Little Thinkers Preschool

A STEAM-focused preschool for kids ages 3 and 4

Little Thinkers Preschool is a research-focused, play-based, STEAM preschool, serving children ages 3 and 4.

Little Thinkers Preschool provides a unique learning environment, using Thinkery’s hands-on educational approach and access to our interactive exhibits to support the development of your child’s school readiness skills.

Classes are limited in size, to allow our educators to maximize their interaction with each student while also being mindful of social distancing guidelines and community health best practices.

Our next full registration cycle will begin with the June 2021 classes. If you are interested in potential openings prior to that, you can join our waitlist at any time.

Take a Virtual Tour

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not offering in-person tours of the Preschool at this time. We have created a downloadable overview and virtual tour for your review.

Take the Tour

About Little Thinkers Preschool

Research shows that preschool play with dedicated, caring teachers builds strong relationships. Through continuous collaboration and a climate of mutual respect, Thinkery’s Little Thinkers Preschool will support social, emotional, cognitive and physical development for every attendee child.

The “lab school” environment

Curricula and assessment are designed in collaboration with Thinkery Connect, Thinkery’s early learning research partnership with Dr. Cristine Legare of The University of Texas at Austin, a nationally recognized expert in child development and science education, and Dr. Amy Bryan, the Director of The Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory (The UT Lab School).

This research partnership will ensure that each child benefits from best practices in play-based STEAM early learning to enhance kindergarten readiness.

The lab school model means Thinkery can share our learnings with other schools and childcare providers to promote STEAM interest and school readiness throughout Central Texas.

Who is eligible to attend?

Little Thinkers Preschool is committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive generation of young children who thrive through their experience of learning alongside others.

Our preschool is open to all Austin-area children ages 3 or 4 years old by the start of the school year. Prospective students must be potty trained (no diapers or pull-ups) and be up to date on vaccines and health screenings.

Our next full registration cycle will begin with the June 2021 classes. If you are interested in potential openings prior to that, you can join our waitlist at any time.

Join the Waitlist

Our preschool waitlist is open year round, so families can register their child for any individual openings that may become available. Waitlist registrants also have first-come, first-served access when new registration cycles begin.

Join our Waitlist

Sign Up For Alerts

If you’re not ready to register, but would like to receive email updates and news, join our email list below.

2020–21 School Year & Summer Schedule

Hours of Operation

Monday through Friday from 8 am – 3 pm, with optional extended care included until 5:30 pm. Extended care is included in the price of tuition.

Children must be picked up no later than 5:30 pm each day.

This school year runs from early September through May. A separate summer session for children runs from June through July.

Little Thinkers Preschool follows the Austin Independent School District calendar with regard to Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Break holidays. There are additional teacher preparation days in which the Preschool is closed for training or parent teacher conferences.

All families are given a school calendar at the beginning of each new school year, listing all the holidays for the year.

For additional questions, please email us at preschool@thinkeryaustin.org

Tuition and Fees

Tuition

$1,195 per month*
Includes Thinkery Family Membership**

Registration Fees

$100 one-time fee
Nonrefundable

Enrollment Fee

$150 one-time fee
Nonrefundable

Supply Fee

$100 fee
Billed annually

* Once accepted and in order to be fully enrolled, all families must submit completed documentation and must pay enrollment fee, supply fee, first month’s tuition and last month’s deposit.

** Current Thinkery members will have 12 months added to their existing membership.

Financial Assistance

When completing the registration for you may indicate your interest in financial assistance. Currently, we have fulfilled our spots for the 2020-2021 year but do encourage families to apply/re-apply each year when it becomes available again.

Important Notices

Children must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1 of the current school year
All children must be potty trained by the start of the school year (no diapers or pull-ups)
All children must be up to date on vaccines and health screenings by the start of the school year
Classes are Monday – Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, with optional extended care until 5:30pm. Children must be picked up no later than 5:30 pm each day.
Parents/caregivers must provide two daily snacks and lunch, bedding for nap mats and a reusable water bottle
Information is subject to change

Health and Safety Protocols

Thinkery is doing our part to keep our community healthy and safe from COVID-19. While there is no 100% effective way to prevent illnesses, we’ve planned a number of steps to make our preschool as clean and safe a learning environment as possible.

