Preschool and stairs

NJLH

If any of you have younger ones in preschool (2-3), do the kids go up and down stairs at preschool? And do the teachers help some children? My girls start tomorrow (almost 3) and I'm having some major anxiety. As a background, one of my DDs had severe gross motor delays and didnt walk til over 2. In the past 6 months, she learned to walk, run, climb furniture, etc. Her 1 area of weakness is still stairs, where she crawls up and I usually carry her down (or she slides on her butt). Most of the preschool is on 1 level but I believe there is some sort of all purpose room upstairs that is used on occasion. I'm having nightmares of my DD standing there while the other kids go up and down. She still has a few weeks left of physical therapy (early intervention). I'll talk to the teacher as well, but I'm just hoping she's not the only one who needs help (the class will have some younger 2 year olds as well)! Thanks all.

TinyPinkBug

Is it a general preschool or an integrated preschool with SN services?  My son goes to an integrated preschool with stairs, they have lots of kids similar to your DD there.  They are very aware of their students' needs and abilities with the stairs.

NJLH

Thanks! This is a regular preschool but we actually do have an interview for the integrated one later this month (they wouldnt see us sooner, due to her Oct birthday, so I enrolled her with her sister in a regular school). I'm hoping to keep her in this school so I wont have to send my girls 2 different places. If she gets accepted in the integrated, I'll have to make that decision.

ArcticFox

I was actually nervous when my 3yo started preschool.  There is this huge set of cement stairs (like 15 stairs) to get to the playground.  I guess they pair the kids up and they have to hold the railings.  I would see if perhaps they can pair your DD with the teacher?

outnumbered

My daughter (now 6) did not walk until after her 2nd birthday.  When she started preschool at the age of 3 she still was slow on the stairs and at home crawled up and went down on her bum.  On the first day of school I told teacher she needed help.  I also reminded my daughter to ask to hold an adult hand.  I helped out in the class room a few times and because the stairs were big a lot of the young 3s crawled up and my worries were for nothing.  Good luck!

RoxBride

DD's school is in a church basement so stairs are part of the daily routine - the 1 year olds received help but were absolutely encouraged to get their on their own, even if that meant a snails pace.