Calling 3s and 4s!

Relatively speaking, parents of 3s and 4s have it easier than everyone looking for infant and toddler care. But who cares about relativity when it is your 3 or 4 year old needing fabulous, full-time care? Turns out, right now is an especially good time to be looking for care. Why? Kindergarten. Not for you, obviously. But enrollment at most centers works like dominos. Many kids are heading to kindergarten and I’ve found that lots of them leave early/mid August for a trip to the beach or their grandparents. Their mass departure tips the dominos and, voila, space. Centers’ waitlists are longest, typically, in direct proportion to age: the infant room waitlist is the longest and the room that graduates to Kindergarten is the shortest. Centers that are strictly organized by age rather than embracing a multi-age format (a mistake in my mind – but another topic for another day) have a hard time filling spaces from within. Not fun for the center director, but makes for an ideal time for you to find a spot for your adorable 3 or 4 year old.