So after a looooong search, I have found a preschool that I think I feel comfortable sending my son to. It is clean, new, priced well and teaches the children a lot. Only thing is, is that it is only 2 years old, so there aren't that many kids in the school (it has gotten great reviews though). There are only 20 kids in the school and about 4-5 in my son's class. The director anticipates more students eventually. Do you think that is too little. I don't want more than 12 kids in his class, but 4? I know that he will get a lot of individual attention, but I also want him to have kids to play and interact with. He is very shy at first, but opens up after a little while, so I kinda thought the smaller class would be ok. What do you all think?
Thanks so much for all your reassurance. My husband is going to take a look at the school tomorrow. As long as I get his seal of approval :) we are signing our son up. After reading all your responses, I'm really excited about the class size now. Thanks!
I think that is the perfect size for starting out. My daughter is horrible with separation, buit does much better when she has closer to a one on one relationship with the adult in charge.
Also, at that age having fewer is better because typically they do not really play with the other kids so much as play along side them.
Good luck!
You are really fortunate to find this school with such a low ratio. A classroom of 12-20 is done for economic/business reasons, it is not the ideal way to care for children of this age. At two years of age, the most ideal situation is 3-4 more kids to form a more personal trusting relationship, as well as with the lead teacher. I work in a program that is considered high quality, and our toddler class size maximum is 8 children. Having more than that doesn't meet the children's needs, and creates stress for toddlers. Even when you have enough teachers, bigger classes are a bad idea. Think about it, do you bond better in small groups or large groups? Feel more at ease to be yourself in small close-knit groups or large chaotic ones? Count your blessings while this lasts:)
Sounds like the dream class to me.
My daughter is going to a Catholic preschool with only 4 kids in the class. She already knows 2 of the kids that will be in her class. I don't think it's too little. Actually, I think it's better! He will be able to get a lot more one on one attention than he would in a larger class. Also, he'll probably feel more comfortable with the smaller class.
Also, i don't think sending him to preschool is "institutionalizing" him. Preschools are good for a lot of reasons. It helps to ease young children into Kindergarten and gives them the skill set they need to start school. :) I love the idea of preschool and my daughter will go for 2 years.
4 to 5 kids would be just fine. At that age they play side by side. He will get get the socialization that preschool is about. I grew up in England and they call it playschool and it what is at that age. If he doesn't have kids to play with at home he will have fun no matter how many kids are in the class. He doesn't know how many should be there. There will be room if you if other people you know wish to sign up. New schools take time to get a started, clean and new is what you liked too. I would rather have a new, clean school with a small class- than the other way around.
Good preschools fill up by word of mouth. Most schools are just starting now and most preschools start closer to Labor Day. Getting him in now with just a few kids, since he is shy, is a good thing. As enrollment goes up he will be introduced to new kids one at a time. If you are nervous about there being too many at some point, ask the director what the max # of kids per classroom will be in the school. Depending on the age no more than 10 kids (per teacher) is a good number. If you are happy with her max # then I would go ahead and sign him up. Good reviews for a good price ...that's hard to come by in preschool.
My son's ENTIRE preschool would average between 15 & 20 kids. There'd typically be 8 or 9 in the morning and ditto in the afternoon. The school was 25 years old, and phenomenal. They kept it very very small on purpose. 4 years after "graduating" we still go back occasionally to visit... and kiddo remembers ALL his friends from the school (he had 3 best mates, and 5 more kids he really liked, but he knew *everyone*).
We couldn't have been happier with it. It was like being a part of a large family.
Its fine.
It will be fine.
Your son will probably do fine with the small class size. It is a positive thing.
My daughter was/is shy too. And when she was young like that, she did better in smaller classes. Which the Teacher even said so. And I agreed. Because I knew my daughter.
As she got older, my daughter naturally got less shy. But, being 'shy' is NOT a bad thing... my daughter is actually very perceptive and wise and self-confident for her age.. .and discerning. So I never treated her 'shyness' as a negative thing. I nurtured her. She is also very socially cognizant... more so than other kids her age or older.
I think, there is no problem with your son's small class size.
all the best,
Susan
I agree that with preschool class size--smaller is better!
Children don't need preschool. If I had to send my child to a preschool, I would prefer one as small as possible. I think that is a huge bonus as they won't get run over by other kids, survival of the fittest won't rule the day, and the teachers will actually have an opportunity to work on character, which is sadly missing in most schools. So, if you have to send him, this one sounds like it has the benefit of a small class. Children were born into families, to be nurtured in the family. Children weren't made to be institutionalized. :) This institution has the size more like a family, therefore, it is better for him than a larger one would be.
That sounds wonderful! I love that my daughter's 3 year old class maxes out at 10 kids. They are little--they don't need a whole gaggle of friends yet. And, the best part, is the less kids, the less germies he'll be exposed to. My friends daughter is at another school with 20 kids/class and she is constantly sick with one thing or another! Oh boy, could I have a heyday with Tonya's comments below, but I will bite my tongue. Preschool is awesome--so much fun for the kids and they learn so many more things from the other kids and their teachers than you could ever teach them alone. It takes a village-i don't think it matters if that village includes teachers who often love your child A LOT! Ok, so I didn't totally bite my tongue....;)Best of luck!
at 2 years old having 4-5 kids in his class sounds ideal actually. It is a great way to transition him. Starting small and lettiing him adjust to not being the only one and as he gets older class size will increase.
My son is 3 and is starting in a couple of weeks. He is in the afternoon session so we were told there probably would be about 6 kids. We personally like this because we think he would be overwhelmed starting in a class with a lot of kids and would benefit more from the individual attention. I would say its a good way for your son to start as well and maybe by next year there will be more kids. It really depends on your child though. Hope this helps and good luck!
It sounds like a a good arrangement for your son since he is shy. The only possible problem is if there is a personality conflict in a small group, but that is unlikely.
As for the post that children do not need preschool. They do if they want to start out even with other kids when they start kindergarten (which is now more about academics than when we were kids). I was put in K with no preschool 30+ years ago. I was one of the youngest kids in the class and shy besides and had a rough time for 2 years. My son has just finished his first year of preschool and the first half the year was all about sorting out behavior issues (luckily he had a great teacher). Starting him in a small class is a great transition.
I think it sounds fabulous and you should be excited! I hope your husband agrees with your choice!
