Does This Sound Right?

[Valkyrie9]

I took my 15 mo DD to a "Montessori" school and daycare center today to see if it might be a possible fit for her when our caregiver quits in August. When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was a group of 4 year olds gathered around a TV watching Sponge Bob. I see from an earlier thread that TV is not exactly Montessori-sanctioned. So that was a red flag.

We went to the baby room, and half the kids had runny noses and rheumy eyes, and one of the "teachers" said she wasn't feeling very well herself. We watched the kids for a while, and there was one little boy who was in a pack and play while all the other kids were running around the room. They explained that he is a biter, and they put him in the P&P frequently because that's the only way they can get him to stop. Am I nuts in thinking that they need to get the parents to straighten that out, and then they can bring him back? I hate the thought of my daughter being around a kid who wears that label around with little done to stop it.

Finally, the whole room was taken up by pack and plays set up along the walls, there was some floor space, and then a desk area for the kids to color at. Not much else, but some baskets of toys and a changing table. The women there said there isn't much they can do Montessori-related for kids 1-2 years old. Is that so?

I don't mean to be an igmo, but this is the first kind of daycare I have even looked into, so I'm not sure what normal practice is. I just had the impression Montessori was less of a baby dump and more of an interactive experience. Did I just find a bad place?

[arahzel]

DD's school allows children as young as 12 months as long as they are walking. We started her as soon as she was walking. I've never seen a TV in any of the classrooms I've been in. There is no pack and play type item set up anywhere.

There are strict rules that we have to adhere to in regard to any sickness. The child cannot return to school for 24 hours if they have a fever of 100 or higher. The only thing they've made exception for me on is DD's pinkeye that was seasonal allergy related (she gets super crust-eyed if I miss her Zyrtec dose).

A few suggestions before you turn away completely. I would ask the director/directress if that was the norm or if it was perhaps an end of the year treat. And as far as the little ones all being sick, some of it could have been allergies/teething. I would definitely ask what for a copy of the school handbook to mull over before you make your decision. If they don't even have a handbook, nix the school.

Anyone can use the Montessori name. DD's school isn't affiliated with any of the larger accredidations, but they follow the teachings pretty closely. There are a lot of activities for the younger children. There is the fruit cutting lesson, where the child simulates cutting two pieces of fruit with a "knife". There are sorting lessons, where they sort by color and size. There are cause and effect lessons, like pushing a cotton ball through a tube will make it appear on the other side. There are the "life <something, can't remember the word now>" lessons where, the kids will pour water from one container to another, or put beans from one container to another.

There are a lot of lessons the little ones can do! And this is all in the tots room where DD is right now (think she's moving up this summer to the toddler room). In addition to this, there are toys and books that the kids have available, and each room has an animal for the kids to help take care of.

I know not all lessons are available at once. They have shelves that they turn around to hide or show them. There are mats the kids use to sit on with their lessons, signaling for the others to stay away.

You might want to inquire how long the school has been open, and whether the supervision has changed hands recently. Did someone recommend this school to you? It doesn't sound like a good first impression at all!

Rahnee

[kaydee]

If I were in your situation, I would definitely look for a different care center.

[jcrites]

TV sounds wrong (especially Spongebob!!!!) and so does the 'basket of toys'. One thing about your post that I wasn't sure about was the biting...while I wouldn't put him in a P&P, I wouldn't expect the parents to take him out of school to 'straighten it out' before bringing him back. Biting is simply a fact of life and can go on for a very long time (ie, year or so). It stinks seeing a bite mark on your dc when s/he comes home from school/daycare (believe me, I know!), but in the end, it's their way of communicating when they don't have the words. When a child bites, it's an opportunity for the teachers to 'teach' the child what to say when they're angry/frustrated rather than biting or hitting or scratching or anything else. In fact, I expect the teachers to play as big a role as the parents in teaching a child when this happens (and NOT put them in a P&P to exclude them from the other children). I understand your concern...but just know that your child could easily be the biter rather than the bitten and there's really no rhyme or reason as to why a child becomes a biter (ie, can't blame the parents).

[Valkyrie9]

Originally Posted by jcrites

I understand your concern...but just know that your child could easily be the biter rather than the bitten and there's really no rhyme or reason as to why a child becomes a biter (ie, can't blame the parents).