There are additional steps that YOU can take to help us keep Thinkery a clean, safe, and healthy environment.

Thinkery Procedures

Drop off/Pick up & Health Screening at Entry

All student drop off and pick up will take place outside of the museum.
No caregivers are permitted in the building.
Daily temperature checks and health screenings for all students and Thinkery staff.
Any student showing signs of illness will be separated and caregivers will be called for pick up.

Face Masks & Handwashing

All Thinkery staff will be required to wear face masks.
All students will be required to wear face masks to the extent possible.
Handwashing will be required many times throughout the day, including arrival to the classroom, after transitions, bathroom visits, and before/after eating.

Cleaning & Disinfecting Procedures

Increased disinfecting of classrooms, nap mats, equipment and surfaces, especially doorknobs, high-touch surfaces, exhibits, and restrooms.
Nap mat bedding laundered every other day.
Nightly deep cleaning.
Weekly electrostatic disinfection.
HVAC system using fresh air circulation.
Each student will have their own set of non-consumables (scissors, tape, etc…).

Social Distancing Measures

Preschool groups will be held in separate classrooms.
Classrooms will not be combined or interact throughout the day.
Social distancing within groups implemented to the degree possible.
Exhibit time will be scheduled to minimize public interaction.
Prepared to reduced class sizes if mandated by State or Local health authorities.

What YOU can do

If your child is sick, please keep them at home.

We’ll be doing daily temperature checks and health screenings for all students, and any student showing signs of illness will be sent home. To save yourself an extra trip, it’s best to keep sick students at home.

Work with your child ahead of time to practice good hygiene.

Help your child get familiar with important concepts like:

Frequent washing of hands with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds each time.
Avoid touching your eyes and face as much as possible.
Maintain physical distance from other students as much as possible.
Cover your mouth and nose if you have to sneeze or cough. If you’re not wearing a mask, remember to cough and sneeze into your elbow (the “vampire sneeze“) or into a tissue, not into your hand.

Read all of the caregiver information in your family handbook, and make sure your child’s paperwork if filled out and up to date.

Observe all written instructions and directions for curbside drop-off and pick up.

As always, Thinkery will continue to monitor developments and the most current guidance from State and Local health officials. Any additional changes or updates to our Health and Safety Protocols will be communicated promptly to our preschool families.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I apply for financial assistance?

When completing the registration for you may indicate your interest in financial assistance. Currently, we have fulfilled our spots for the 2020-2021 year but do encourage families to apply/re-apply each year when it becomes available again.

I found out my application was accepted. Now what?

Once offered a spot, you will have 24 hours to accept or decline the offer by processing a $150 nonrefundable enrollment fee to confirm the child’s spot in the school.

After 24 hours, if payment is not received your spot will go to the next student on the waitlist.

I’ve been assigned to a “Waitlist.” What does that mean?

This means that your child is placed on the waitlist for the Preschool. As students accept and decline a spot on the offered list, your child will move up. If your child This means that your child is placed on the waitlist for the Preschool. As students accept and decline a spot on the offered list, your child will move up. If your child moves up to the offered list, Thinkery will send you an acceptance message and you will have 24 hours to accept or decline the offer by processing a $150 nonrefundable enrollment fee to confirm your child’s spot in the Preschool.

What documents do I need to apply?

No documents are needed just to register. However, if your child is selected for enrollment, you will need to provide the following:

Medical Report Form that includes a physician’s statement & signature
Current Immunization Record
Medical Insurance Information (if covered)
Policy Acknowledgements
Hold Harmless & Indemnity Agreement
Confidential Information Form
Release of Child Authorization
APH Health Screening Questions related to COVID-19

Do you have a policy about accepting siblings?

Yes. If a family is offered a spot and has more than one child that meets the criteria for enrollment, and there is a spot available, then all children within that family will be accepted into the program. (Note: “Sibling” means biological or legally adopted. Cousins, nieces, nephews, and unrelated children in home are not considered siblings.)

Do I need to be a Thinkery member to apply to Little Thinkers Preschool?

No. The tuition to the Preschool includes a yearlong Thinkery Family Membership. Current Thinkery members will have 12 months added to their memberships.

For additional questions, please email us at preschool@thinkeryaustin.org

Thank you to STG Design for their support of Thinkery’s Little Thinkers Preschool