HELP Smithtown - why are local preschools so unsafe??? (Huntington: 2009, credit)

[ResearchMom]

The time is here, we are looking for a preschool.

Can someone simply suggest a great and SAFE preschool in the Smithtown area?? All surrounding areas are fine too :-)

To my trained scientific eye, mostly all preschools that I've recently visited seemed unsafe (Ivy League School, Smithtown Co-Op, North Shore Montessori, St. Patrick's, Imagination Preschool).

I simply do not understand the ease with which one can enter a preschool classroom, which in most cases, is practically behind the main door. No security guard, no cameras, just buzz in, come on in and a friendly lady will greet you beind the door.

Some classroom doors have glass in them, and you can see the kids practically from the comfort of your own car. On one occasion a child tried to let me in when I knocked. Until I had a child I never assumed that preschool designs are so poor! In almost all cases, the playground area is fenced in with a short, see-through fence, and there is always a gate leading to the parking lot!

All right, people will ask what is it that I want? Well, I think the children should not be visible from the main road. There should be a solid fence/wall around the playground area. There should be a security guard monitoring who is buzzing the buzzer before the door is opened.

Yes, things never get better until something bad happens.

Please help!

[AndreaII]

Check out Harbor Country Day as well - it's a little off the beaten path in a relatively exclusive area (that alone should help keep trouble away), which may be what you're looking for.

[omigawd]

I felt the same way when my daughter was a baby. I had checked out many day cares, preschools, etc and none of them fit my criteria as far as safety/security were concerned. I opted to kiss my legal career good bye and work at jobs with flexible hours so I could be home with her during the day and my husband home with her at night. My daughter is now 11 years old and I can proudly say I have never, ever left her in the care of others (no day care, no babysitters, no preschool), still made enough to pay my bills, and while I may not be happy at my current job, I do know that one day, when my daughter is older, I will go back into the legal field.

As far as my daughter is concerned? It never affected her by not being in preschools, day care or anything like that. I know people looooove that tired old "you have to socialize them".... hogwash! When my daughter entered kindergarten, she had no problem leaving me on her first day and she did great in school. Made honor roll every year, earned all sorts of awards for reading, etc, and gets along just as well, if not much better, than children who were dumped off in a day care center for 8 - 10 hours a day ----- and how much significant parental attention can you give a child that you drop off at 8am and pick up at 6pm after a long day of work? Not much if the kid is going to bed by 8pm.... enough time to eat, take a bath, and then bedtime.

[AndreaII]

Originally Posted by omigawd

I felt the same way when my daughter was a baby. I had checked out many day cares, preschools, etc and none of them fit my criteria as far as safety/security were concerned. I opted to kiss my legal career good bye and work at jobs with flexible hours so I could be home with her during the day and my husband home with her at night. My daughter is now 11 years old and I can proudly say I have never, ever left her in the care of others (no day care, no babysitters, no preschool), still made enough to pay my bills, and while I may not be happy at my current job, I do know that one day, when my daughter is older, I will go back into the legal field.

As far as my daughter is concerned? It never affected her by not being in preschools, day care or anything like that. I know people looooove that tired old "you have to socialize them".... hogwash! When my daughter entered kindergarten, she had no problem leaving me on her first day and she did great in school. Made honor roll every year, earned all sorts of awards for reading, etc, and gets along just as well, if not much better, than children who were dumped off in a day care center for 8 - 10 hours a day ----- and how much significant parental attention can you give a child that you drop off at 8am and pick up at 6pm after a long day of work? Not much if the kid is going to bed by 8pm.... enough time to eat, take a bath, and then bedtime.

I agree with the above poster. My daughter never went to day care or preschool, had no trouble in school either socially or "academically" in kindergarten, and managed to graduate from an Ivy.

Sometimes I think that preschool is pushed so that teachers can get hired and paid, and it really doesn't do a whole lot of good one way or the other for kids.

Now for parents who need babysitting, it's a nice way out of that one.

Just keep in mind all those kids who need sitting so mom and dad can go to work - well, those kids are going to preschool sick more often than not. And your child will definitely pick up all their diseases and illness.

[omigawd]

Originally Posted by AndreaII

I agree with the above poster. My daughter never went to day care or preschool, had no trouble in school either socially or "academically" in kindergarten, and managed to graduate from an Ivy.

Kudos to both you and your daughter!! Great job!

Sometimes I think that preschool is pushed so that teachers can get hired and paid, and it really doesn't do a whole lot of good one way or the other for kids.

It really doesn't do much for kids and the "teachers" aren't "teachers" at all. When I was looking around for places for my daughter, I called a few as if I was looking for a job and asked what credentials/experience/education I would need..... I was told that the only experience I really needed was watching kids, babysitting, etc. No educational requirements whatsoever.

