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Preschool Near Dyersburg, TN: Ages 3 to 5 at Smarty Tots Too in Newbern
Kindergarten-readiness learning for 3- to 5-year-olds · Weekdays 6:00 AM–5:30 PM · TDHS assistance accepted
The two or three years before kindergarten are when children learn to sit for a story, hold a pencil, count objects, take turns and follow a teacher’s directions. A good preschool room builds those habits through play and routine rather than worksheets alone. Smarty Tots Too is a family-owned, state-licensed child care center in Newbern that runs a preschool program for ages 3 to 5, and a lot of the families who use it are from Dyersburg.
This guide is for Dyersburg parents looking at preschool options: what children learn, how Tennessee limits class sizes, how the drive from Dyersburg works, and how to enroll, including with TDHS payment assistance.
Preschool Facts for Dyersburg Parents
- Ages: 3 to 5 years (children can also start with us as infants at 6 weeks and move up)
- Location: 625 W Main St C, Newbern, TN 38059
- From Dyersburg: a drive of roughly 15 minutes up Highway 51
- Schedule: weekdays from 6:00 AM until 5:30 PM (no weekend or holiday care)
- Licensing: state-licensed child care center, regulated by the Tennessee Department of Human Services
- Payment help: TDHS child care payment assistance accepted
- Call: (731) 627-4900
What Preschoolers Learn
The preschool curriculum at Smarty Tots Too is organized around the skills kindergarten teachers look for on the first day of school:
- Early literacy: recognizing letters, hearing the sounds inside words, and listening to read-alouds every day.
- Early math: counting, recognizing numbers, sorting by color and size, and spotting patterns.
- Writing readiness: pencil grip, tracing and learning to write their own name.
- Social and emotional skills: sharing, waiting a turn, solving small conflicts with words, and naming feelings.
- Science and exploration: hands-on activities that turn questions into small experiments.
- Creative arts and movement: drawing, painting, music, and active outdoor play for big muscles.
Our Newbern preschool program page describes the curriculum in more detail, and the article on signs a toddler is ready for preschool helps if your child is close to turning three.
A Typical Preschool Day
Children do best when the day follows a pattern they can predict. A preschool day usually moves through morning circle time with the calendar, the weather and a letter or number of the week; small-group learning with a teacher; learning centers for books, math games, blocks, art and dramatic play; outdoor time; story time; a rest or quiet period after lunch; and afternoon projects before pick-up. Because the center opens at 6:00 AM, early arrivals have a calm start before the group activities begin.
Tennessee Preschool Ratios and Group Sizes
Tennessee’s licensing rules for child care centers set two limits for each age: how many children one adult may supervise, and how large one group may get. For preschool ages, the limits are:
- 3-year-olds: one adult per nine children, groups of no more than 18
- 4-year-olds: one adult per thirteen children, groups of no more than 20
- 5-year-olds: one adult per sixteen children, groups of no more than 20
Those numbers are the legal maximum, not a target. When you visit any preschool, ask how many children are in the room on a normal day, who covers the room during teacher breaks, and how long the lead teacher has been there. Our full Tennessee daycare ratios by age guide lists every age group.
Getting From Dyersburg to Newbern
Newbern sits along Highway 51 between Dyersburg and Union City, so for most Dyersburg families the center is a straight drive of about a quarter hour. Parents who work in Newbern, Union City or along the 51 corridor often find it lands right on their commute. Try the drive once at your real drop-off time before you decide; a center with a preschool opening this term can be worth a few extra minutes in the car compared with a closer center that has a long waitlist.
How to Enroll
- Call (731) 627-4900 to ask about preschool openings for your child’s age and the start date you have in mind.
- Visit the classroom. Meet the teachers, see the learning centers, and bring your questions about ratios, rest time and potty learning.
- Apply for TDHS assistance if your family qualifies. Our Dyer County child care assistance guide walks through the steps.
- Complete the enrollment forms, including your child’s immunization record.
- Plan the first week with shorter days if your schedule allows, so your child can settle in.
Ask About Preschool Openings
Call to check what is open for your child’s age and to set up a classroom visit.
Call (731) 627-4900Preschool Near Dyersburg: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a preschool near Dyersburg, TN for ages 3 to 5?
Yes. Smarty Tots Too runs a preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 at 625 W Main St C in Newbern, a licensed child care center roughly a 15-minute drive up Highway 51 from Dyersburg. Many enrolled families live or work in Dyersburg and fit drop-off into their commute.
What will my child learn in preschool at Smarty Tots Too?
The preschool curriculum covers early literacy such as letter recognition and phonological awareness, early math like counting, sorting and patterns, writing readiness including pencil grip and name writing, plus science activities, art, music and movement. Social skills such as sharing, taking turns and naming feelings are taught every day.
What is the preschool ratio at a licensed Tennessee center?
Tennessee licensing rules allow one adult for every nine 3-year-olds with groups of up to 18, one adult for every thirteen 4-year-olds with groups of up to 20, and one adult for every sixteen 5-year-olds with groups of up to 20. Ask any center which ratio its preschool room follows.
Does my child need to be potty trained to start preschool?
Smarty Tots Too looks at potty readiness one child at a time instead of using a single cutoff. Call (731) 627-4900 to talk through where your child is right now, what the preschool room can support, and how teachers work with families during potty learning.
Can I use TDHS child care payment assistance for preschool?
Yes. Smarty Tots Too takes part in the state’s TDHS child care payment program. Parents apply with the Tennessee Department of Human Services first; an approved certificate can then be used toward preschool tuition at the center. Staff can explain how enrollment paperwork and the assistance process fit together.
What hours is the preschool open for Dyersburg families?
Doors open at 6:00 AM and close at 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday, with the center closed on weekends and major holidays. The early opening lets parents with early shifts in Dyersburg drop off in Newbern first, and the 5:30 PM close leaves time for the drive back at the end of the day.