Montessori Pre-School Questions

beautiflaw

I'm enrolling my daughter (she'll be 3 in September) in a Montessori pre-school program. We are going on a tour next week and will be starting her there very soon. Hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks. 

She was in regular daycare from 4 months to about 1.5 but we took a break from it, and now she's missing having friends to play with. Does anyone here have any experience with Montessori schools and what to expect? My husband and I did not go to Montessori schools but I am a little familiar with the philosophy and I think that it will work well for my girl. She is very independent and I think the environment will help her learn more. 

But I have no idea what to expect. From what I've read, it seems so different from her previous daycare and other types of preschool or daycare programs my friends have told me about. What do I need to do to get her ready? 

RedDDD

nothing...she will adjust fine.  Its really NOT that different.  I was in a Montessori for 5 years as a kid.  We had DS in a Montessori and then ended up switching him to a regular DC because we moved and it was fine.  the thing I really liked about it is they teach them personal space so they get their own little rug and they take their "work" to their spot and work on it and then clean it up and put it all away.  It might be an adjustment at first but she will get the hang of it.  They great thing about it is predictability and structure.  The other thing she will learn is manners, etiquette, etc.....such important things for a toddler to learn.

cedenton

I'm no help at all, but I was just looking at the local Montessori schools and bummed that I didn't see any way for him to go.  Their days are too short. Extended care only goes to 5:30 at the latest and the days starts after 8.  How do working parents send their kids there?

SunAndRain

First, there is a LOT of variation in Montessori schools, not that that is a bad thing at all. It just means that a student's experience at one could be quite different from the same student's experience at another.

Our DD has been attending Montessori for 1 year now. She start at one year of ago. I spoke with another parent whose daughter started at 5. Both transitioned extremely well. The school is amazing. DD is learning at an incredible rate: her speech, her social skills, her life skills...

One positive aspect for ME is the sense of community within the school.  I've been able to befriend several parents (largely because I became active in PTO which I felt was a good investment of my time) and for me, making the social connections within my own community is very important to my overall quality of life.  Of course DH has met dad through my connections as well.

Her extended care goes from 7 AM through 6 PM, though we are limited to 10 hours per day. 

beautiflaw

cedenton said:

I'm no help at all, but I was just looking at the local Montessori schools and bummed that I didn't see any way for him to go.  Their days are too short. Extended care only goes to 5:30 at the latest and the days starts after 8.  How do working parents send their kids there?

I have no idea! I wondered that myself. I wanted to have her gopartly so I could go back to work but... I don't think that's going to happen if her schedule is like this. 

SusieBW

cedenton said:

I'm no help at all, but I was just looking at the local Montessori schools and bummed that I didn't see any way for him to go.  Their days are too short. Extended care only goes to 5:30 at the latest and the days starts after 8.  How do working parents send their kids there?

We have the same problem.  I went to montessori for preschool and kindergarten and I honestly thank that for the fact that my brother and I are both lifelong learners and went as far and did as well in school as we both did.  I'm a big fan.  But every single montessori school in my area is exactly what you're describing - I would need additional care, like my mom to pick DD up eery day, in order to make it work.  It really bums me out.