Schools

Abacus Guide, an independent educational consulting service, provides New York parents with accurate, comprehensive, independent information about the city's schools. The site offers a comprehensive listing of private schools in the city, as well as information about public schools, Catholic schools, and Jewish schools in the city and nearby suburbs.

Emily Glickman, the firm's founder, has been quietly helping families find and get into top private schools since 1999. In the latest admissions season, all of her clients found places, many at the most competitive schools.

New York's Parents League offers all kinds of useful information for parents of school aged kids: baby-sitting referrals, party ideas, confidential talks about which schools might best suit your individual child (they're affiliated with over 250 NY schools), tutors, camps and nursery schools, to name just a fraction of their resources.

Call the office or visit the website to join.

Smart City Kids provides advice and assistance to guide families through the process of finding the right schools for their children (and gaining admittance!). The company's mission is to improve each family's chances of acceptance to the school of their choice by providing expert advice, guidance, and emotional support during the admissions process.

Both private sessions and small group workshops are available.

Tweed Courthouse is home to the NYC Department of Education. Designated as a New York City Landmark, the building is also listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Tutor Time offers before- and afterschool care, a daycare/preschool program (ages six weeks to five years), and summer camp.

The 14th Street Y is a Jewish Community Center, but it welcomes members of all faiths. It offers scores of classes, programs, resources, and services - including babysitting for members.

Classes for kids include for kids include art, dance, cooking, martial arts, basketball, tennis, tumbling & gymnastics, kindermusik, ballet, and swimming (ages six months and up).

Birthday parties with a swimming component can be held here, too. Contact 212.780.0800, ext. 252 for details and booking.

There are playgroups for young children and their parents, infant massage classes, Mommy and Me classes, messy play classes, and even Japanese toddler and preschool classes that give kids an early start in learning a new language.

The Afterschool Program provides care for kids ages four to 12 on weekdays from 3pm-6pm. Regularly scheduled activities include swimming, basketball, cooperative games, and art & music. Other activities include snack, homework assistance, and outdoor play. The Afterschool calendar corresponds to that of the Public Schools, but does not meet when schools are open on Jewish Holidays. On school half-days and holidays, extended hours are available.

The 14th Street Y offers a pick-up program from PS 40, PS 19, Immaculate Conception, Children's Workshop, the Earth School, Neighborhood School, Simon Baruch, and the East Village Community School. NEST and PS 110 require an additional transportation fee. Pickup from other neighborhood schools can be arranged with a minimum of three students. Call ext. 258 for details.

The Gani Preschool offers modern, fully equipped classrooms designed to meet the needs of children ages two to five. The large recreation room and rooftop playground give little ones ample opportunity to practice gross motor skills (and play)! Call extension 238 or 266 for details.

Parenting workshops give adults a chance to meet other parents and discuss issues in a friendly community setting.

Summer camps include:

Mini-Camp, for kids ages 17 months to 3.5 years; younger children splash and play in the sprinklers on the rooftop playground and engage in art and music activities. A parent or caregiver must accompany the child at all times. Call extension 240 for details or to register.

On Our Way, for kids ages 2.5 to 3.5 years; a twice-a-week summer program for children who have completed a separated program. Adults and children get together for a half-hour on the rooftop playground for some outdoor fun and water play, then class continues for two hours without adults. Call extension 240 for details or to register.

The New Town Day Camp, for kids ages 3.6 to six years, provides indoor and outdoor play, field trips within the city, art, drama, music, and more. Registration for new families begins in January. Call extension 241 for details or to register.

The New Country Day Camp, for kids ages five to 11, takes kids to the 75-acre Henry Kaufman campgrounds on Staten Island, set with swimming pools, hiking trails, and open meadows. Call extension 248 for details or to register.

Japanese NikoNiko Summer Day Camp, for kids ages three to seven years, emphasizes Japanese conversation and written skills for older children; younger children are exposed to Japanese through songs and play. Call extension 243 for details or to register.

When public schools are closed, Holiday Camp is offered.

Building Blocks Playgroup, led by an Upper East Side private school teacher, offers year-round, all-day (as well as morning) care for children ages 10 months to four years. The preschool curriculum consists of arts and crafts, cooking, and early reading as well as music and movement in an enriched child-centered environment.

Yearly developmental and school admission reports are provided.

Pace University hosts a Summer Arts for Youth program on their downtown campus, across from City Hall.

It is also home to the Schimmel Center for the Arts. The Schimmel Center's 743-seat theatre — located on Spruce Street between Park Row and Gold Street, near the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge — is the largest in Lower Manhattan. The Center is an active presenter of the Tribeca Film Festival and the River-to-River Festival.

Pre-college Arts courses for teens (ages 14 to 18) include Film Making, Writing and Oral Arts, Visual Arts and Performance Arts, Theater Arts, Dance and Movement, and Mixed Arts.

Tween Arts, for kids ages 10 to 13, offer many of the same courses, plus Fun & Games - a relaxing, social time at the end of the day.

Kids have the option of participating from 9:30am-5:30pm daily or taking classes a la carte.

A limited number of scholarships are available for summer programs for eligible families.

Columbia University often hosts performances and lectures that are appropriate for older children, and the football home games are a great way to introduce kids to the sport. Home games are played at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, 218th Street and Broadway

The Psychology Department at NYU conducts studies to investigate how children from birth to age four develop - how they keep their balance, remember objects, use language, interact with caregivers, and more. Studies can take anywhere from 15 to 120 minutes. Most studies require only one visit. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

Parents interested in having their little ones participate can find out more by visiting th