Blog

Welcome to the PLNY Blog. We are pleased to share knowledge and tips from parenting experts and esteemed educators. We hope you’ll check back often to make parenting in NYC a little easier!

Middle & High School Age Parenting 8 mins reading

Tue, October 8, 2024

Why Voice Matters—and How to Harness It for College Admissions Essays

When students embrace the dedicated writing and revising process that the strongest personal essays demand, a wonderful thing happens: they create the evidence that their voices matter, too.

All Ages Independent Schools 4 mins reading

Mon, July 1, 2024

NYC School Notification Dates 2024-25

Elizabeth Ainslie, Director of Technology & Communications

Be sure to have these important application deadlines and notification dates on your calendar during the school admissions process. Many New York City private and independent schools follow these guidelines for notifying families of school acceptances and waitlists.

Early Childhood Early Childhood Development 10 mins reading
Tue, October 8, 2024

Zero to 3: Raising a Child in NYC

Even before your baby is born, you begin to plan for childcare. Will it be in or outside your home?…
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Independent Schools Middle & High School Age 3 mins reading
Mon, September 30, 2024

Boarding School: Answers to Parents’ Most Common Questions

We've all heard of boarding school, but what does it mean to consider sending your child to boarding school today?
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Independent Schools Parenting 5 mins reading
Tue, September 10, 2024

Back to School with Olympic Spirit and Civic Engagement

After rallying around US athletes in the Summer Olympics, it is the home stretch of a presidential election in timing…
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Child Development Early Childhood Parenting 8 mins reading
Tue, September 10, 2024

New York City as a Classroom without Walls

By Jane Racoosin Director, Beginnings Nursery School As a child, I can tell you I never thought I would end…
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Elementary Age Independent Schools 5 mins reading
Tue, September 10, 2024

9 Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences

By Anne Burns and Mary Ann Clerkin, Parents League School Advisors As the new school year gets underway, schools will…
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All Ages Parenting 9 mins reading
Tue, August 13, 2024

From Stress to Strength: Benefits of Yoga for Kids Include Health and Fun

By D’Angela Alberty Program Director, Three and a Half Acres Yoga (THAY) Our children live in an environment that is…
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Early Childhood Elementary Age Parenting 5 mins reading
Tue, August 13, 2024

7 Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Back-to-School

By Anne Burns and Mary Ann Clerkin, Parents League School Advisors As summer begins to draw to an end, we…
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Early Childhood Parenting Uncategorized 8 mins reading
Tue, July 16, 2024

Meaningful Service Learning from the Early Years On

Felicia Gordon Director, The Brownstone School Teaching our children about community service is as important as ever and one of…
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Elementary Age Independent Schools 4 mins reading
Mon, June 24, 2024

10 Tips for NYC Kindergarten Applications

Applying for kindergarten at NYC independent and private schools seems complicated, especially if you didn't grow up here. Or even…
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Early Childhood Development 10 mins reading
Fri, June 14, 2024

Literacy … From the Beginning

Research tells us that many adults believe that literacy begins at 2 years of age, often when the child is…
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Early Childhood Elementary Age Parenting 11 mins reading
Wed, June 12, 2024

How Kids Learn Flexibility and Self-Regulation

Chelsey Rosen, Child Psychologist One of the most common things parents seek help for is their concern that their child…
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Early Childhood Independent Schools Preschools 3 mins reading
Thu, May 30, 2024

What Age to Start Preschool

The decision to begin preschool depends on what works for your family; you may need the childcare and like the…
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Middle & High School Age Parenting 15 mins reading
Tue, May 14, 2024

How to Use the “I Do, We Do, You Do” Model to Build Emotional Well-Being in Teens

Amanda Morin Former Vice President Learning and Knowledge, Jed Foundation (JED) We know that connection and a sense of belonging…
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Early Childhood Independent Schools Preschools 6 mins reading
Thu, May 9, 2024

8 Types of Preschool in NYC

Learning accumulates and accelerates in busy young minds. Understand the differences, and similarities, of preschool programs available in New York…
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Independent Schools Middle & High School Age 4 mins reading
Thu, May 2, 2024

10 Tips for Applying to Middle or High School in NYC

Applying for middle or high school at NYC independent and private schools seems complicated, especially if you didn't grow up…
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Early Childhood Elementary Age Independent Schools Middle & High School Age 3 mins reading
Wed, April 10, 2024

Financial Aid for Private School: Common Questions Answered

What is Financial Aid? Will applying for financial aid affect my chances of getting into a private school? Our helpful…
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Early Childhood Independent Schools Preschools 9 mins reading
Tue, April 2, 2024

School for Babies?

What do babies and toddlers learn in preschool? Social-emotional skills, reading, writing–even math and science! There are so many different and…
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All Ages Independent Schools 3 mins reading
Mon, April 1, 2024

NYC Private School Admissions: Get Ready Now

Applying to NYC private and independent schools in New York City is no walk in the park, but with these…
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Elementary Age Middle & High School Age Parenting 4 mins reading
Mon, March 25, 2024

Two New State Bills in New York Can Make Kids Safer Online

There are two new bills in the New York state legislature that will protect kids online, and they're gaining momentum.
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All Ages Independent Schools 3 mins reading
Thu, March 7, 2024

Surviving the Waitlist for NYC Independent Schools

What does it mean to be on a waitlist? Do waitlisted students get accepted? We answer these important questions and…
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