Attending an open house is often the best way to find an appropriate preschool for your child. Search for Ann Arbor preschool open house locations for the 2011-12 school year now.

Tammy Mayrend | contributor

It might seem like only yesterday that your child was born; however, soon enough, parents begin to consider preschool options for their pre-kindergarten child! There are many wonderful Ann Arbor preschool locations to consider, and on Jan. 30, parents may find many of them at the Preschool Expo at the Palmer Commons on the University of Michigan campus (located at 100 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor 48109). The event, sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library, Child Care Network, U of M Work/Life Resources and Washtenaw Success by Six is sure to help parents choose which preschool is right for their child.

For parents who might already have an idea of which preschool, Montessori school or nursery school they may like to consider for 2011-12, information on many open house dates, times and locations is listed below.

Ann Arbor Preschool locations:
AAPS Preschool and Family Center
Preschool
2775 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor - 734-994-2303
Call to schedule an appointment after March 1 for 2011-12.

AAPS Tuition Preschool - Allen Campus
Full or half-day preschool
2560 Towner Blvd., Ann Arbor - 734-971-5901
Open house: Feb. 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

AAPS Tuition Preschool - Thurston Campus
Full or half-day preschool
2300 Prairie, Ann Arbor - 734- 994-1970
Open house: Feb. 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Allen Creek Preschool Open Houses
Fives program (for children 4 1/2 to 6) and Pre-K
2350 Miller Ave., Ann Arbor - 734-994-3382
Open house: 10:30-11:30 a.m. on the following dates - Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 26, and May 20

Ann Arbor Christian School
Preschool, Kindergarten - Grade 8
5500 Whitmore Lake Road, Ann Arbor - 734-741-4948
Open house: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. with teacher meet and greet 6-8 p.m. on the following dates - Feb, 17 and March 15.

Ann Arbor Co-op Preschool
517 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor - 734-769-7966
Open house: Feb. 15, 10:00 a.m. - noon.

Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center
2775 Bedford Road, Ann Arbor - 734-971-3080
Schedule an appointment.

Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor
5225 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor - 734-332-9600
Open house: Feb. 13, 2-4 p.m.

Community Daycare & Preschool
1611 Westminster Place, Ann Arbor - 734-761-7101
Schedule individual tours.

Daycroft Montessori - Oakbrook Campus
PreK and K
100 E. Oakbrook Drive, Ann Arbor - 734-930-0333
Open house: 9-11 a.m. the following dates - Feb. 1, March 1, April 12 and May 3

Daycroft Montessori - Zeeb Campus
K-6th grade
1095 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor - 734-662-3335
Open house: 9-11 a.m. the following dates - Feb. 10, March 3, April 14 and May 5

The Discovery Center
"Blended" kindergarten (children 4 1/2 - 6 years) - Full and half-day options
775 S. Maple, Ann Arbor - 734-663-7496
Parent tours available Jan. 21 and Jan. 25, 9:45-11 a.m. for adults only. February tours will be scheduled at a later date.

Early Learning Center
Half-day preschool fo 2 ½ to 6 year old children  
3070 Redwood Ave., Ann Arbor - 734-973-7722
For individual parent tours, please call for an appointment

First United Methodist Co-op Nursery Preschool
120 S. State St., Ann Arbor - 734-662-7662
Open House: Feb. 2, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Glacier Way West Side Co-operative Preschool
900 South 7th St., Ann Arbor - 734-995-0707
Open house: Feb. 7, noon-1:30 p.m. and March 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor
2935 Birch Hollow Dr., Ann Arbor - 734-971-0990
Perspective parent tours for the early childhood center are available weekdays 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.

The Little Lamb Nursery
2794 Packard Road, Ann Arbor - 734-971-4811
Visitors Day Open house: Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-noon and March 18, 10 a.m.-noon . - Dates were being finalized, so please call to verify.

Rudolph Steiner School of Ann Arbor
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten through Grade 12
2775 Newport Road, Ann Arbor - 734-995-4141
Open house: Jan. 23 - Enrollment is ongoing with appointments available throughout the year.

Sunshine Special Children's Studio
Preschool and Pre-K
6536 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor - 734-665-5175
Open house: Typically available on Saturdays, call for available dates.

Stone School Co-op Preschool 
2600 Packard St., Ann Arbor - 734-971-4820
Open House: February 12, 10:00 a.m. to noon. .

St Paul's Lutheran School & Preschool - Earhart Campus
Small classes fill quickly.
495 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor - 734-821-2606
Open house: The evening of Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., or call for individual tours. Details have not been finalized.

St Paul's Lutheran School & Preschool - Liberty Street Campus
420 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor - 734-668-0887
Call for individual tours.

St. Francis of Assisi School
3 and 4-year old preschool plus K-8 grade
2270 E. Stadium Ave., Ann Arbor - 734-821-2290
Open house: January 30, 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Triangle Cooperative Nursery School
1432 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor - 734-761-7688
Open House: February 12, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Trinity Lutheran Preschool Learning Center
1400 W. Stadium, Ann Arbor - 734-662-4419
Open house: March 10, 6:30 p.m.

UMHS Child Care Center
Enrolling children of families affiliated with the University of Michigan
Newborn through pre-kindergarten
2601 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor - 734-998-6195

Chelsea Preschool Locations:

Chelsea Community Preschool
Classes for children ages 3-5
500 Washington St., Chelsea - 734-433-2208, ext. 6001
Open house: Feb. 24

Saline Preschool Locations:

Saline Cooperative Preschool
3 and 4 year olds
6299 Ann Arbor Saline Rd, Saline - 734-429-0685
Open house: February 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Washtenaw Christian Academy
Preschool, Young 5’s and K-12th Grade
7200 Moon Road, Saline - 734-429-7733
Family night on Feb. 1, with Kindergarten round-up on Feb. 4.

Ypsilanti Preschool Locations:
Kids Corner at Ypsilanti Township Recreation Department
2025 E. Clark Road, Ypsilanti 48197 - 734-544-3800
Program open house in late spring.

Huron Valley Catholic School
3 and 4 year old/Young 5 programs
1300 North Prospect Road, Ypsilanti - 734-483-0366
Open House: Feb. 6, 1-3 p.m., or call for an appointment.

To add other preschools to the list, please list the appropriate information into a comment below or send the information to tmayrend (at) gmail.com - Schools will be added as needed to the complete list.

Tammy Mayrend is a Ann Arbor search marketing professional and mother of two who blogs on low-cost local activities, events, and Ann Arbor area freebies for families at annarbormom.com.