On your quest to give kiddo a good education, you gather intel about local schools any way you can, even if it means eavesdropping on strangers in the Jewel checkout line.

When the secret-agent act gets old, talk to The Preschool People. The new consultancy run by former teachers Laura Gradman and Monica Lee Hughson helps families navigate the wide world of pre-K by matching them with schools that best meet their needs.

With a willingness to kick-start important conversations, Gradman and Hughson meet you in your home to discuss your priorities. Afterward, they whittle down Chicago’s list of 100-plus preschools into a suitable six to eight and supply you with facts and figures for each. Once you choose your finalists, the twosome can set up tours and interviews, and create a calendar of vital application dates.

Most impressive, they’ve gathered information by personally meeting with members of every preschool staff in their database. So you know you’re getting more than just the word on the street.

The Preschool People (312-933-3985 or thepreschoolpeople.com), $175 per hour.

	Game on. We’ve found twelve winning ways to keep the kiddos entertained.

PLAY
Dr. Seuss & the Art of Invention
What: Get inside author/artist Theodor Seuss Geisel’s imaginative noggin at an exhibit that reveals how his children’s books came to life.
Why: Have fun with Oobleck (a gooey substance made popular by his Bartholomew and the Oobleck book) and Seuss-like wheels, horns, and tubes.
When: Thru Jan. 8, 2012.
Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., at 57th St. (773-684-1414). Tickets online at msichicago.org. Adults, $20; children 3-11, $12.

BOO
Easel Art Studio’s Third Annual Pumpkin Carving
What: Give your little goblin creative license to make crooked smiles and triangle noses at the lively Halloween gathering.
Why: Dinner or lunch is included.
When: Fri., 4-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-noon & 2-4 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-noon.
Where: 1911 N. Milwaukee Ave., b/t Western & Oakley Aves. Reservations (required) to 773-360-1720. Children, $25.

SEE
The 13 Clocks
What: A modern twist on a fairy tale, the world premiere play follows a prince trying to rescue a fair lady from a high tower.
Why: Songs and puppetry spark the adventure.
When: Thru Dec. 4. Sat., 1 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Where: Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., at Farwell Ave. Tickets at 773-761-4477 or online at ovationtix.com. Adults and children, $12; under 2 not permitted.

Photo: Scott Quinn Photography / Getty Images