Are you just a parent, standing in front of a preschool, asking it to let your child in? We know that sometimes conjuring the right preschool fit is almost as daunting as getting your kid into the right college, but the odds are excellent that you'll find a great spot for your little one, and if you're in the Chelsea neighborhood, you're in luck. This famously family-friendly downtown NYC neighborhood offers plenty of wonderful options for preschool-searching parents.

Before you launch your hunt for a preschool in the Chelsea neighborhood, it helps to know what kinds of questions to ask on a preschool tour, and how other NYC parents decided on a preschool. There are also a few terms to know: Our list below sorts preschool options by type, including Traditional Preschools (which follow the NYC school calendar), Year-Round Preschools (which are in session during the summer and holiday breaks), Cooperative (which requre a time investment from parents), Dual-Language (Mandarin and Spanish preschools are popular), Religious, and Montessori or Reggio-Emelia (which both focus on child-led learning). ​

And even though it is strongly recommended that your start your search early (at least a year in advance), remember that spots do open up. Ask about wait lists if you're late to the process or new in town. Good luck!

Long Island City boasts a surprisingly robust cohort of preschools, checking just about every box a family might need. But figuring out what boxes you want to check and which schools in your neighborhood match those boxes...well, it's not always easy. If you're feeling overwhelmed in your preschool search—or if you just want to make sure you haven't missed any great options—look no further. We've rounded up the nabe's most popular preschool options and categorized them to give you a leg up on the process.

A quick overview of the preschool categories below: Year-round preschools are just what they sound like—they're up and running all year long and often offer longer coverage hours for working parents. A "traditional" preschool follows the NYC public school calendar and runs from September to June, with a curriculum that reflects that school's unique educational mission. Co-op preschools require parents to commit some of their own time to school administration, management, and/or activities. Reggio Emilia and Montessori preschools offer a curriculum focused on child-directed learning. Home-based preschools are run out of a home-like environment, rather than a school, and tend to have small classes and an intimate approach. Religious schools offer a religious component, as you might expect. And some preschools are a combination of these types—a co-op Montessori, for example.

Got it? You've got this. Now all you have to do is set up visiting dates, apply, and cross your fingers...Good luck!

New York City kids itching to get into the "spirit" of Halloween early are in luck: This weekend, the Bronx Zoo launches its revamped, month-long Boo at the Zoo, you can commune with Spooky Pumpkins at the Bronx's Botanical Garden, the 53rd Annual Ragamuffin Parade offers an opportunity to test-drive this year's costumes, Luna Park unleashes Halloween Harvest festivities, and Queens County Farm Museum invites you to get lost in its Amazing Maize Maze.

Feeling extra festive-al? On Saturday, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden celebrates one of autumn's hottest seasonal crops at its annual Chile Pepper Festival, Wyckoff Farmhouse hosts the 8th Annual Breukelen Country Fair, and kids can dive into Hudson River Park's Marine Science fest. On Sunday, head to Pelham Bay Park for the Bronx Native American Festival, to Brooklyn for the 45th Annual Atlantic Antic, or joust gallup up to Inwood for Fort Tryon Park's annual, amazing, Medieval Festival.

All that, plus the opening of the new LEGO exhibit in Queens, the Parade of Trains at Brighton Beach, the last Hans Christian Andersen tale of the year in Central Park, and an outdoor free screening of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (complete with free pretzels, popcorn, and face painting) make this a weekend for the books. Rest up in advance, and then dig in.

Hungry for more? Check out our guide to the city's best harvest fests, pumpkin patches and hayrides. Don't forget to pair our Fall Fun Guide with our event calendar when you make your weekend plans.