Upcoming preschool fair will provide parents with resources in one location

AMMON — An annual preschool fair dedicated to helping parents of young children find the right preschool for their kids to attend is happening this weekend.

Anastassia Rogers, a local mother, created a local support group for moms called “It Takes a Village in Idaho,” which is hosting the “East Idaho Preschool Fair 2025.” The free family event is open to the community. The event provides the opportunity to learn about the benefits of early childhood education and about the many resources available in the area.

It will take place on Feb. 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Snake River Montessori School, 2970 E. 1st Street in Ammon.

“I try to get as many different preschools in one space as possible so families can come and chat with them because a lot of the times that’s the hardest part for families, is there’s so many options out there. So, you have to call and set up tours and research each one and try to find the right one for your family,” Rogers explained.

This will be the fourth year the event has taken place. Since putting this preschool fair on, Rogers said she’s learned there’s a wide variety in the types of preschools that parents can enroll their children in.

“Moms are usually the ones doing the work to find the preschool for their kiddos and they’re so busy, I thought if I can get all of them in one room and moms can come chat with them all in one day, then that takes out a lot of the work for them,” Rogers said. “That’s really what ‘It takes a Village’ is about. (It’s about) making life easier for mom’s so then they can show up for their kids.”

Over 20 preschools will be present at the fair — including two from Rigby, one from Shelley and the majority being from Idaho Falls. Free snacks and drinks will be provided. There will also be activities for kids to do while their parents talk with the different preschools.

“(Bonneville Join School) District 93 will be there with their developmental preschool and so will Head Start and Parents as Teachers, which is through Eastern Idaho Public Health,” Rogers added.

Rogers said she volunteered at a similar event when she was living in Montana. Seeing how many families benefited from it sparked her interest in bringing a preschool fair to east Idaho once her family moved back here.

She said the fair has grown in attendance every year, and this year, she expects at least 200 people to attend.

She encourages parents with children who are preschool age now or will be in the future, to stop by the fair.

“Preschool is such a big decision (with) who are you going to trust to care of your kids,” she said. “Even if they don’t have a preschooler right now, it’s still nice to come and check out the different options to start thinking ahead.”

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