Lakeside Presbyterian Center for Children

Archived Q&A and Reviews

1996

My 4 and 1/2 year old son will begin his 3rd year at Lakeside Presbyterian Center for Children which is located on 19th and Eucalyptus, next to Stonestown. (My sister's 3 kids went there some 25 years ago so it has been around awhile). Most of the kids come from families which are not affiliated to the Lakeside church and religion is not emphasized. There are 4 classes. The younger kids are in the morning sessions which run from 8:30 to 11:30. Child care is also available.

We also were looking for a school primarily for social purposes (no kids in our neighborhood). There are about 20 kids in a class. You can sign up for 2, 3 or 5 mornings. The classrooms are spacious and full of creative and fun toys. Art projects are done daily, but children are not forced to participate. The playground was completely redone last year so the equipment is new and lots of fun. The school does require a fair amount of parent (or adult) participation. There are monthly meetings (although "events", such as an adult/child dinner and a bookfair replace meetings some months). Parents (or grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) are also required to participate in the classroom twice a month or do minor maintenance one evening a month. Alternatively, you can pay an extra $10 a month and not do either.

There are 2 teachers in each class and 1 to 2 aides in addition to the parent helpers. For the younger children, the first hour or so is "free play" and art projects. Then comes "circle time" as children learn to sit in a circle and sing songs, play games, etc. Then there is snack time, playground play and story time. My son loves it. He has learned a lot, made lots of friends, and loves his teachers. During the summer, they run weekly "mini-camps" which go from 9 to 1 so they will be open if you want to call or take a look. I believe they are closed entirely during the last week of August.