https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:21:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to/page/2#post-2044723 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:36:44 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2044723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: she'll stay through completion of the cycle, but the school district requires testing at age 4 for their various extended programs like language immersion, G&amp;T and mixed age lab classes within the public system... So we need to decide now what kind of trajectory we're on. Also, if we were to go private and not start til first grade, we'd have a better chance of getting a spot if we commit during the KG year for a first grade spot the following year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to/page/2#post-2044718 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:31:14 +0000 daniellemybelle 2044718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: So C would not stay at your Montessori school for Kindergarten? Kindergarten is usually part of Primary in Montessori, right?</p> <p>LO would actually not go to a Toddler class. We'd keep her at her current school until she was nearly 3, and start her in a Primary class (3-6), exactly like the Bees did with Olive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-2044701 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:11:24 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2044701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: our Montessori toddler program is just so nurturing. M is a leader in her class and has become so confident as she gets ready to move up from toddlers to early childhood. They've been giving her extension works that address her growing academic needs and she is learning by helping her younger classmates.</p> <p>We're still looking at a number of different schools because we're searching for KGs for our older daughter. We haven't settled on the right environment yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-2044687 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 22:02:40 +0000 daniellemybelle 2044687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping this thread. It feels like forever away, but I am considering switching LO from her current church-based Mom's Day Out/preschool to Montessori when she is 2 years 10 months, so not this coming fall, but the fall of 2016.</p> <p>I love our school for a bunch of reasons, but I am starting to see LO's personality peek out and I think she would really thrive in a Montessori school, again, for a bunch of reasons. I'm sure over the next year, things will make themselves more clear and the decision will be easier, but I think we need to get on a waitlist now.</p> <p>What gives me the most pause is that she has an October birthday like Olive, so assuming a school even lets us into a primary program at just under 3, I am wondering if she will be ready? At 15 months she's hitting her milestones on time and of course I think she is very bright :) And again, we'll know better this time next year. Just wondering if this is something we should even consider.</p> <p>I guess we could always use our current school for her 3 year old year, and put her in Montessori when she's 4, but I like the idea of starting her when she's younger so the Montessori method is not as much of an adjustment and she can go through the full primary program.</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: @Mrs. Bee: Weigh in please? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1152931 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:33:56 +0000 banana 1152931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I totally agree! The mixed-age group is one of the reasons why I really love our preschool. The 3-4s have their own classrooms (to make the class sizes small) but they share a play yard with older kids and some younger kids so the age range is 2.5-6. My son learned how to be gentle with the younger kids and to help and teach them. And he learned how to negotiate and communicate with the older kids. Mixed-age groups are wonderful for development! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146303 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:36:52 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1146303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: M. is also a sleeper. Her transition was rough. We had about 2 weeks where she didn't nap, so we put her down for a half hour (we had to wake her after a half hour because she would have slept for 2 hours!) when she got home from school at 3:45, then put her to bed at 6:30 pm and she'd sleep til 7 am. Now she's adjusted and she takes an hour nap every day at school, even though many of the other kids don't, and it's enough to get her through until 6:45 pm. </p> <p>Being in the mixed age classroom is going to give her so much confidence transitioning to pre-K! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146300 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:32:05 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1146300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: i am leaning towards the montessori program. because if we put her in a 2's program next year, she would go from a 2's program with all 2 year olds to public pre-k with all 5 year olds the following year.</p> <p>the nap thing sucks, but i think we could work around it. she could either take a second nap at home at 3pm, or if she skips the daytime nap she could nap at home after school. she does love sleep though so i'm inclined to think she will be one of the few that does nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146251 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:35:26 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1146251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hands down Montessori. She will live without the nap, but if she really needs it, she may take it anyway. I honestly think you and she will love it!!!</p> <p>The mentorship they get from the older kids is sooo amazing. They learn so much from it. The older kids have taught so much language to M in one month. It's been so fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146181 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:25:08 +0000 banana 1146181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the minority here but I would consider putting her in with the older kids. There's such a huge developmental leap between 2 to 3. My son shares a play area at his preschool with the older kids and he learns so much from watching and interacting with them. I see the 2 year olds and they play so differently and seem like such babies still. When it comes to social play and speech, I think having older role models would be really beneficial for Olive. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146178 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:22:06 +0000 sunny 1146178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'd worry about her napping and getting lost in the shuffle with the older kids so I'd send her to the 2's program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146173 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 19:20:14 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1146173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shinymama: we can't start a 2's program this year because you have to register the year before. olive also wouldn't have been eligible because her birthday is after the cut off.