Deciding the best educational path for your child can be a major headache. Parents attending the preschool fair at Stamford’s Holy Spirit School got a chance to weigh their options among 12 area schools Wednesday night.

Erik and Jennifer Granskog went to the fair looking for the right preschool for their 3-year-old daughter. “It’s convenient to come to one place,” said Erik. “We’ll still need to go visit, but you can get a good feel for a school this way.” Jennifer said they were looking for a school with a global perspective and an emphasis on fun and fostering a love of learning.

Twelve schools were represented at the fair, including Montessori School of Wilton and Norwalk, Childcare Learning Centers, Long Ridge School, Greenwich Catholic School, St. Cecilia Elementary, Holy Spirit School, New Canaan Country School, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sacred Heart School, Convent of the Sacred Heart and The Children’s School.

Varina Wakeman took her 17-month-old son Brig to get a sense of what was available. “You have to start looking early, and I worry I’ve actually waited too long,” she said. Wakeman and her husband wanted to check out the Montessori School because it has a wide age range and because its curriculum covers social skills as well as structured learning.

Dawn Clarke, mother of two and a representative of Holy Spirit School, organized the event. Clarke said it was important to have a central fair because parents trying to find the perfect fit for their children can feel overwhelmed. “Instead of parents sitting home and not knowing where to start, they can check out several different choices,” she said. Based on the success of the event, Clarke said Holy Spirit School hopes to expand the fair next year to include more schools.

Be part of the conversation: What do you look for in a preschool?