3 y/o beginning childcare or preschool... HELP

[jazzybaby9]

We live in Colorado- Denver Metro area and I am returning to work full-time. I'm a single mother so I'm receiving government assistance to pay for childcare while I'm looking for a job. I want to put my daughter in a program I am comfortable with... preferably Waldorf, Montessori, or something similar... government assistance tends to only be contracted with providers I'm not so comfortable with............

Can anyone help? I will cross-post in the Colorado thread

[Drummer's Wife]

I'd look into Family Star Montessori. They accept CCAP, and it's a really great program. Not sure what part of Denver you live in, but they have two locations.

Good luck finding a school you are comfortable with.

[K1329]

I wouldn't get too hung up on labels or preschool websites. Many schools in practice do not always enact their professed philosophy. Instead, visit your actual options. I loved a Montessori school website, but, in person was less than impressed. I ended up sending ds to a preschool with no label - I mean nothing. They call themselves a "day school". The teachers are grandmotherly types who probably have minimal "official" training. Yet, I couldn't have asked for a better environment for my child. I feel lucky to have him there and he LOVES his school. Parents are welcome anytime. The school is small, play-based, with plenty of fun, hands-on activities, and a fantastic outdoor play area. IMO, you should visit your options in person to see what school will be a good fit for your child. I believe this is the best way to find a place you can feel great about dropping your child off at. Good luck!

[One_Girl]

Originally Posted by K1329 

I wouldn't get too hung up on labels or preschool websites. Many schools in practice do not always enact their professed philosophy. Instead, visit your actual options. I loved a Montessori school website, but, in person was less than impressed. I ended up sending ds to a preschool with no label - I mean nothing. They call themselves a "day school". The teachers are grandmotherly types who probably have minimal "official" training. Yet, I couldn't have asked for a better environment for my child. I feel lucky to have him there and he LOVES his school. Parents are welcome anytime. The school is small, play-based, with plenty of fun, hands-on activities, and a fantastic outdoor play area. IMO, you should visit your options in person to see what school will be a good fit for your child. I believe this is the best way to find a place you can feel great about dropping your child off at. Good luck!

I agree with this. In my area a lot of daycares use the Montessori label without actually following Montessori principals, some of them even have teachers who are trained in Montessori education from reputable training places and many have just decided to tag that word on to their label because it is a fad.  There are also many daycares that call themselves play based while doing mostly boxed activities that don't follow a true play based curriculum, some even claim a curriculum then do the opposite of what it says they should be doing to have a high quality play based classroom.  I really think you should tour the daycares that accept the subsidy money and pick one that resonates with you and seems like a setting where your child will thrive. The label means nothing if your child is unhappy or isn't getting the education you were expecting based solely on what the label said.

[Drummer's Wife]

I do agree with the above two posters, but wanted to say that the Montessori program I mentioned is authentic. I worked there for 3 years, and most of the teachers are AMI trained, with the rest being AMS trained. It's also a bilingual program, as each room has at least one staff member who is Spanish speaking and another who is English speaking. It's pretty cool.

But it's true that anyone can use the name Montessori or waldorf, and there
are also wonderful programs not affiliated with any label you should consider. It just takes some time to go tour, observe in classrooms, talk to parents, and get a good feel. The problem with Denver is that the most sought after schools/daycares often have waiting lists and/or are hard to get into (many use lottery systems). It might be necessary to start out at one place, even if it's not your first choice, and work on getting into another. Still not sure what part of Denver-metro you live in, or how far you are willing to drive, but I could recommend other schools as well.

[Llyra]

I have to agree with the pps. The most important thing I'd look for, for a child that age, would not be a specific philosophy. It would be a clean, safe, caring environment. I would be asking about staff turnover, and about discipline policies, and about the food, and about whether the children spend any time in front of the TV. So I'd agree that I would be taking tours and asking questions of the providers available to you, even the ones that maybe on the surface don't look like they're the best fit for your values. I'd rather have a traditional preschool environment, and consistent loving care, than all the right philosophies and wooden toys and all that, with impatient, cranky teachers.

[jazzybaby9]

It wouldn't be a specific philosophy? Why not? She's a bright and advanced 3-year-old and I'm looking for Preschool care, not just child care.

Of course I wouldn't blindly trust and of course I would interview... that goes without saying.

Thank you for the helpful advice, Drummer's Wife.

Also, I've been pretty disappointed with our options around here. The ones I've interviewed have been grumpy women who serve hot dogs and microwavable dinners for food every day. I'm doing my best to find quality care- THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT ADVICE!

I'll be continuing the search.

Edited by jazzybaby9 - 1/8/11 at 3:48pm