I know that you are right, and that it is just going to kill me the first time DD comes home with bite marks on her. Or worse, find out that they've nicknamed her "Fang" and that she's auditioning for the new Buffy movie. But I really like your point about how they should be working with him as the parents should be, and helping him to find ways of expression.

I just got an awful read on the place, and no, it wasn't recommended. I had done a city search for daycare options near my work and found this place was in range and had the label "Montessori" on it. I'll keep looking--I really do think the precepts are right in line with my DD's way of thinking and learning style, and hope to find her a great opportunity. Thanks for the inputs!

[J's Mama]

Run away!

This is definitely NOT Montessori. I feel in a position to say this because I am a certified Montessori Infant and Toddler teacher. If there were "not much they could do" with children this young, there wouldn't be a training program and the fact that they would say that is evidence that they're not trained. (maybe in ANYTHING!) Hearing these kinds of examples drives me crazy because I think it happens to alot of parents. The problem is that the name "Montessori" is in the public domain so anyone who wants to, can call their school Montesorri to draw in business. Investigate. Check out the website for the American Montessori Society. And if you check out any other places please ask them if they are accredited by either AMS or AMI (the international montessori society).
Also to look for: NO packand plays, low shelves with wooden toys, mirrors, stairs, foam climbing blocks, art hung low on walls for children to enjoy, NO TV!!, opportunities to play with water, etc.
Siobhan

[Flor]

I think the important thing in your post is the "Montessori" with quotation marks around it. Remember that anyone can use the term Montessori, it isn't copyrighted and doesn't guarentee anything. The AMI and (oops, what the other one? Our school is AMI) certify Montessori schools. Our school starts at 2 years old-- no pack n' plays or Sponge Bob.

[kaydee]

Originally Posted by Flor

I think the important thing in your post is the "Montessori" with quotation marks around it. Remember that anyone can use the term Montessori, it isn't copyrighted and doesn't guarentee anything. The AMI and (oops, what the other one? Our school is AMI) certify Montessori schools. Our school starts at 2 years old-- no pack n' plays or Sponge Bob.

: The other big one is American Montessori Society (AMS). An AMS certified school would not have a TV or Pack-n-Play either.

[Drummer's Wife]

Definitely not Montessori. A Nido or IC should have large open space, no containers (high chairs, swings, bouncers, play yards, cribs, etc..) futon's to sleep on. low table and chairs to eat at. low shelves with manipulatives, mobiles, photographs, practical life materials, language, art, math... etc. Definitely no spongebob, not even on a kids shirt lol.

There are good infant and toddler programs in some areas but there are more than twice as many that are just using Montessori in the name to charge high tuition and mislead parents.

Teachers trained in AMI or AMS are a must. It's not enough to have a Montessori environement and materials and staff who aren't educated on Montessori.

Hope you find something you are happy with for your DD. If you do find a true M program for her I think you will be happy with it.

[tbone]

If your gut feeling about the place is not good, then that place should definately be off your list. Listen to your intuition, as much as I love montessori, just b/c it says "montessori" doesn't make it better.

[Valkyrie9]

I went to another place today--what a radical difference between the first one and the one today! There was no television, no pack and plays, the noise level was WAY lower. They explained about their "Peace Rose" to help kids settle their own conflicts (as opposed to sticking The Biter in the crib so he couldn't hurt anyone), they have healthy snacks with a lot of organic stuff available, etc.

You guys' information was really valuable to me today. DD seemed to be very interested in the tasks the kids were performing, and I saw a lot of the things she does already that we think are really neat (like dusting and putting things back where they belong) are nurtured and developed there. I think I'll take DH to check it out, and maybe we have found the place for us. Thank you again!

Oh, and they are certified!

[wrzos]

Yeah! So glad this one looked/felt better... nak

[DebHibb]

Originally Posted by kaydee

If I were in your situation, I would definitely look for a different care center.

Absolutely agree!!

[Kirsten]

I don't let my ten year old watch Spongebob; I certainly wouldn't want it being played at a childcare center... Ugh.

[tbone]

It's such a great feeling when you finally find the right school for your child!