[LucyRev]

Anyone know anything about preschools in Tigard? I'm considering the Tigard Playschool or the gabriel park co-op, but am wondering if anyone has personal experience to share? I'm also wondering if it is really worth it to go with a co-op, since I would have to find childcare for my baby on the days I'd be working in the classroom. At the Tigard Playschool, you work about twice a month, and 3 yr olds only go twice a week for 2 hrs, so that kind of sounds like a hassle. If I only had 1 child, I'd probably try it. I want to be involved of course, but if I could just wear the baby, that would be nice. I'm also worried about DD learning bad behaviors and being exposed to negative stuff at school, but she really wants to go, and I think she could get some +'s out of it too. It seems like all the preschools are either co-ops, or more of a daycare center, and I am NOT interested in that.

dang! NAK, and forgot I don't have a breastpad on. my shirt is soaked, and we're leaving soon.

Need some coffee i guess!

 

[oregonbound]

My daughter goes to Tigard Playschool and we really like it. We started in the middle of the year last year and the kids and the teacher were really friendly and welcoming, which was really nice, one of the boys grabbed my daughter by the hand and showed her around on his own initiative and the teacher had a coat hook with her name on it the first day she was there which was great because we had just moved away from a school that we loved. They have just changed the 4-year old class to a mixed age class so your 3 year old can go 3 days a week M-W-F, that's what my daughter was in last year. Also, a lot of the moms have younger sibs and although they don't allow them in the classroom (unless you have an emergency) and lot of the moms who have kids who are the same age swap babysitting during work days so you don't have to hire a babysitter. We are on summer break but they have summer playdates you could probably go to one or two and that way you could meet some of the moms/kids. Good luck in your search!

 

[oregonbound]

I forgot to add we love the co-op. Isabella has been in a co-op for the last 2 years and we love it because it really is a community, you get to know the parents of your kids' friends which makes me feel better about letting them go on playdates, and the moms go out on mom's nights out periodically. It is a lot more work than a regular pre-school, but I like being involved in the co-op, especially because we just moved to the area and were looking to find a way to get involved.

-Minta

 

[mamadaisy]

We did Gabriel Park Co-op last year for more than half of the year (I went back to work in Feb. and couldn't swing co-op duties any longer, not with full-time work). We might go back this fall since I am not working. I want a 3-day week for my older son who will be 4 in Sept. We adored the teacher there last year (new teacher this year), but that said she needed to have a bit more structure for the kids, especially as far as limits were concerned. My ds ended up being tormented by another boy. Most of the adults (me included, I must admit) did not see how seriously this was affecting my son. He loved school at the beginning of the year, but the last two months were torture. He hated it and could not stand being around this other boy who just yearned to push his buttons. By the time, I was making a big deal about it, it was too late and we were leaving. Thankfully, that child (whom I do believe has some serious trouble headed his way not too far down the road) is not returning. And there is a new teacher whom I've been told has experience dealing with kids who have it out for other kids. Having taught high school psychology and now working for a psychologist, I see that that child had some real problems that if not addressed NOW could lead to serious, serious trouble in the future. I only wish I had realized sooner that it was not normal "kid stuff" and done more to save my son from being victimized. OK, so that was a long rant. Otherwise, we really like the place and may consider returning--that will be entirely up to my ds. If he wants to go, we will, if not, we won't. There are some more aggressive boys in the older class (we know them from last year) and I am not wild about that, but we'll see.