New Canaan Preschools, Readers’ Choice: Toddlertime, Y’s Little Owl, Day Care Center of NC

The “” post emerged as one of the most discussed articles in New Canaan this week, drawing dozens of comments, ratings and reviews from town readers on why and how they chose their preschool, and what they love about the people to whom they’ve entrusted their children.

With so much feedback in all those areas, New Canaan Patch is naming three standouts as winners this week:

• Single Best Comment/Review in Support of a Preschool:
• Highest Number of Patch Places Ratings and Reviews:
• Most Poll Votes for a Preschool:

For its specificity and for addressing such varied parts of the program, we determined that the single best review was posted Wednesday by , who had this to say about :

“We sent both of our kids to the New Canaan YMCA's Little Owls preschool. Sandy Hogan is an amazing teacher who played a huge part in building a strong educational and social foundation in the lives of our children. Even now as they are in Middle School, they stop by and say hi to Sandy whenever they see her at the Y. Factor in music swimming and gymnastics, you have a well-rounded program that offers so much.”

This week, New Canaan readers cast more than 1,000 votes, and The Day Care Center of New Canaan earned about half of those votes, while Toddlertime earned about 30 percent—the two schools distancing themselves in that category, though more than one dozen votes each were cast for seven other preschools. (I was delighted to see the beloved preschool my siblings and I attended more than three decades ago, , earn the third-most votes overall. Miss Hedley and Mrs. Buggy, if you’re reading: Thank you and we still talk about you.)

Toddlertime supporters posted seven reviews in the preschool’s Patch Places directory listing, including:

• : Wonderful school, knowledgeable director, child centered curriculum, lovely facility. We love TT!
• : What an amazing, caring, wonderful enviornment!!! It's like a family to us. They are the most understanding, compassionate and loving place. I wouldn't want my children anywhere other than ToddlerTime!!!
• : Great school, committed teachers who provide frequent communications with parrents regarding child's progress. Our grandson loves it. Highly recommended.
• : All 3 of my kids love Toddler Time. Great teachers and a great learning environment. They especially love all the extra classes in addition to the regular curriculum. Cooking, gym jammers, science, spanish, vacation camp, and summer camp are just a few of the different extras the kids can (and do) enjoy.

And here are three more noteworthy comments that celebrate our New Canaan preschools:

• (): “Awesome school. Great, experienced Director, loved our visit!”
• (): “I am a grandparent with grandchildren that attended The Day Care Center of New Canaan and we nowhave another grandchildren going through the program. My grandchildren had a wonderful experience there. It was a great learning environment which was filled with nurturing and caring teachers and directors in both the preschool and afterschool programs. My grandchildren are still close to some of the friends they met at The Day Care Center of New Canaan who have now gone on to schools in other towns such as Darien and Wilton. Thank you for providing my family with a great opportunity.”
• (): “Another very nice NC Nursery school. Everyone was so warm and welcoming when we visited.”

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s . Next week’s Readers’ Choice category: Places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Until then, Slán go fóill!