Advice - Childcare and Education

“Been homeschooling a 6-year old and 8-year old for one hour and 11 minutes,” Shonda Rhimes wrote on Twitter at the start of quarantine. “Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or a week.” And that was on March 16—now more than a month in the past, although to many parents struggling to adapt to the demands of remote learning, it feels, much, MUCH longer. We hope these tips and words of advice sourced from the PSP community will

A week of remote learning has come and gone, leaving a city full of exhausted parents and restless kids in its wake. Homeschooling is a daunting prospect at any time, and especially when you’ve got about 100,000 other things on your mind—from quarantine concerns to caring for sick loved ones to managing your own work-from-home schedule or coping with sudden unemployment. We hope these top tips from Katharine Hill, M.S., M.A.T., will offer some

Denise and Samantha, 2004

Below is a letter from our Founder and President, Susan Fox, posted to our Listserv and shared here for the benefit of our community.

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Hey All,

I’ve been in touch with the folks from the Carroll Gardens Nanny Association. They had a meeting with nannies who are part of their organization. I wanted to share some of their concerns, as well as some issues that have

Some of you might not know that Founder Susan Fox has her Ph. D. in Communication (from a gazillion years ago). She still teaches a graduate level Interpersonal Communication Course at NYU every so often and at the end of the semester I hand out a documnet called, "Doc Fox's Lessons for Better Communication."

When she mentions it to people they say they'd love to see it. So here it is; raw, un-prettied up, and for your knowledge. So come sit

The 2019 data is here! PSP conducted its 7th survey of employers who employ a nanny. These results are based on 870 parents from Brooklyn who employ live-out nannies who are not part of a nanny share.

Is your toddler refusing to nap at Daycare? Parents share their tips of how they handled this situation.

PSP members talk about how to handle sleep schedules at daycare and preschool.

Need help navigating the early childhood education process? We've got you covered with the PSP Guide to Finding and Securing Daycare and the PSP Guide to Finding and Securing Preschool, which feature application advice, tips compiled from PSP members, and much more—AND they're available to members at a reduced price. Check out our Guides Library HERE! 

It's inevitable that your childcare needs will change as your kids grow older or work schedules change. But what can you do to still keep your nanny? According to PSP Nanny Survey Data, only 12% of nannies transition into the afterschool pick up. Here are some words of wisdom from PSP members who have changed their nanny's job description over time.

This article contains advice from two discussions on the PSP advice forum. One from 2014, and

Looking for a nanny is always an involved process, and if you work from home full-time, there are additional considerations to factor in. Here, you’ll find experiences from WFH parents who have successfully navigated the hiring process.

No matter your working situation, be sure to review the PSP Guide to Hiring a Nanny for help with all steps of the process—from posting an ISO ad to welcoming your new nanny into your home.

Each year, Park Slope Parents members contribute their reviews for their kids’ daycares, preschools, and pre-k facilities to help fellow families who are considering where to enroll their children. If you’re in the thick of the research and application process, read on for members’ answers to the question: “What advice would you give to people who are researching and choosing a program for their kids?”

Looking for more support on everything

Park Slope Parents has more than a dozen PSP Guides—comprehensive resources compiled from crowdsourced and expert wisdom to help you through all stages of the parenting journey.

The PSP Guides Library is available at a reduced price to PSP members, and non-members can also purchase guides for a small fee. If you're a parent in Brooklyn who wants access to all of the guides at reduced cost, plus dozens of forums tailored to your parenting

Each year, Park Slope Parents members contribute their reviews for their kids’ daycares, preschools, and pre-k facilities to help fellow families who are considering where to enroll their children. If you’re in the thick of the research and application process, read on for members’ answers to the question: “What advice would you give to people who are researching and choosing a program for their kids?”

Looking for more support on everything

According to the NYC DOE, classrooms with Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) services include students with IEPs and students without IEPs. No more than 12 (or 40 percent) of the students in the class can have IEPs.

There are two teachers—a general education teacher and a special education teacher. The teachers work together to adapt materials and modify instruction to make sure the entire class can participate.

If your child has been placed in an

The kindergarten application process can be daunting. Park Slope Parents is here to guide the way, with input from special guest and NYC school expert Joyce Szuflita—“the borough’s long-established doyenne of the business”—of NYC School Help.

Summer went by in the blink of an eye, and our kids are once again sequestered behind their screens. As we navigate another semester of remote (and hybrid) learning, our resourceful PSP members have offered up some life hacks to make your days run a little smoother.

Park Slope Parents recently hosted a webinar with Samuel Jeannite, PsyD, and Mandi White-Ajmani, PhD, of Small Brooklyn Psychology. Dr. Sam and Dr. Mandi shared some insight on acknowledging the realities of Covid-19, approaching the decision-making process, and reaching a conclusion that works for your family.

Read on for their wisdom—and to get access to more webinars like these, join Park Slope Parents HERE!

Our Park Slope Parents groups have been talking through sending kids back to childcare. Discussions have centered upon how to deal with separation anxiety after so many months of close contact, precautions childcare facilities are taking, and how to prepare your child for reentry. We even had a webinar with a Manhattan-based childcare facility, Vivvi, about the transition back. Read on for key takeaways!

Your child has finished a week or more at a summer camp.  What (if anything) do you do when it comes to saying farewell to the counselors that kept your kids busy & happy. This article offers advice on tipping summer camp counselors from neighborhood parents.

Parents agree: sleep-away camps are some of the best ways to increase your child's self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and love for the great outdoors! Not to mention getting them off your iPad. But not every camp is for everyone—here are some tips on how to find your kid the perfect camp! 

Also, check out our summer sleep-away camp recommendation section.

Packing for college can be a daunting task. Here's a master list of stuff to bring, refined over the past three years by PSP's resident rising college senior!

Not yet a member of PSP? It's never too late—we're here from you from the expectant months to the college years and beyond. Join us here!

Deena Maerowitz, Principal, College and Graduate School Advising at The Bertram Group, joined Park Slope Parents for a webinar on College Admissions 101: What, When & How. Read on for wisdom from Deena—and to connect with other families going through the college process through our PSP Tweens & Teens Group, join Park Slope Parents today!

Park Slope Parents hosted a Coping Webinar with Dr. Nanika Coor on managing the transition to school (whatever that looks like)for our kids. Here are some notes and resources that came out of her webinar.

Dr. Coor started with a reminder to hold space for ourselves and for what we have been through over the past five months; it’s a lot. There’s more to come, but being mindful of what we’ve endured and how we’ve been successful so far (even if it

Kind words and practical advice for parents whose kids would rather do anything than go to school in the morning.

As one PSP Member writes: "my son is starting Kindergarten this fall after having been in a preschool / day care that took care of all of his meals every day. He's used to having hot, healthy meals which basically consist of rice / noodles and a protein and a vegetable (like a stir fry type of thing). Now I have to start making him lunch and I'm not sure where to start..." 

Read what some of our members are saying about homeschooling...

The difference between preschools and daycares has become increasingly blurred. There is now a lot of similarities in programing, structure, and childcare. Many preschools mirror play based learning typical of daycares. Vice versa, daycares now offer more educational structure. Throw Pre-K into the mix, and it can get even more confusing - especially in Park Slope where early child care centers line the city’s blocks.

Here, PSP breaks it down

An interesting thread in response to school report cards.

Separation anxiety is natural—but if your preschooler is turning on the waterworks at drop-off, could that mean their school isn’t a good fit? Read member experiences and advice below.

Not yet a member of Park Slope Parents? Join us to find solidarity from your new support group!