INWOOD — Inwood's newest preschool isn't content with just teaching children the ABC's in English — it's adding French to the curriculum.
City Kids Preschool, a new private preschool opening across the street from I.S. 52 at 631 Academy Street, will include weekly French instruction when it opens in September.
"We wanted to come up with a language to teach the kid, and you know Spanish is so common these days," said preschool owner Jennifer De La Cruz. "French is something that isn't as common in schools."
During the once-weekly French lessons, children ages 2 to 5 will learn the alphabet and basic words, De La Cruz said.
In addition to French, the preschool will introduce youngsters to art, music, yoga and science as part of the seven-month program that will run daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"We have a really creative curriculum," De La Cruz, 27, said.
Children aren't the only ones getting schooled, either. The preschool will hold monthly parent workshops aimed at providing moms and dads with important information, such as nutrition classes.
De La Cruz and her husband, Victor — Washington Heights natives who have known each other since attending Brandeis High School — decided to open the preschool after running a Tiny Prints Day Care out of their Washington Heights apartment for four years.
"It's been a dream of mine to open a preschool," said De La Cruz, who estimated that she had been searching for a location to open the school for more than three years. "It just happened that we found the perfect location."
The preschool is starting small: City Kids will have 16 children and employ three certified teachers when it opens, but De La Cruz said that if the program is successful they will look to expand to a second location nearby in Inwood.
With 11 seats still open, City Kids is hosting an open house for interested parents on Aug. 11 from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information on City Kids preschool email info@citykidsnyc.com.
