How far would you commute for a Montessori education?

[gottaknit]

We're seriously considering sending DS to Montessori this fall. There's only one big problem (besides the high tuition) - it's a 30 minute drive away!

We live in a small town, and the only preschool options here are Christian. (No offense intended towards Christians, but we are not Christian. I don't want DS receiving religious instruction in something we don't believe in.)

The school day for his age group is only three hours long, five days a week. I would be spending two hours a day on the road. I'm having a baby in October. Is this just a really awful idea?

Sticking around the town while he's in school in order to make one trip isn't really an option, either. The town is tiny and I don't know how I'd "kill time" for three hours with a newborn.

Car-pooling would be nice, but our car only fits two car seats (which would be taken up by my two kids), so I couldn't take a turn driving someone else's child. I suppose I could pay another mom to take him every day, but this just adds more expense to something that will already cost about 10% of our income.

What would you do?

[Drummer's Wife]

You could try it and see how it goes. I did similar when dd was 3. She went 5 days 3 hrs a day and I did end up spending a lot of time driving as it was about 30 min each direction depending on traffic. But to me it was worth it though eventually dh took her in the morning and I picked her up at noon which was much better.

I'm gonna do it again for a public M school in another district but since dd will be in 1st grade she'll be there a couple more hrs a day. I'm justifying the extra gas and time commuting since it's free Montessori.

Good luck figuring it out!

[boatbaby]

We are doing an almost 30 minute commute this fall for a Montessori preschool. But ours is actually less expensive than the ones close by...
My plan is to hang out near the school on our school days. I am fortunate to have a friend who lives near by... I asked him if I could bring my laptop to his house and do some work, there is a gym near there, a nice grocery store, etc. have seen many a mom and dad at this particular school hanging out in their cars for the duration, reading, working on computer, on the phone, napping

Having a baby in the fall makes it infinitely more challenging for you, but consider your options around the school for killing time or getting things done?

[caeden&connersmom]

We will be driving 1/2 hour each way, so an hour a day to take the boys to Montessori. There is one a little closer but they only go through 2nd grade, whereas the one we enrolled them in goes through 8th grade and is accredited.

[wrzos]

I'm laughing, not at your situation (which I realize is a real concern for you) but that you are concerned about 30 minutes, and I'm assuming that where you are located that this is several miles from your home. I'll have a 30 minute (allotted time, could only take 20 on VERY good days) commute each way to take ds to M school this fall, and the school is 6 miles from my house. :

Anyway, we are hoping that dh can drop him on the way to work, and I'll do pick-up. This way, I'm not out the 30 minutes each way for both trips. As an added bonus, dh rides his bike to work, so while it would still be a 30 minute trip for them in the morning, it would be a lovely bike ride, rather than the traffic jam seen thru a car window that he'd get riding with me.

[Melda]

we do a 20-25 minute commute every day to our M school. I am fortunate enough to have a few people to carpool with (but didnt always). I was at one point driving up ther 3 times a day (dd pt ds ft) ...

[jeteaa]

IMO the commute is not worth is for just preschool. the pre 7 years should be FUN, free play, outside exploration. Given that montessori tends to be more rigid and less creative, the added car ride makes for a long day for a IMO too structured of a day.

[EmmaandKate'sMom]

Originally Posted by jeteaa

IMO the commute is not worth is for just preschool. the pre 7 years should be FUN, free play, outside exploration. Given that montessori tends to be more rigid and less creative, the added car ride makes for a long day for a IMO too structured of a day.

I disagree with the last comment. The commute is absolutely worth it! In the first place, calling an authentic Montessori education "PRE-school" belittles what Montessori education is. There has been current brain research that supports Montessori's ideas that the child's brain is like a sponge- Montessori called it the Absorbent Mind. Why would you want to not offer your child the opportunity to have contact with materials that will engage and develop her brain? The children need and THOUROUGHLY ENJOY the uninterrupted work cycle that a Montessori classroom provides.

Also, the school my daughter attends does provide time for outside exploration and free play every day. A child's life needs balance- no different than a grown person. Adults should respect the whole child, and a Montessori classroom supports the whole child. Practical Life skills, sensorial, math, language, cultural arts, free art- whatever it is the child CHOOSES to do that day. The classroom is orderly, but it's because the child is taught to respect the materials s/he is working with- and the child is taught to put the materials back the way s/he found them so that the materials are ready for the next child.

Maria Montessori, a genious IMO, worked for many decades on developing materials that are profound in the way they entice the children to work with them and teach the child a concept. I find it difficult to believe that most parents could afford to purchase all these materials for home use or can create materials that are equal to hers.

Having said that, I feel badly for parents who cannot afford to send their child to an accredited Montessori school. I understand that money doesn't grow on trees- I wish it did!