</p> <p>if we did put her in a 2's program, she would enter it next september 2014, and then go to public pre-k in 2015 where most of the kids would be 5 years old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146110 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:34:01 +0000 LovelyPlum 1146110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: that's what I thought. So I was wondering if the nap thing may not be as much of an issue at this point next year. I can't speak for what I'd do with my LO, but I was easily bored in school and needed the older kids to keep me in line! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146102 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:27:23 +0000 mrbee 1146102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if it's clear, but this is for Olive's preschool next year... starting in September, 2014! So she'd be almost 3 at that time (her birthday is in October).</p> <p>New York can be a little crazy, in that sometimes you have to apply for next year's program a year ahead of time... or even earlier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146052 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:35:32 +0000 Boogs 1146052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Without a doubt the 2s program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1146000 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:00:07 +0000 Andrea 1146000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for 2s! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145924 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:00:03 +0000 shinymama 1145924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would start this year in the 2s program, and move her to the Montessori program next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145773 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:26:18 +0000 honeybear 1145773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The idea of legislated napping made me laugh. :) Anyhow, I might pick the 2s program if she's only going to be there a year. If she would stay more than a year, I'd send her to Montessori because I think continuity and being with the same general cohort of kids is good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145734 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:09:26 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1145734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it's only a year, I'd choose the 2's program for sure. Being one of the bigger kids might help her before going into public pre-k. Coupled with the nap situation, it would seal the deal for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145723 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:05:32 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1145723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>2s!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145716 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:03:52 +0000 boots 1145716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go for the 2s program! </p> <p>I ended up getting held back in 3rd grade so I could go to a Waldorf charter, and I did much better socially and academically because of it. I was a preemie, and behind my technical peers socially so I was on par with the slightly younger kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145664 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:46:50 +0000 sarac 1145664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Due to the nap thing, especially, I'd opt for the 2s program. I think that putting children with similar/slightly older children can be really good for their development, especially when they need a little work in that area. But if she isn't getting the sleep she needs, she'll be in sorry shape. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145393 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:54:53 +0000 MsMamaBear 1145393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd send her to the 2's so it can help her get ready for September. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145205 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:31:15 +0000 LovelyPlum 1145205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: fair. I was just curious :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145202 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:30:10 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1145202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BoogieBea: she would probably only be there for a year and then go to public pre-k where she would have a 45 minute nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145181 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:21:20 +0000 BoogieBea 1145181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Naps are still very important to us at her age. Especially if she's entering a school setting - they get so tired from all the activities. Would she be staying at the montessori for the next several years? If not, I would go with the 2s program since she'll be switching in a year anyway. My daughter daughter is not napping enough some days during week due to our kid's school schedules. She's not too sensitive with overtiredness but I do notice a difference at the end of the day on days she doesn't get a long nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145169 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:18:24 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1145169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: that is a factor. i really like the program, but i worry she might get lost being too young, and the nap thing is important too. </p> <p>@LovelyPlum: yes she could nap for 40 minutes then again at home, but i don't know if she'd be sleepy enough for a second nap at 3 years old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145156 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:12:01 +0000 LovelyPlum 1145156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: could she nap at school for 40 minutes and then again at home, if she needs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145146 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:10:19 +0000 T-Mom 1145146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: that's terrible that they would limit her like that?? Seems like a strange policy to me. Although she may adjust to shorter naps like 1.5 hr over time if she is really engaged at school and maybe have an earlier bed time? I can't imagine why they wouldn't let them at least have 1.5 hr :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145143 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:09:49 +0000 looch 1145143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can I ask you another question...if the 2s program were Montessori, would you want to do that...in other words, are you possibly leaning towards option 1 because it's Montessori? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-preschool-would-you-rather-send-your-lo-to#post-1145141 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:09:05 +0000 loveisstrange 1145141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do the 2s program also. </p>