Conference moira::parenting_v3

We moved to Worcester near the Holden border last October and my wife looked at
several preschools in the area.  Based on factors such as cost,
facilities, activities, and openings she chose the Greendale YMCA preschool for
our daughter.

If you have any questions about it, send me electronic mail at BUNGEE::STEARNS
and I'll try to answer them.

Gil

<    I need some tips on what to look for in a pre-school curriculum. 

Please keep this topic to responses to the above question.  If you wish to
give specific recommendations, please do so by mail.

Thank you.

   Your friendly neighborhood co-moderator, Carol

Look for a place where it looks like the kids are having fun, where
there are a lot of interesting activities and projects going on, where
the use of TV is limited, and where there's a place for outdoor play.

--bonnie

    I am not sure what kind of preschool you are referring to.
    Are you talking about a daycare center that offers preschool
    program?  Or, are you talking about a "real" school?  I don't
    live in Worcester, so I cann't give you any information.
    My suggestion is to contact Child Care Search worcester office.
    They will give you a list of daycare centers or schools that
    offer preschool program.  You can then start your search by
    visiting and comparing.  I have just finished the preschool
    search for my son.  Because of my son's personnality and
    my preference, I have decided on a Montessori school.  
    Contact me off-line if you need more information.
    
    Wendy

    I, too, have just started to look into a preschool program for my
    daughter.  We would like to start her in a program in September.
    (She'll be 3 in July)  I visited a preschool program today, and 
    observed a session for 3-year-olds.  At first I was amazed at how
    well behaved they were.  They all sat at their assigned seats around
    a table and listened to the caregiver talk about the calender and
    the weather etc.  The next activity was singing some songs, followed
    by a snack, and then more music time. Prior to our arrival they
    had done a simple art project.
    
    My problem is this:  Although the children seemed well behaved, they
    didn't really seem to be having much fun.  Any spontaneous behavior
    seemed to be quickly squelched.  The caregiver seemd competant and
    caring but in the interest of keeping things under control, I felt
    that some childish exuberance was being sacrificed.
    
    Now, I know that 12 three and four year olds under the care of two
    adults cannot be allowed to run and scream or create disturbances,
    but are all preshools so orderly and controlled?  If my daughter
    had discipline problems, I might be more impressed with this type
    of environment, but I don't see any real benefit in it for her.
    
    Naturally, I plan to visit other preschools before making any
    decisions, but I'd appreciate knowing what others have experienced.
    
    thanks,  Marlene.
    

    Marlene, 
    
    We noticed this in a number of the preschools we visited, and
    wound up choosing a school for Steven that had somewhat less
    structure.  (A corollary to less structure, by the way, is that
    often the kids are dirtier and the rooms are less tidy than in a
    more structured environment.)
    
    One thing to keep in mind is that the kids will be doing different
    things at different times of the day.  Naturally during the
    structured "classroom" time things will be more disciplined than
    during free play.  Ask about the overall program and make sure
    that it has what you consider an adequate amount of time when the
    kids can choose what they do.  My own preference is for a good
    block of time when a variety of activities -- a selection of
    picture books, modelling clay, coloring, blocks, sandbox, etc.
    etc. etc. -- are available and the kids can choose what they want
    to play with and can change activities if they feel like it.  Also
    they should be allowed to play alone if they don't feel sociable.
    
    Also look at what the older kids are doing.  Sometimes the
    3-year-olds have the most structured program of all because they
    aren't as used to disciplining themselves and deciding how to
    spend their time.
    
    --bonnie

    Marlene,
    
    How long were you there?  Most preschools have a mix between
    "structured" time, and "free play"...the other thing to consider is the
    weather...if it was a rainy day, the teachers might try to keep things
    more "controlled" inside, knowing that the kids wouldn't get to let
    loose outside later.  I think its tough to judge a program on just one
    visit.
    
    That being said, I'd trust your gut.  If the kids looked bored, or
    fidgetty, or looked like they weren't haveing fun, they probably
    weren't.  But if you weren't comfortable there, its probably not the
    right place for your child.
    
    Susan 

    I spent a little over an hour at the preschool yesterday, and yes
    it is tough to judge on just one visit.  After giving it more thought,
    I think that the same program with a different caregiver would be
    more suitable for me.  I like the idea of structured activities in
    preshool, afterall Amanda has free play most of the rest of her
    waking hours.  One of the things I would like her to get out of 
    preschool is to do cooperative acitivities with other children.
    
    BTW, this preschool came highly recommended by two different friends.
    But in at least one case her three year old boy had some very aggresive
    behavior and I think her appreciation of the school stems from their
    ability to instill self-control in her child.
    
    I will keep looking, but would welcome any comment from others about
    what they have found most beneficial about sending their children
    to preschool.  In particular, pros and cons of "structured" vs.
    "unstructured" formats.  I found the reply in .6 to be very helpful.
    

    There was a segment on 60 minutes last Sunday that interviewed a
    child development/teaching specialist.  Her philosophy is that this
    country has gone way too far towards structure and control for young
    children and towards teaching them information rather than developing
    their curiosity and imagination.  She goes around the country and
    lectures to teachers.  She has a day-care/pre-kindergarten that
    is run by her assistants and her when she is there, and it looked
    really wild during the free play portions of the day.
    	Linda

       Marlene,
       
       I've had one kid who chafes under restrictions, and one highly
       structured organized kid who is easily distracted by other
       activities in the room.  The organized one does extremely well
       in an orderly, disciplined, "traditional schoolroom"
       environment but used to get a headache so she didn't have to
       stay in the room when her class broke into groups to do their
       math lessons in first grade.  The sociable one hates working
       alone, insists on working at his own speed, and doesn't even
       hear other things going on in the room when he's concentrating
       on what he wants to do.
       
       Both seem to be about equally intelligent and creative. 
       
       So the major thing is, I think, your own child's temprement and
       style.  A school that was perfect for one person might be a
       disaster for another.
       
       --bonnie

    Thank you everyone, this may have been the one point I needed to see,
    considering what apears to be problems at preschool.  Now I wonder if
    part of the problem is that AJ just isn't happy where he is because it
    is so structured.  So stuctured that on the wall of the room is a
    schedule, kind of like "if it's 12:00 it's lunch, if it's 3pm to 3:30
    we sit down and study with flash cards" day in day out.  and I'm not
    exagerating I picked him up one day and all the kids were sitting at
    the table and the teacher was using flash cards with animals relating
    to the alphabet!  I'd get bored too if I were just 3 or 4!
    
    I've already heard his happiness when he discovers on Saturday that
    there's no school, and I've heard him tell me he wants to stay home
    because of a tummy ache or headache.  Thank you for showing me what I
    was aparently not seeing.
    
    Lyn

    Could anyone give me their opinions (pro and con) about the
    Acton Childrens School ?
    
    Reach me off-line  scavax::laliberte  223-7225
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    
    thanks!
    joanne