Do you take your 2.5 year-old with you to an open house?

[Anonymous]

This is probably a really dumb question, but I just have to ask to make sure. I am shopping for preschools for next Fall. The preschools under consideration are near our house while her current daycare is is in DC by my work. It isn't very convenient to drive her in to DC and then head back to Bethesda to tour a preschool. I imagine that it would be okay if she comes along to the open house....right?

[Anonymous]

i would call the preschool's director and ask. Some open houses don't like kids to be there, some don't mind. Most do mind though

[Anonymous]

In my experience, the preschools prefer to have just the adults, because they want to be able to discuss things without all the distractions that kids inevitably provide.

But I agree with PP. Call and ask.

[Anonymous]

When you call and ask, explain your whole situation, though- it IS hard to concentrate on asking questions or gathering info with your kid there, so if you ask in a vague way they'll probaby say come alone.

Parents do tours both ways (alone and with kids)- but keep in mind that if you'll be stressed about your kid making it hard for you to hear the person you are talking to, etc, it may feel to you as though the preschool stressed you out.

Don't feel at ALL bad about calling back after your tour with whatever questions you didn't think to ask. (that's true for anyone, of course.)

Another option is to ask to schedule a tour at the school so that you could do several schools the same day- then you could do the back-and-forth drive once. A lot of schools have scheduled open houses, but are happy to do an individual tour for you at another time if you need it and ask politely but clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you call and ask, explain your whole situation, though- it IS hard to concentrate on asking questions or gathering info with your kid there, so if you ask in a vague way they'll probaby say come alone.

Parents do tours both ways (alone and with kids)- but keep in mind that if you'll be stressed about your kid making it hard for you to hear the person you are talking to, etc, it may feel to you as though the preschool stressed you out.

Don't feel at ALL bad about calling back after your tour with whatever questions you didn't think to ask. (that's true for anyone, of course.)

Another option is to ask to schedule a tour at the school so that you could do several schools the same day- then you could do the back-and-forth drive once. A lot of schools have scheduled open houses, but are happy to do an individual tour for you at another time if you need it and ask politely but clearly.

Publicity.