daycare/preschool question

[tuesdaymom]

My dd will be 20 months this week and starting daycare @ 23 months. We went yesterday to look @ a place for the second time yestaerday. They let her sit in and eat lunch. When we walked into the class 24 to 30 month old class they sitting @ tables doing puzzles. My dd just went right in and starting doing the puzzles (shape puzzle) they were like she knows her shapes. So I said yes she does and some other things. My question really is do I tell them everything she knows or let them see her when she starts. One teacher from another class was helping out yeterday said @ the end we did matching colors and she got them all. I just don't want to come off like my dd knows everything but I don't want her to not get what she needs. She can do 12 piece puzzles but just enjoys puzzles so she will do any puzzle really. I thought she could only count to five and last night she counted to 13 and the same with her letters I thought ok 1/4 she actually knows more than half. This week was just a bigger eye opener for me. Sorry for rammbling on.

[VisionaryMom]

I don't think at daycare/preschool they're going to do much with her if she knows more than the other kids. I also think it's pretty likely that a few more kids will be at the place where your daughter is. Even if there aren't, that level of knowledge isn't at the point that it's likely she will have social problems or anything like that.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I am sure they will be able to acertain pretty quickly what she knows and what she doesn't yet, as well as her strengths, weaknesses, interests, and non-interests.  Its their job.  ;-) And I can proudly say that my DCP are very very good at what they do. 

[ollyoxenfree]

Unless it's a Waldorf-type preschool that might discourage her from demonstrating what she knows or considers early knowledge to be a developmental problem, I wouldn't be too concerned. It doesn't sound like it's Waldorf though. If the daycare providers are sensitive and in-tune with the children, they will figure out her abilities and preferences fairly quickly. There's likely to be an adjustment period while they get to know her and she settles in.  

Best wishes with this next step. 

[tuesdaymom]

Thanks!  I think she will be fine she went home and told my husband I made a friend.  She is very social I think its more me :) The teachers seem really nice and know what there doing.  i just have to relax.  Thanks

[physmom]

Fwiw, DD was a very different kid at daycare than at home (actually, it's a general rule when she's in public).  She doesn't speak nearly as much and normally is quite shy. She also doesn't gravitate to "academic" interests but is much more interested in interacting with the kids, dancing, exploring her new surroundings, etc. Granted, her daycare was in a third language to her that she only had limited exposure to before that but knowing how she acts in social situations in general it's not like she would've been there counting past 20 even if things were in English

I will say that even though she doesn't talk about these things in public (it also seems to be at 10pm at night when I so desperately want to sleep!) she did enjoy herself quite a bit at daycare and made bonds with both the kids there and the caregivers. Hers was a multi-age environment (ages 0-12) and that worked very well for her.

ETA:  Even though the daycare never say her academic skills (actually they commented once about how she was right on par with other kids her age when it came to her vocab, but again that was in her third language...), they did make comments about how curious she was and how the other kids would just go play with the toys but how she'd go and search through the cabinets that they had there and try to go to the administrative part and look through everything. 

[tuesdaymom]

Originally Posted by physmom 

Fwiw, DD was a very different kid at daycare than at home (actually, it's a general rule when she's in public).  She doesn't speak nearly as much and normally is quite shy. She also doesn't gravitate to "academic" interests but is much more interested in interacting with the kids, dancing, exploring her new surroundings, etc. Granted, her daycare was in a third language to her that she only had limited exposure to before that but knowing how she acts in social situations in general it's not like she would've been there counting past 20 even if things were in English

I will say that even though she doesn't talk about these things in public (it also seems to be at 10pm at night when I so desperately want to sleep!) she did enjoy herself quite a bit at daycare and made bonds with both the kids there and the caregivers. Hers was a multi-age environment (ages 0-12) and that worked very well for her.

ETA:  Even though the daycare never say her academic skills (actually they commented once about how she was right on par with other kids her age when it came to her vocab, but again that was in her third language...), they did make comments about how curious she was and how the other kids would just go play with the toys but how she'd go and search through the cabinets that they had there and try to go to the administrative part and look through everything. 

I looked at the montessori school in our area it does look very nice but not in our budget.  I was thinking that also she might be different in daycare then at home.  I need to stop thinking about it.  I'm just going to drive myself crazy.  She is a talker. She talks to everyone and anyone doesn't matter where we are.  We were in the Doctors office 2 weeks ago and I just felt like people wouldn't stop stairing.   She went up to everyone saying hi and telling them her name playing with the bead maze counting them.  They are very cute and love there imaginations :)  

[joensally]

DD attended a play-based preschool and loved it.  The key was non-academic. 

[tuesdaymom]

Silly question but how would I know if its playbased.   I think that would probably be a better fit for her.

[VisionaryMom]

Originally Posted by tuesdaymom 

Silly question but how would I know if its playbased.   I think that would probably be a better fit for her.

They won't have worksheets or activities designed solely to teach the children. The children will learn, of course, through play, but there's no teacher saying "this is the letter 'a'."

[tuesdaymom]

Originally Posted by VisionaryMom 

They won't have worksheets or activities designed solely to teach the children. The children will learn, of course, through play, but there's no teacher saying "this is the letter 'a'."

Thanks!  :) That makes sense.  That's basicly is what my Dad does with her @ home now everything is through play.  I think thats how it works there anyway.  I just drive my self crazy sometimes.  I just don't stop thinking sometimes :)