My son is 3 and we are looking to put him into a preschool program in the coming school year. We found a nice one that is close to home. It's part of a church and they have their own building for the school. We took the tour already. They have the 3,4 and pre-k 5's in seperate classrooms and a nice playground. Also the parents are required to put in one day of help per month in the school (which i kinda like). I don't remember how many kids are in each class. Its not many. The rooms are small and cute. Now there is another preschool program in the church across the street from us. We haven't toured this yet but I talked to one of the teachers and got info. All the children are in one room. They don't have a playground ( but there is one nearby that they go to sometimes), they have a playroom inside. They do crafts and learn to write letters. All the children do th same thing regardless of age, but the younger children do get help. There are 3 instructors and the most children that they will accept in the program is 25 ( currently they have 23). Even though this program is across the stret, we were concerned that our son wouldn't be challenged enough as he get older or he may have problems with things right away. Anyone have any experience with these thypes of programs. I am right in my assumption or not. Both programs cost the same, it would be nice to be able to just go across the street for school, but not if it's not going to be the right choice.
EDIT: the second school does alot with prepping kids for kindergarten. So its not just about writing letters. Are there any 'pros' to age integrated programs? My son is actually very excited about going to preschool. My other concern is that with both programs, kids need to be able to go potty unassisted. My boy just got potty trained 2 months ago but needs help. So i hope I can get him to go himself otherwise we'll have so wet pants or floors.
While across the street is super convenient I would go with the other one for a couple of reasons - but the outside playarea is the biggest. I really think kids need to be outside every day that the weather allows. Go with yoru gut - you seem to already know you'd rather go to the less convenient one...
Hi
I would suggest the other preschool where the kids are separated by age. Being that the staff will be dealing with potty training and younger kids when the older kids can be focasing on learning letters and other stuff preparing them for kindergarten. We send our kids to a church prechool who have the kids in different rooms and compare what they know to our friends kids who just go to a day care and the difference in knowledge is incredible. (dont judge by my run-on sentences lol) Just my opinion. The preschool who travels to an outside playground how do they get there? Walk down the sidewalk? What if the teachers were not paying attention and some excited kids ran into the road?? That would worry me. But research your options and you will make the right choice :) Good luck!
Does your son need to go to preschool? In other words, will you be working or otherwise unavailable to him during this time? If not, then the best thing for him would be to have one on one time with you, playing, learning, customizing what you do based on his particular needs for that particular day. If you feel you have no option, in that you *must* work, then I wouldn't rule out the second one. Children learn very well in an age integrated environment. The age segregation thing is not good for children, really. It is a Marxist, humanist invention. Think about families. You have all ages working together. It's when you get the age segregated thing as the norm for families that you have families splintering. Older siblings with no patience or time for their younger siblings in favor of time with their peers. This is not a good thing! But, when you integrate the ages, way more learning happens. The olders learn patience and love for the younger, weaker in our society. They learn more by helping the youngers learn (you really learn something when you teach someone else!). The youngers learn to love and respect the kids a bit older than them, and they are encouraged to look up to the older kids. All around, everyone benefits! We are so programmed to think that the age segregated thing is the norm. It is not!! Well, it is now, but it is not the best way to learn or live.
I would suggest googling "Bright Horizons". They are a national childcare/preschool program. They are insanely expensive BUT they have an amazing "checklist" for comparing preschool programs with an extended list of things to "look for" in a program. We used it when looking at schools for our son and it really helped.
I wouldn't even consider the 2nd one, honestly. Go with your gut.
My daughter is in a program like the first one you described and florished. She was in a 2 year old class, but it really was age appropriate. The focused on socialization and learing to sit still during things like lunch and storytime. They did arts and crafts, and had a lot of lessions through repetitive song. Even at 2, my daughter can count to 10 in english and spanish. She kind of sings her ABC's, she misses the middle section. But more importantly, she's learned how to be away from me and respond to other adults in a position of authority, she is very social and will talk and play with other kids. I also think that her speech is better than what it would be if she stayed home. She also goes outside every day weather permitting. My daughter loves being outside and running around.
I think you need to visit each multiple times to get a better feel. No outside play space would be a red flag for me. Also, ask about staff turnover. You'll want a happy place with good employee morale.
The first one sounds like a solid preschool program, the second one just sounds like a daycare center calling itself a preschool. Quality programs separate kids by age (the needs and abilities of a four year old are VERY different than those of a two year old) and provide an outdoor space to play, EVERY day. And even though schools vary in their philosophy and focus, it is widely accepted by early childhood professionals that preschool is mainly a place to learn social, physical and emotional skills. Early learning happens through creative play, manipulative play and physical play, not by sitting getting "help" with their writing :( You may want to see if either of these programs is accredited, that is a good sign of quality as well :)
Kids don't need to learn their letters at 3, with or without help. They need to learn to separate from their parents, to engage with a teacher, to develop social skills, to learn to function in a small group (line up, sit in a circle for story), and negotiate their own space without whacking their neighbor! I'd go for the small classrooms and age-appropriate activities rather than a more chaotic setting of 25 kids in one room. That's a lot for a 3-year-old to absorb.
Also, the first program will allow your child to learn to transition to a new classroom & teachers every year, which will make the switch to kindergarten (with a new class and teacher) much easier.
