Your head may be spinning as you sort through the differences between Montessori and Reggio Emilia, but keep in mind that the purpose of early childhood education is largely a matter of socialization—a two-year-old isn’t studying calculus in nursery school. “Your child will learn how to deal with other kids: the one who grabs toys or the one who always wants to kiss him,” says Wendy Levey, director of the Epiphany Community Nursery School. Nursery school is a good place for parents to make friends, too, so try to choose one where you think you’ll like the people. “You have to be comfortable as a family at your preschool. Trust your gut reaction,” says Bing.

Getting started Begin by looking at schools close to your home, since you’ve probably figured out by now that hauling a stroller and a toddler on the bus for 30 blocks isn’t the greatest way to start your morning. Need help finding them? For private schools, check out The Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools by Victoria Goldman. For public school options, visit InsideSchools.org. The Parents League offers workshops to demystify the process; see ParentsLeague.org for details.

Then ask yourself what you value most. Which teaching philosophy do you like: a traditional school that focuses on academics, a progressive one that concentrates on free play or, say, a Montessori school that mixes age groups? Do you need early-drop-off options or after-school programs?

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, the best way to figure it out is to visit some schools. “It’s important for parents to observe a classroom,” says Mimi Basso, head of school at West Side Montessori. “Focus on the children —how do they interact with the teachers and their classmates?”

Amanda Ulrich researched nursery schools when her daughter Lucy, now 6, was about 18 months old. “I wasn’t choosing schools based on Lucy’s learning style,” Ulrich says. “She was too young for me to know what that would be, so I narrowed it down by what I thought would be the best fit for my family.” Ulrich also found that seeing the spaces helped a ton. “One school didn’t have walls that went up to the ceiling. The noise was too much for me, and I could only imagine what it would be like for a little kid, so I crossed that one off the list.”