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Why are "just recently 2 years old and now just recently turned three" kids going to school, with actual teachers? Whatever happened to Nursery School, which was really just a glorified group babysitting program where you got to learn how to pick out the picture of a cat in three posters of pictures, and fingerpaint, and play musical chairs, and eat paste?
Why are "just recently 2 years old and now just recently turned three" kids going to school, with actual teachers? Whatever happened to Nursery School, which was really just a glorified group babysitting program where you got to learn how to pick out the picture of a cat in three posters of pictures, and fingerpaint, and play musical chairs, and eat paste?
That's what nursery school still is, in most cases. As a parent, I want my child to have teachers/caregivers with good training who know what they're doing with that age of children, rather than someone to "babysit" them in a group.
If I was to do it all over again, I'd be sure that at 3 I'd look for a school that was fun, and emphasized social interactions, at 4 focused on fun and kindergarten readiness. There's plenty of time for academics once they hit kindergarten.
^^agree^^
Also, I wouldn't worry about state accreditation. Trust your gut. Go small & loving at this age. Good luck.
Also, I wouldn't worry about state accreditation. Trust your gut. Go small & loving at this age. Good luck.
Thanks. I agree also, re: emphasizing fun and socialization at this age and having time for academics later. I am of the school of thought that kids need time to be kids. If the learning is fun and woven into other activities, I see that as a bonus.
The reason state/national accreditation was important for me in the program we ultimately chose was to have a marker for the teacher training and health/safety issues. Additionally, my state requires no more than 10 kids per teacher, and some of the higher ranked programs actually have smaller ratios (like 1:7).
Holy carp! That's more than most people's mortgage.
What were they offering for $2800 for preschool? Better be an instant admission to Harvard.
Our DD has been in an all-day Montessori program since she was just over two and is now finishing her 2nd year of preschool with K coming up next year. We're delighted with the school - staff, teachers, programs and after-school offerings - which costs about $10K per year plus the summer program. The results from our perspective are that our daughter is well-socialized, inquisitive, knows how to behave in almost all situations, can do all her basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide), can read at a 3rd grade level, and communicates well not only in English but can speak a bit of French (from school) as well. How much of this is purely a result of the Montessori environment may be arguable, but she's thriving there.
We're moving her to another school for K next year. We certainly have no problem with the current school, but the new school will allow her to complete the Montessori 3-year cycle and then continue at that same school through the 8th grade. Tuition next year will be $20K+. It's a stretch but we look at it as investing in her future success.
Our DD has been in an all-day Montessori program since she was just over two and is now finishing her 2nd year of preschool with K coming up next year. We're delighted with the school - staff, teachers, programs and after-school offerings - which costs about $10K per year plus the summer program. The results from our perspective are that our daughter is well-socialized, inquisitive, knows how to behave in almost all situations, can do all her basic math (add, subtract, multiply, divide), can read at a 3rd grade level, and communicates well not only in English but can speak a bit of French (from school) as well. How much of this is purely a result of the Montessori environment may be arguable, but she's thriving there.
We're moving her to another school for K next year. We certainly have no problem with the current school, but the new school will allow her to complete the Montessori 3-year cycle and then continue at that same school through the 8th grade. Tuition next year will be $20K+. It's a stretch but we look at it as investing in her future success.
I'm glad your DD has thrived at Montessori - all parents I have spoken with who are able to send their children to Montessori programs have wonderful things to say about the programs. Unfortunately, for a lot of folks, the cost is just prohibitive.
The thing that was most important to me in searching out (non-Montessori) programs was to find a school environment that would also foster curiosity and a love of learning, as reported by Montessori families. I consider that another way to invest in future success!
I'm glad your DD has thrived at Montessori - all parents I have spoken with who are able to send their children to Montessori programs have wonderful things to say about the programs. Unfortunately, for a lot of folks, the cost is just prohibitive.
The thing that was most important to me in searching out (non-Montessori) programs was to find a school environment that would also foster curiosity and a love of learning, as reported by Montessori families. I consider that another way to invest in future success!
It absolutely is. I never attended preschool nor Kindergarten, but was taught a love of learning and exploration by the grandparents who raised me. The first day of first grade was the first time I set foot in a school - and despite that inauspicious beginning, I've turned out more or less ok (despite what some in other forums here may think!)
It absolutely is. I never attended preschool nor Kindergarten, but was taught a love of learning and exploration by the grandparents who raised me. The first day of first grade was the first time I set foot in a school - and despite that inauspicious beginning, I've turned out more or less ok (despite what some in other forums here may think!)
Haha - that's funny - my sibs and I started school in kindergarten and joke around that not going to nursery school really kept us down (we're a psychologist, elementary ed teacher and medical student, respectively). Your story actually highlights the importance of family in instilling that love of learning.
My general thought is there are a lot of paths towards helping kids love learning and a lot of paths towards future success, as long as the function is the same, the means isn't necessarily the most important thing, if that makes sense.
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It's a stretch but we look at it as investing in her future success.
