La Petite Academy Blog

In this second of our three-part series, our experts – Dr. Susan Canizares and Dr. Heather Wittenberg —give tips for making a smooth transition from preschool to Kindergarten. Dr. Heather: Back in the “bad old days,” we didn’t have much understanding of early childhood development. Young children were seen as too little to learn very […]

When should YOUR child start Kindergarten? Our experts are here to help you decide! Dr. Susan Canizares, our Chief Academic Officer, not only has a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Development, she’s a nationally recognized authority on early childhood education. Dr. Heather Wittenberg is a mom of four and a child psychologist who blogs at […]

with Dr. Susan Canizares and Dr. Heather Wittenberg When it comes to making sure your children are ready for Kindergarten, there is a lot to consider. When is the best time to enroll her? How soon is too soon, and how late is too late? How will I know if she is adjusted socially to […]

Is your child ready for Kindergarten? Here’s a quick list of 10 Kindergarten readiness skills and fun tips on how you can boost your child’s learning with the technology you use every day. 1. Hone Fine Motor Skills by Using a Computer Mouse – Using the mouse helps build little muscles in your child’s fingers […]

Child psychologist Dr. Heather Wittenberg covers her top tips to get your preschooler ready for the big Kindergarten classroom. Find more Kindergarten readiness tips here. What concerns do you have about your child being ready for Kindergarten? Tell us in a comment below.    

Is your child ready to start Kindergarten this fall? As a parent, I know it’s difficult to imagine your little one sitting in a “big kid” classroom in just a few months. Believe me, though, you’ll be amazed at the growth your child will experience before then. Here are my ideas for helping your almost-big-kid […]

Our Private Kindergarten Program introduces a more formal education while continuing to promote the joy and wonder children have about their world. Aligned with national and state standards for Kindergarten, we balance structure and subject focus with exploration and fun. Low student/teacher ratios and smaller class sizes allow our degreed Kindergarten teachers to spend quality […]

Our third-born started Kindergarten this year. I figured I’d be a pro by now, after surviving the big day twice before. Kid #3 should be easy. Right? Wrong. On the first day of school, our sweet, soulful 5-year-old hung up his backpack, found his desk and solemnly said good-bye to us as if he were […]

Will your child be one of the youngest in her Kindergarten class this fall? Or will he be one of the oldest? Whether your child is “early born,” “late born,” or somewhere in between, parents are worrying about finding the “perfect” age to start Kindergarten. The media is full of alarming statistics about supposed benefits […]

I couldn’t help noticing Mattie and Sophie, adorable 4-year-old twin girls at our preschool. Obviously fraternal, Mattie had stick-straight hair bejeweled with sparkly clips (and the occasional tiara). She wore her tutu to school daily in hopes of an afternoon ballet lesson. Mattie leapt into action with her friends in the classroom without so much […]

In parenting, many decisions are easy: Don’t run into the street. Take turns with your friends. But many of the most important decisions AREN’T easy, including when to start Kindergarten. Will she be ready? Or is it best to wait? When it comes to tricky parenting dilemmas, there usually isn’t a “perfect” decision. Starting Kindergarten […]

Studies show that when technology is used properly, it helps make our kids smarter. So how can it make our kids more prepared for Kindergarten? The answer is right inside our pockets! If your child likes to tap, swipe, and press buttons, then check out these important K-readiness skills your child can easily learn from […]