Hellobee Boards

@sunny: My BFFS children went to a Goddard school.

@sunny: I just mentioned this in another post but the preschool we decided to send my son to is based very closely to the Reggio approach (though they haven't formally labeled it as such). It is child-led and the teacher acts as a facilitator and co-learner. They value learning through the environment. There is an open court yard where all of the children play, with an open kitchen, garden, treehouse, tire swing, bike path. I don't know if this is necessarily Reggio-esque but at the preschool the teachers are assigned to a group of children and they follow those children up until they leave the school. They feel that the teacher/child bond is very crucial in developing trust and security. There isn't a formal curriculum. Rather, they base it on the children's interest. So if the teacher notices that the children are fascinated by the clouds that week, they'll create a whole curriculum around clouds/environment/rain, etc. They do a lot of project-based activities, like making a scarecrow for their little farm or remodeling their treehouse.

My son starts in 2 weeks and we're excited to have him start. We've taken him there several times already and this was the only school where my husband and I lost track of him because he was busy playing outside. At the other schools, he was right next to us the whole time and was too intimidated to wander off. We knew we found the right school instantly. I have a few friends who have taken their kids here and they absolutely love it. It was the most expensive of all the preschools (mainly due to the low child/teacher ratio) but I think it'll be wonderful and challenging for my son.

We looked into our local Reggio Emilia. We didn't ultimately pick it, but not because of anything with the philosophy, which I think is really awesome!

@sunny: @78h2o: We go to a Goddard and I LOVE it. The teachers and office workers are awesome. They are so friendly. I can tell that they really care about R. They have been so great in helping getting her adjusted. Even in the infant room, I love they have a lesson plan. They do arts and craft, take rides in the By By Buggy, go outside when weather permits. They have a separate playground for the younger kids.

We have no regrets at all about going there.

We go to Goddhard and LOVE it. I love it way more than when we had a nanny. And I am a super picky person. I am actually surprised I am satisfied by a daycare. So go and don't turn back!! LOL

They have activities like painting with water colors, play dough, making hand prints, water day.... etc. All these things I don't think I want to mess with a young toddler if I were a SAHM. We started with them when we were 11.5 months, and he already get to do these activities.

ETA: Goddard send us daily reports via email, and daily digital photos via email. It may just be our branch (for the pics) as i talked to another mom who goes to another branch, and they didn't get the pictures!

The only thing is we get sick quite a lot, but I am sure it will be worse with other daycares. I have heard other kids who goes to other daycares getting hospitalized from the viruses they get, and we haven't had to do that *knock on wood*. I also have to say we have a pretty weak child because we know friends going to his same class and they never gets sick.

@irene: Unfortunately, my Goddard LO did end up hospitalized with RSV. But I don't blame Goddard at all - it's par for the course with day care. He also seems to be "patient zero" in his class:( I know other kids who haven't been sick the whole time they've been there.

Goddard did credit us for a week's tuition (the time he spent in the PICU), which I thought was very nice. Was not expecting that.

@irene: By the way, I am so jealous to hear your school emails photos! We just got a survey to make suggestions and that it totally going to be mine:)

@SeptMomma12: @Smurfette: You guys make me love our school even more LOL