https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:02:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/academic-preschools#post-2250050 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 13:55:58 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2250050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honesty, that doesn't sound like what I would want my child enrolled in. There was another article out today about how kids learn so much more during social play that is undirected because they have to plan out what to do, what the rules are, etc. I would want a rich environment with strong staff and very short of any directed time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/academic-preschools#post-2249925 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:52:46 +0000 sunny 2249925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: At the school I'm considering, the school day is fairly directed (9-4). During the tour, I saw the teacher in the middle of a lesson at circle time. They also told me that they will play with manipulatives (e.g. tangrams, blocks that make 3D shapes) relating to the lessons. They have 30 min of outdoor play time in the morning, and 30 min in the afternoon where they run around the playground. From 4 until pickup, they have free choice over what they want to play with. There are various bins of education toys they can play with around the classroom.</p> <p>I think they don't do as much art and pretend play as LO's current daycare does (but then again, she's not in the preschool room yet). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/academic-preschools#post-2249751 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:22:59 +0000 Mamaof2 2249751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is similar to @yoursilverlining: </p> <p>Its not technically academic but I think it is</p> <p>Everyday they have a lesson plan and do a lesson on math, science, social skills, computers, etc </p> <p>The "school' day is from 9-12 but that includes some free play and snack time.</p> <p>They go outside 2 times a day - 1 in AM and 1 in PM<br /> and from 3 until pick up they have free play mostly </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/academic-preschools#post-2249746 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 11:19:04 +0000 yoursilverlining 2249746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do they mean by “academically focused” – like are they really drilling preschoolers on math and spelling/letters, etc.? “Academic” seems to have a lot of definitions!</p> <p>My LO is at a center that’s “academically focused”, and it is still totally play-based at the same time, it’s just that the games they play have academic purposes – focusing on certain letters, numbers, building counting, etc. </p> <p>Even if they do “drills” (I wouldn’t call them that) they are fun and more play than school-like. For example, they were doing counting the other day. Each LO had a piece of paper with 4 squares on it and the squares were labeled 1, 2, 3, 4. LO’s had to put the correct number of little teddy graham-like cookie things onto each square. Then they ate the little cookies. So, you know, not really a tough learning environment! :silly: </p> <p>Everything that they do I would consider “play time”. Yesterday they studied cause and effect and did a science unit by creating “rain clouds”. Each LO filled a container with water, added a “cloud” of shaving cream to the top and then took droppers and dropped blue dye onto the “cloud” to see what happened. This is an academic exercise (and fine and gross motor skills), but it’s totally just a cool game for the kids to see what their “rain cloud” looks like compared to everyone else’s rain cloud. The teachers then connect that activity to why it rains outside (i.e., real rain and clouds).</p> <p>They also have plenty of truly free play time, both indoors and outdoors, every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/academic-preschools#post-2249718 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:55:34 +0000 sunny 2249718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm considering enrolling my LO in a new preschool which bills itself as "academic focused". </p> <p>Does anyone else have LOs in academic focused preschools? How did your LO do if they transitioned from play based? Do you think they still had enough play time? </p>