Just keep in mind all those kids who need sitting so mom and dad can go to work - well, those kids are going to preschool sick more often than not. And your child will definitely pick up all their diseases and illness.

Absolutely. My daughter's pediatrician used to say that it was much better that she wasn't in day care, preschool, etc becuase those kids are constantly sick, constantly picking up one thing or the other, getting skin rashes, viruses, etc. I would guess it's all due to their age (4 and under) constantly sharing toys, putting things in their mouths, sharing food, etc.

[mathjak107]

my daughter works preschool and never has been sick so much,... this is her 2nd year doing it. my wife works at one here in bay terrace queens... shes immune already after so many years..


here in nyc you need a masters in education for preschool to be a full teacher and you need 6 credits in education to be an assistant where my daughter is as well as my wife. they are private schools (not day care) ... each area i guess is different based on their local school boards and requirements....

[ResearchMom]

I am so glad you two posted your experiences. Perhaps I will not go insane !

Yes, everyone is saying that I will do my child harm if he doesn't go to preschool. "Nowadays" is the word I hear a lot, nowadays it's different, nowadays they must get exposed to everything or they'll be a "wreck" (actual word used by a preschool teacher) when they enter kindergarden. And it is easy to scare me... He is an only child, and we don't have any family around. He won't have kids around him a lot, it's hard to form solid mom-kid friendships for me, we only just moved here...
That's why I worry a bit.

However, you are slowly convincing me to not go the traditional preschool route

What do you think of YMCA in Huntington? They have such an array of classes to choose from, including a short 1.5 hour "preschool" once a week. It's safe, because I'd be right there in the building, and cheap .

[omigawd]

The YMCA is a great place and they have great programs for children and families.

I hate when they use the "these days" or "nowadays" or "socializing" buzz words to "guilt" you into sending your child into a preschool or day care that is totally uneccessary.

My daughter was NEVER around other kids or adults on a regular basis (I have no family out here, either) and she was perfectly fine when her first day of Kindergarten came. As a matter of fact, she was one of the most "mature" kids in the class and was always polite/respectful (as opposed to the kids who went to day care/preschool who are accustomed to having to act out to get attention in a room full of kids).

Don't let anyone tell you it's a neccessity to send your precious child to a day care or preschool. It's not. You can easily teach him his ABCs and 123s at home and, later on, you'll truly appreciate all the time you're getting to spend with him now. Once those school years start, the time flies --- before you know it, he'll be on the stage at his HS graduation.

[Gue]

I have to say I am leery of the YMCA for young kids.

Every time my kids would have a play date to swim there or go to preteen nights with friends, they came home with breathing problems.

My kids do not have asthma. But the air quality in the building affected them.

Then I saw in Newsday this week an article connecting this.

Can't find that link~here is a different link I googled. Study links swimming pool chlorine to asthma - The Irish Times - Fri, Apr 17, 2009

I am concerned about the chlorine gases in the building.

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by AndreaII

I agree with the above poster. My daughter never went to day care or preschool, had no trouble in school either socially or "academically" in kindergarten, and managed to graduate from an Ivy.

Sometimes I think that preschool is pushed so that teachers can get hired and paid, and it really doesn't do a whole lot of good one way or the other for kids.

Now for parents who need babysitting, it's a nice way out of that one.

Just keep in mind all those kids who need sitting so mom and dad can go to work - well, those kids are going to preschool sick more often than not. And your child will definitely pick up all their diseases and illness.

I do have a school recommendation but do think your comment above is quite a conspiracy theory. I am not sure why either side of the pre-school issue has to bash. For some pre-school is necessary because of their family/work situation, for others it is their choice, and for others, they would rather be home full-time with the child and that is perfectly fine as well, if financially feasible. Not sure why either side is right or wrong, simply different. In the spirit of full-disclosure my oldest went part-time to pre-school, and my youngest now goes twice a week, in a mini-day. We had/have the option either way.

The one thing I will say regarding kindergarten and school testing these days, is unlike when we entered school (and the assumption was the learning assessment started from that first day forward) there is a presumption that a child will know certain ABC's and numbers, etc, walking in the door. And children can be pigeon-holed early on...which is not necessarily fair. Of course this can all be easily covered at home as well.

To the OP I strongly recommend B.E.S.T. Learning Academy on 454 in Smithtown. It is a front door buzz in system, with an office check-in in the front, and the children are not visible to the street, even when playing in the rear playground. I am stopped regularly with a cautious eye because I do not regularly do the pick-ups. And I have been a parent in that school for 4 years! We were very pleased with the professionalism and academics (if colors and shapes can be academic ) of the school. Good luck to you.