As the saying goes, "the days are long, but the weeks are short.” That sentiment rings truer as the parent of a young child than it has in any previous time of your life. Before you know it, that brand new cuddly baby is running around with friends on the playground and itching to grow up, whether you like it or not. Eventually, you’ll need to decide what kind of school to send your child to, and there’s no better time than the present to begin having those conversations. 

We all want to have well-adjusted responsible children who are assets to their community. However, not all children are wired with the drive or motivation to help. This isn’t an assault on their character, rather an observation. All children are different, they all have their special strengths, and for some, being a helper falls low on the list.

We know for sure that private education is an asset to our students. We see it first hand every day. Our students are engaged, more successful in and out of the classroom, and have bright futures in high school and beyond. But the benefits of private schools don't end there. Private schools are known for serving a student’s whole family in ways that public schools are unable to due to their structure as well as the sheer size of their organization. 

The number of toys available to children these days is absolutely astonishing. And the more of those toys you accumulate the most cost you have to bear. But not every activity for your preschooler has to cost any money at all. Here are four ways you can entertain your children without having to spend a dime.

Have you ever walked into a drab and lifeless kindergarten classroom? Probably not. Almost by definition, they are creative and exciting learning environments. The best classrooms make children feel excited about participating and promote collaborative learning. But what exactly is it about these classrooms that children seem to love and thrive in? 

Whether you’re a stay at home parent or a career mom on the go, sending your child off to school for the first time is liberating and yet still a huge responsibility. If you’re going to send your child to school, you’d hope that they’re learning something while they’re there. While some parents send their children to school without concern, others worry about the impact it has on their kids. 

One of the most common questions we field about private education is how much it costs and whether or not it will be affordable. We understand that all families can afford to make different financial commitments, which is why we offer scholarships to students with demonstrated need. But even with scholarships, some families find they still need to save up to make private school work for them. 

There are as many parenting methods in the world as there are parents. But there is one style of parenting in particular that resonates with the parents of many of our students. Positive parenting is a method that begins with the belief that all children are ultimately good. It teaches parents that children want to do the right thing and simply need guidance to help them make the best choices. The goal is to establish trust, build self-esteem, and correct children without breaking them down.

Sending your first child off to school is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. You may feel pressure to have your child fully prepared for school and to keep up with the other children his or her age. And while you can certainly prepare your children for some aspects of kindergarten, there are some things you’ll need to let go of in order to maintain your sanity.