Question for NYC parents

[bellaboo]

We are working towards a 3 month sojourn to NYC next Spring from Australia. Reason: family time out and adventure! We've got 2 kids - our daughter will be 5 then and our son, 2 yrs old. This is the very beginning of doing my 'research' - I told my husb. I 'd start by posting on babble board!
Does anyone have any advice or good ideas they would care to share regarding putting 5 y.o. in junior school (we call it prep year back here before grade 1 starts) for that time so she can mix with the locals?
Accommodation is another thing - we're hoping to either house swap or sublet.
Have stayed in NY a couple of times - 2 yrs ago lower East side and then Tribeca. Does anyone have an opinion on the 'kid friendliness' of any particular regions? On vacation we found the whole city very kid friendly.
Any suggestions, words of wisdom would be appreciated - I've been a passive observer of Babble for a while but now its getting interactive at last :)

[bellaboo]

actually, it doesn't seem that interactive? anyone out there who can help out with some info?
thankyou

[Lori]

Regarding putting your 5 year old in a "junior school" - I wouldn't count on that - pre-school is highly competitive and daycare often has a long waitlist. Besides - 5 years old is when most kids start kindergarten (real elementary school). Perhaps you should instead look into classes that you can sign your daughter up for - what are her interests? There are so many options - artistic, sport, cooking, general learning - all over the city - there are few places in Manhattan that don't have kid-oriented attractions anymore.

I personally think the Upper West Side is possibly one of the most kid-friendly and kid-oriented nabes in Manhattan. The strollers started appearing there long before the other neighborhoods got caught up in the trend of families staying in the city to raise their kids. Although, the Upper East Side was always very family oriented, but it's a different socioeconomic climate than the rest of the city.

I'm sure if you look on Craigslist, you'll be able to find a suitable house swap or sublet.

[bellaboo]

thankyou lori. I've gotten 2 genuinely interested replies on craigs list which is fantastic and are hoping to swap our freshly renovated funky little beach shack in Byron Bay (which is the most eastern point of australia - very artsy, always has dolphins, often see a whale on your walks and good surf with the highest density of massage therapists in all of australia - a very good sea change from the city).
I think the classes sounds like a great idea also - we're in a little montessori preschool over here so I thought pursuing same philosophy school could be good also. It was mainly to make some little friends but those classes would be great fun for her!
My husband has been working long long hours this last 12 months in his business and I also have as a family practice physician - I see the need for some good family time out and we have plenty of beaches here for quick breaks but would prefer the stimulation of new york as we both love it. All those museums and cafe's in one city !!
Thankyou very much for replying I truly appreciate it - have a great week!
Kylie
[e-mail]

[Luisa]

Hi Kylie,

My husband and I are going for a month on holiday to see if we are going to make the move from Australia to NYC also. But before we do this I too am looking at where and what to do with our children who are in a Montessori school in Australia. So please I hope that you post up anything you find out about schools in NYC here. My children are 4 and 6 and I think we would be looking at going into a public elementary or montessori.

Luisa

[bellaboo]

Luisa, we should catch up for a chat. Where are you now? We are still planning to go - I am trying to get enough info to do an informal feasability study on this trip!! When are you hoping to travel? We are still looking at Spring - March - May or April - June.
Thanks for your note,
Kylie

[Anselm's Mom]

I agree with Lori -- the whole city is pretty kid-friendly at this point! Even my not-so-trendy Brooklyn neighborhood has plenty going on. Sounds like a great adventure...

[The Peveteaux-Goldmans]

Also check out www.dancingmeatballs.com for free and low cost kid activities in the city. Because, as Lori said, putting a 5-year-old in a school/care situation for a short period of time will most likely be impossible. You can also check out www.sittercity.com for local sitters so you can get some adult time.
As for neighborhoods that are kid-friendly, I would have to agree with the other posters that just about every one is at this point. And like Anselm's mom, I'd like to put in a shout-out for Brooklyn as it appears to have more kid activities than any other locale. Except of course, the venerable Upper West Side. Have fun!