep your child’s strengths, weaknesses and interests in mind when picking out which program will best suit them.
  3. When you find a school(s) that you like, ask to see if they’re having an open house or if you and your child can take a tour. It’s best to see how your child does in the school environment before you commit.
  4. If class size is important to you,  ask about the student/teacher ratio is.
  5. Due to the increase in allergies among children, most schools prohibit peanut products while some schools focus on a more organic choice of meals for the children. Be sure to ask what kind of meals are offered and if there are any restrictions.

I’m still not sure yet which program we’ll end up choosing, but it’s good to know what’s out there. The Main Line Early Childhood Education Fair was a real eye opener. I would have never known all the possibilities had I not attended. They have given me a lot to think about.

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Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation to attend this fair. All opinions are my own.

{Giveaway} Please Touch Museum

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When it comes to family friendly attractions, Philadelphia has plenty to offer. If you ask my kids where is their favorite place to go, the answer is simple – the Please Touch Museum. The name itself screams family friendly! What kid wouldn’t like to go to a place where they are asking you to please touch anything and everything!

We’ve visited the museum in the past and my daughter has always enjoyed it, but it wasn’t until a recent trip that it really clicked for us. Now that we have 2 little ones to entertain, it’s become quite clear that the Please Touch Museum is fun for all ages. Like most 4-year-olds, my daughter has an active imagination and the museum offers plenty of outlets for her to let her imagination run wild and explore the world around her at her level.

There is so much to see and do at the Please Touch Museum – from drumming to your own beat in the Rainforest Rhythm to exploring distant planets as an astronaut in Flight Fantasy - there’s something for every child.

Enter the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, explore the circular maze, join in on a Tea Party, and don’t forget to paint the roses red!

My daughter loves to immerse herself in Wonderland and pretend she is Alice. Some say curiosity leads to trouble, but following the White Rabbit through the rabbit hole only leads to adventure!

When in Wonderland, one must always visit the Mad Hatter and the March Hare for tea time.

In City Capers, a realistic neighborhoods portraying buildings from Philadelphia’s skyline, explore urban life while shopping at the local ShopRite Supermarket to gardening to caring for infants at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Pretending to be an EMT rushing her brother to the Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Apparently he was injured and needed medical help right away!

A mom’s work is never done. After food shopping at the local Shop Rite and cleaning the house, it’s time to take the baby out to the garden to pick fresh vegetables to make dinner.

No visit is complete without a ride on the Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel. Built in 1908 but making its debut at Woodside Park in the Germantown area of Philadelphia in 1924, the fully refurbished carousel now resides in a 9,000 square food pavilion east of Memorial Hall. Take a ride on one of 40 horses, 4 cats, 2 pigs, 2 goats or 4 rabbits – all of which are hand carved.

At Please Touch Museum®, we encourage children to play and grow through the myriad of experiences we offer. It is clear that play is freely chosen and an imaginative engagement in activities that are fun and enjoyable. We know that play provides the foundation for basic life skills such as building relationships, cooperation, negotiation and compromise as well as providing opportunities for children to find out who they are and what they enjoy doing. Play offers an emotional outlet, develops the imagination and creativity and cultivates problem-solving skills.

The Please Touch Museum has become a beloved place in my family’s heart. It’s a place we look forward to visiting and hate to leave. And now I want to share the fun and adventure with your family! Thanks to the Please Touch Museum, I’m giving away a family four pack of tickets to one of my readers!

To enter, leave a comment below with your favorite Please Touch attraction. If you’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the museum, let me know what you think your child would enjoy. This contest runs from now until January 25th. Winner will be selected by Random.org and announced on January 26th.

For more info on exhibits and special events at the Please Touch Museum, please visit their website at http://www.PleaseTouchMuseum.org.