Recess at Half-Day Montessori

[WednesdayO]

I'm sure that all Montessori programs are different, but is it unusual for a half-day program to not have a recess period? There is one near us that has 3.5 hour session morning and afternoon without an outside recess at all.

Thanks.

[lach]

That does seem unusual. The ones that I know of have a recess. However, they also don't have a full 3 hour work period, because a 1/2 day preschool can only run so many hours and they have recess and art/music/etc. So maybe this one just decided to make the 3 hour work period a priority? Still, I think that I personally would prefer some outdoors play. Do they play outside at all? Like at the end of the day when they wait for pickup?

[MommytoHHH]

Is it a toddler classroom? Or a primary classroom? At my DD's school, both classrooms have outside time in the morning. Primary kids actually get more outside time because they are allowed to go out from the time they are dropped off until school starts at 8:30. Toddler classes get 30 minutes every morning. They only stay in if the temperature is below 32 or if it is raining. The school day for Toddler is 8:30-2 - so it's not a half day, BUT, all their work and play is in the morning - they eat lunch at 11:45 and then nap from 12:15 until almost pickup. At our school, toddlers are 18 months-3 years. Primary starts when they are 3 by 9/1 of that school year. Primary has the morning play period before school starts and a later play period before lunch. Then they start lunch at noon, and the first year primary's have a nap time from about 12:45-2. Pickup is at 2:30. I guess if they are only there for a half day, maybe the school figures that you are getting in outside time during the other part of the day. I still think it's weird though...

[WednesdayO]

lach, No, they don't have outside play at all. I found out that the location they are moving to is in a new strip, so there's not outside space at all. (It's currently in a residence.)

MommytoHHH, It's a 3-6 year old program. I thought it was weird too, because my daughter's current Montessori- and Waldorf- inspired preschool is only 4 hours, and they spend the majority of time outside!

[kittykat2481]

I once came across a preschool/daycare (they took infants) that I really liked, but their outside play area left much to be desired. No grass, dirt, trees, etc. It was like an old metal play structure thrown up on some gravel behind a shopping center/church. They said that they usually took the kids to the gym to play/exercise/etc but I just couldn't get past the thought of my child not ever being able to play outside. So I just kept looking and ended up finding a better program after all, with great outdoor space. I think that's really important in any preschool setting.

[WednesdayO]

Originally Posted by kittykat2481

I just couldn't get past the thought of my child not ever being able to play outside....I think that's really important in any preschool setting.

I totally agree! I'm a degreed former infant-PreK teacher, so I know all too well how important gross motor play and outside time is... for everyone! This center is only 3.5 hours long, so their motor play is interspersed within "work" time. I'm actually going to go visit today, because I'm so curious!!

[mamac4260]

DC's former Montessori school (we did the 3.5 hour half-day program) had a 15 minute outdoor recess. IMO that amount of time was really not sufficient for 3-6 year olds to burn off some energy.