https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:16:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2019432 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 19:22:51 +0000 hummusgirl 2019432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! I really appreciated the insight from those who have tried both. Very reassuring! And @JoyfulKiwi: your professional opinion is so helpful. </p> <p>Your input made me feel better about his current school and that there's not something magical in the water at Montessori et al that makes it vastly better. LO is happy where he is so I think we'll stick with it unless and until we get to a point where it's not working. If it ain't broke... </p> <p>I'll go back to worrying about BPA in sippy cups now. ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2019178 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 12:20:20 +0000 sarac 2019178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Philosophy certainly matters. A play based preschool would be an absolute requirement for me. A 15 month old is absolutely capable of showing initiate in their play - if you give them the opportunity. My daughter is in a montessori home school preschool, and it's absolutely perfect for her. I think that all education for children under the age of 6 needs to be play based, with varying amounts of free play and directed play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2019014 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:50:51 +0000 blackbird 2019014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's a big deal at that age, honestly. I just want my 2 or 3 year old to have fun, play, and enjoy going every day. There's plenty of time for structured settings later. A great montessori program is great, I'm sure, but they are all individually run and vary greatly. So I wouldn't jump ship if you're happy where you are right now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2019013 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:49:14 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2019013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an early childhood professional (I have an elementary ed degree &amp; an early childhood masters) and I've worked in several different settings including Montessori (&amp; Reggio for a small time). In my professional opinion, it doesn't matter that much. If it's a place that allows your child creativity, choices, safety, and the ability to form loving relationships with nurturing caregivers it's going to be a good place for your child. Having a knowledgeble classroom lead IS important, especially at 3 &amp; 4, because you do want someone keeping track of what your child knows and helping them learn new things (not always worksheets or lessons, but someone who can observe your child's work/play and see what skills they developed; then offer other things to keep them going).</p> <p>What you do as a parent matters much much more. Your attitude about daycare/school: do you talk positively about it? Do you make sure the schedule is consistent? Do you ask what happened during the day or ask the teachers so you can have conversations with your child? Do you try to do some activities at home to build on what your child does at school? An involved parent magnifies the growth made in a program and can supplement any shortcomings. </p> <p>Bottom line: is your child loved and respected and happy in his program? That's the real key. Anything else can be filled in at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2019010 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:43:37 +0000 jedeve 2019010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So in general, research has shown that the best preschools have a low child to adult ratio, have teachers with early childhood education backgrounds, have some sort of curriculum plan in place and involve families. The skills most children learn in prek are social ones, not academic. So that's what I would look for in ac center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018994 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:23:31 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2018994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends. By age two I would worry about education and structure because they are getting close to pre K and K. There are things they need to start learning. But focus on education can be taken too far ImO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018987 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:18:01 +0000 Silva 2018987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it only matters if you disagree with it. For example, I'm really only interested in sending my kid to a daycare/pre school that emphasizes outdoor time and play for the sake of playing, because I don't believe it's best for her to have structured education so early. It sounds like you have found a wonderful place, and if you like it stick with it. Im sure if you ask they have some guiding philosophies, so you can have the words if you want them.<br /> But truely, I think the most important thing for any kid, regardless of what you believe to be the best educational policy, is attachment to a nurturing, loving care provider/s . If you feel like you have that then you've found a winner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018984 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:10:17 +0000 mamimami 2018984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two thoughts about this...<br /> 1. I think philosophy matters most at this level only if you DISAGREE with the philosophy in place<br /> and<br /> 2. I think being play-based is its own philosophy. Have you asked them their philosophy? I bet they would have an answer for you. Even if it doesn't seem so, most educators I've met are very intentional about what they do, even if it doesn't have a brand name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018973 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 07:52:48 +0000 Espion 2018973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: We moved E from a Montessori to a traditional NAEYC accredited program. I don't think there is anything wrong with Montessori...when done well. And this place was basically completely hands off with the kids. I mean, my son can wander around aimlessly at home. What 15 month old is going to show any initiative? At our current daycare, he goes outside, sings songs, does art...and I always get a cognitive/emotional/social update at the end of the day. In the end, we have been happier with something traditionally structured, but that just happens to be where the good teachers are in my community. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018945 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 06:04:36 +0000 looch 2018945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spent a lot of time worrying about a similar topic and in the end, we ended up going with a nature center affiliated play based preschool.</p> <p>At the end of the day, the only real "test" is how I felt when I walked into the school, could I imagine leaving my son here, alone for a number of hours? If the school passed my gut test, we considered it. I can't tell you how many places where I walked in and basically walked right out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018943 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 05:54:19 +0000 brownie 2018943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Philosophy may be important. We are looking at transitioning my to a private school because of their philosophy (stem and daily PE for kids). But we did montessori because they had full day child care. He did great there and I liked that he learned some things. But when we moved it wasn't worth the added cost. We then went to a play based preschool and it was absolutely horrible. They didn't actually teach anything and I think he got bullied and it was bad. So we pulled him and moved him to another play based preschool. It is one of the best thugs we could have done. He is absolutely thriving there and learning so much. There is a philosophy in how they run their program it just isn't as defined as the others. Each week they change the play stations ( the kitchen area has been and ice cream parlor and a train station). They have weekly themes and activities that we see. They are an inclusion school which means there are special needs kids there. He gets his speech therapy right at school almost whenever she can fit him in so I don't have to worry about taking him. </p> <p>So in all of that I think the quality of the program and instructors have so much more to do with it than an over arching philosophy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018925 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:28:19 +0000 lamariniere 2018925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm definitely not an expert but my DS has been to both Montessori and normal daycare. He started Montessori at 2, and then we moved when he was almost 3.5, so we switched to a normal daycare that was closer to our new place. While I'm glad he did get the Montessori experience, I have been much happier with the normal daycare. For me, it boils down to the quality of the caregivers. At the Montessori, the director was just awful and the staff always seemed rushed and somewhat cold and they also had a high staff turnover. At the normal daycare, the staff is extremely warm and welcoming and I get a better overall feeling.</p> <p>Eta: if we had felt like the Montessori was really worth it, we would have made the effort to keep him there after we moved (it would have been an hour round-trip drop off then another hour for pickup). But for us it wasn't. (Also, it wasn't a question of money, daycare prices here are regulated so they are all the same price). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-preschool-philosophy-matter#post-2018877 Sat, 10 Jan 2015 23:51:30 +0000 hummusgirl 2018877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son attends a daycare/preschool that we're pretty happy with (after a rocky start). They have a great program that welcomes diversity (socioeconomic, kids with special needs, etc.), and I love that about it. But there doesn't seem to be much of an overarching educational philosophy. It's play-based, they read books and sing songs and have a lot of unstructured time. </p> <p>I was just reading online about various other types of schools (exciting Saturday night!) like Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, etc., and now wondering if we're missing out by going to more of a run-of-the-mill sort of daycare/preschool. Or am I just making up things to worry about? I mean he's 2. I'm not too concerned about it for this year but trying to figure out if we should be looking around for next. Any preschool experts or people that have experienced these types of schools that can offer advice? </p>