It’s that time of year when parents’ thoughts turn, a tad frantically, to the school year to come. Yes, we know it’s only January, but if you’re hoping to start your tot in a preschool program this fall, now’s the time to be scouting possibilities. So this month, we’re sharing some of our favorite resources with you, starting with the divine Rona Renner, RN, radio show host and parenting expert extraordinaire.

We caught Rona talking about this very subject on ABC’s “View from the Bay” a couple of weeks ago … and remembered all over again why we love her. Rona was on the show with a preschool and education consultant – yes, you read that right, a preschool search consultant – and a Peninsula preschool director, neither of whom did much to quell the anxiety most parents feel about this stage in their young children’s lives. Heck, they made me feel anxious, and my kids are nearly grown! But Rona was her usual gentle, down-to-earth, parent-empowering self. “I think it’s important,” she said, “that people not go too nuts about this.” Talk to neighbors and friends about where their kids go, she said, start making a list, then go visit the schools with the Three Ps in mind…

It’s all about place, people and programs. Look at the people, Rona said, what training do teachers have; are teachers and kids interacting, chatting, having fun? Look at the place – is it clean, appealing and well-organized; does it have separate learning areas for reading, art and imaginative play, and a well-equipped playground? And look at the program itself – is learning guided by a curriculum, are families welcome and involved? Go and visit. Imagine your child in that setting.

Other great resources:
The East Bay Moms’ annual Preschool and Childhood Resource Fair is coming soon – mark Jan. 24 on your calendar for this resource extravaganza, with reps from more than 70 preschools and early childhood organizations. It runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center.

The book “Practical Wisdom for Parents: Raising Self-Confident Children in the Preschool Years ,” by Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaum, directors of New York City’s prestigious 92nd Street Y Nursery, is an invaluable and reassuring guide to parenting and educating young children, and includes chapters of helpful, practical tips on finding a great preschool for your child. Highly recommended.