[Sparkle*Mama]

We communte anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. My dd will be 3 in Dec and she absolutely loves it. Its worth the drive 4 days a week.

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by jeteaa

IMO the commute is not worth is for just preschool. the pre 7 years should be FUN, free play, outside exploration. Given that montessori tends to be more rigid and less creative, the added car ride makes for a long day for a IMO too structured of a day.

I would have agreed with you a few months ago. I never thought I'd send my child to "preschool". Then I actually checked it out, after hearing friends and their kids rave about it.

The kids love it. And the changes I've seen in the kids I know who attend are amazing. They are so much better at problem solving, much more focused in their play, get along better with each other, actually pick up their toys when they're done playing without being asked... I actually heard one 4 year old kid say to his little brother when the little one got frustrated and started to have a tantrum, "Wait. What would you do right now if we were at school?" The little (2 1/2 year old!) kid stopped in his tracks and worked it out without a tantrum or adult intervention.

It's hard to explain if you haven't seen it in action. I know people think Montessori is "rigid", but it's really not like that. And the school day is only 3 hours; there's still all afternoon for dirt-playing and chicken-chasing at home.

[tbone]

I drive about 20 minutes each way for ds who goes 3 hrs, 5 days. I had a new baby when he first started too, and I was a little worried initially, but then we got into the swing of things. I chose that M school b/c it was the best fit for ds. There are 4 other M schools within 5 - 10 minutes from our house and they do not require me to sit in traffic or go on the highway, but to me it is well worth it to go where I know Ds will be most comfortable and where he would learn the best.

I struggled with the decision of choosing one of the ones close by or the one in another town, but ultimately I know I made the best choice for us.

[jennaugustson]

Our closest montessori school is about an hour away. We're trying to decide what will be best for our kids. Our dd is 4, and we are becoming more and more discouraged w/ the idea of traditional schooling, but don't think we can afford the ~$6,000 tuition, plus GAS!! Wish we had one closer..

[christiab]

I'm driving 15 miles for DS's school. On days that I don't go to work, it is 30 min each way and 30 miles of extra driving. So far, I'm happy w/ the school and the changes I see in DS.

We switched from a supposedly Reggio-inspired school that was a free-for-all. It was on my way to work and 1 mile from DH's job. I'll suck up the drive for a better experience. At least I'm not complaining about the teachers anymore.

[nkm1968]

Commute

Right now my dd (age 6) goes to a Montessori preprimary that is 6 miles from our house, about 15 minute drive, and is close to the freeway that then takes me another 35 minutes (19 miles) to work. Next year we'll probably send her to the Catholic Montessori right near my work, so it will be 35-40 minute commute each way. But, the Catholic Montessori is in an interesting urban neighborhood with museums, resteraunts, galleries, and a great community (much better than the generic burb we live in).

[anotherKatrina]

Hi. I did the 30min commute for my son for years until we finally moved into the neighborhood where the school is located. It's something you just kinda get used to until it feels normal. It was hard with a new baby though...

I agree with a pp. Give it a try and see how it goes. If it's the best environment for your son, then things seem to have a way of working themselves out.

Best of luck!

[anotherKatrina]

Originally Posted by nkm1968

But, the Catholic Montessori is in an interesting urban neighborhood with museums, resteraunts, galleries, and a great community.

I would love to have an option like this!

[gr8tfulmom]

40 minutes one way. It was our only M option, now the girls have moved into the middle school which is not M, but college prep. I'm not so sure how long we will be continuing the commute.

[mariamaroo]

Starting tomorrow we will be driving 35-40 minutes each way 3 days a week to a Montessori preschool. DD (almost 4 yo) is So Excited. I am worried about the long days (it's a 6 hour school day) and the commute and all the rest. As someone who is very committed to homeschooling from Kindergarten onI'm very ambivalent about her going to school at all, but she really wants to go and I think it will be good for her in a number of ways to have a up to a year with a group of kids, other adults in charge, messy art projects that I'm not set up for, etc.

The school has a nice 6 week provisional period during which they or we can unilaterally decide it's not going to work out and dd can withdraw with no further financial obligation, etc. I don't know if most Montessori schools have a similar policy. My mind is very open to taking her out if it doesn't work.

I'm a single mom with little or no babysitting options, and I do have to admit that I'm looking forward to some time to get things done, make some money, get a bit of a break, etc. I'm hoping it'll be a good thing for both of us this year and that homeschooling next year will be a good progression.

[mittendrin]

Similar situation, HI gottaknit
Ds1 is starting Kindergarten at Montessori next week, a 25 min commute one way 2 days a week for a 3 hr program. The baby is due end of Oct and I am worried how stressful it's gonna be. The school is in the boonies and to go to interesting places it would take me about as long as to go home.
We'll do it though, poor ds is craving attention and new friends and there's no way I'd send him to public Kindergarten in this town, it's baaaad.