https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:51:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-in-a-beforeaftercare-program-at-preschool-are-the-teachers-hands-on#post-2309914 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 21:28:11 +0000 daniellemybelle 2309914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO went to after-care at a preschool for a while. She was in the infant class so for all intents and purposes it was daycare - there was no curriculum during the day. After-care had different teachers and they spent most of their time outside or in the gym. It was definitely more free play but the teachers were still very sweet and engaged with the kids.</p> <p>I think there is a difference between encouraging kids to play independently and ignoring a child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-in-a-beforeaftercare-program-at-preschool-are-the-teachers-hands-on#post-2309771 Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:47:49 +0000 Cole 2309771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I taught at a Montessori school the Montessori teachers were only contracted for the standard school day. The aftercare staff were trained in Montessori philosophy but not the materials. The kids went to a room that was a bit more standard play stuff but still open ended-blocks, Lego's etc. The teachers were still warm and friendly but not as amazing as the classroom teachers. </p> <p>Can you ask the principal or director about it? Maybe just mention it didn't occur to you to ask about it before and you just wanted to know if they still follow the philosophy in after care and what your kid will be doing during that time. It is absolutely not cool for them to intentionally ignore a kid but hopefully that person was just having an off day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-in-a-beforeaftercare-program-at-preschool-are-the-teachers-hands-on#post-2309252 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:00:51 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2309252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It could be that the teachers are duds, but I teach at a Montessori preschool and "hands-off" is a part of the philosophy. Kids are supposed to engage &amp; explore their world/materials and teachers are supposed to observe &amp; stay out of their way. Obviously, there's more nuance than that, but it's definitely how it looks :happy: I've also had kids I had to gently "ignore" (usually with reminders or redirection to other work) to help them practice their independence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-in-a-beforeaftercare-program-at-preschool-are-the-teachers-hands-on#post-2309234 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:06:12 +0000 sunny 2309234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO started a new Montessori school in September and I noticed that the before and aftercare teachers (different than her certified Montessori school day teacher) are completely hands-off. The kids play with the toys in the before/after care room and the teachers supervise but don't participate. (In fact, in one instance, I noticed that a child was trying to engage with the teacher and the teacher was trying to ignore them... this actually made me kind of upset, but it was a one off incident.)</p> <p>In her previous daycare, there was no delineation between "school day time" and "after school time" so the teachers were the same all day and they were much more engaging with the kids, playing with them, talking with them, etc.</p> <p>Is this different because this is a Montessori school and they want the kids to be independent? Or are the teachers just "not that into it"? </p>