When to start 'Playschool'

xzanti

I'm a little bit peeved at the moment... and need a bit of a rant.

The reason being.. I was interrogated the other day by a fellow Mother because I stopped bringing my, then 18 month old, to the local "playschool".

I put playschool in inverted commas because it's really a daycare/creche.. it's a load of kids of different ages and stages from 2 up to about 10 in the one room from what I could see.. anyway..

At the time I brought him because a girl I know with a child the same age took her to the same place and raved about how great it was, and I decided to bring him for his own enjoyment and socializing, as I know myself he had plenty of time for Montessori, playschool, school etc..

Now, when I brought him down he was fine for the first day (I left him for an hour).. The next time I brought him he was reluctant to go in but the lady working there persuaded me that he would be fine in a few minutes after I had left.. however when I came back he was still crying and was quite distressed.. and I was annoyed that they didn't ring me to come back.. as I had told them to.

Anyway.. I decided he wasn't ready and it wasn't fair to try and force it on him so young.. so that was the end of that..

Now this other lady whom I ran into the other day was almost making out like I had ripped my child out of a proper school for no apparent reason.. The conversation actually became a bit heated as I was so annoyed at the gall of her confronting me on something that has absolutely nothing to do with her..

My Son is the most confident and out going child I know and people are always commenting on how sociable and funny he is.. and I think we're doing a damn good job with him.. and he is going to a proper Montessori as soon as we, his Parents, feel he's ready..

/Rant

Anyway, back to the original question, when (if at all) did you guys put, or plan to put your kids into Montessori?

Cheers.. and sorry for the rant

liliq

I'm going to avoid it completely or for as long as possible, to be honest.

I'm not working at the moment so it's not like need him to be taken care of.
A lot of people say they put kids in for the social aspect- I do see other people and children during the week and he socialises perfectly happily with them so that is a void argument in our case.
I don't feel the need to put him in with other kids that may be sick (there's a thread somewhere about parents leaving sick kids to schools, I can only assume from what I've heard from other parents that this is the same in playschool/ crèches) to "build his immune system"... like I said, we see other people, we go out, play with animals, breastfeed- his immune system is fine!

Obviously they're a great service to have when needed, but I don't see the point of using them when they're not needed if that makes sense.
I'd also personally prefer to leave my son with a child minder than a crèche anyway to have a more homey environment.

January

My eldest went to playschool (and that's exactly what it was, playschool, not montessori or creche etc) 4 days a week, from 9.15-12.00pm from age 2yr 9months. She's in pre-school now until Sept and will go onto Junior Infants.

The middle child started at 2yr 6months. Will go to pre-school next year at 3yr 6months and onto JI then.

And the youngest, well I could put her into playschool next September at just nearly 2 years but she won't head to pre-school until she's 4 because she misses the cut off date of June. So I don't know if I'd want her to do two years of playschool. I don't work, but if I put her in I could study while she's gone for the few hours, which is what I planned to do when number 2 went to playschool but number three made her entrance then

Hannibal Smith

first one 10 months when my maternity leave was over.

second one hopefully 2 years...ie September subject to me finding a job.

if I wasn't working I dunno would I have put the eldest in for a few mornings a week. he really has benefited so much from being in there...but there's a lot to be said for keeping them home and spending time with them while you can.

the montessori thing starts at 3 years and runs for 3 hours a day....that's the state paid creche time....if you never send your child to creche at least try and put them into this. they learn their numbers and letters and basic writing so will have a leg up when they start school.

like everything though...the choice is yours. to be honest I wouldn't give w hoot who said what...it was your decision and no one else's business.

Moonbeam

1st one finished in creche at christmas and started play school at 2 years and a few days,they only took her because she could talk a lot and was used to routine.
She started in Naionra at 2 years and 9 months and will have done 2 years there when she starts school.
My next one will start Naionra at 2 years and 9 months and hopefully they both start school at 4 years and 9 months.

pwurple

Put that woman down to being a weirdo anyway first off. Jeez, who would confront someone about that? Not every place suits every child, children are people for goodness sake, all with their different personalities. What is it to her if this place wasn't the right fit for your child?

As for playschool or montisorri, I guess the year before they start school. Mine is in creche for the mornings, and with my mum in the afternoons. I work full time. She loves it, and runs in the door every morning... I would be looking for another place if she didn't. They run a montesorri in the same building, so she might go there when she is older.

At home, at creche, who cares as long as the child is safe and happy? Whatever suits the family is the right choice.

movingsucks

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

they learn their numbers and letters and basic writing so will have a leg up when they start school.

Is there a danger that the child will be bored in school when the others are learning this or is it better for them to have a grasp so they're not overwhelmed?

Oral Slang

The Naoínra in my local school will only take them if they're over 3, she won't be 3 til the October, so will be starting at 3 and 10 months. I may put her into a playschool the year before, but it all depends on who's minding her & where that is. At the min, my mother minds her 2 days in my house, my sister in law 2 days in her house & me 1 day at home, so it'll be messy for my sister in law to bring her to playschool & bringing her little fella to school, as his school isn't near my house. No rush once they're interacting with other kids I think.

My daughter is with her cousin 2 days a week & they go visit other cousins on 1 of those days (5 kids in that house). I bring her to claphandies, Panda Play or somewhere else on a Friday. Also found a local mother & baby group & a toddler book reading in the local library, on Wednesdays that my mam is planning on bringing her to, so all in all, she's seeing & playing with plenty of other kids.

Xdancer

Here nursery school starts around 3, but all babies born in 2011 can start in September 2014. My little girl was born in December 2011, so will be 2yr 9 months when she starts.
She is nearly 13 months now and goes to creche/preschool 5 mornings a week. She loves it. I don't know many people here with young children and don't have any family around so it is great for her to be able to mix with other children. Also it ensures that she gets plenty of exposure to Spanish as we only speak English and French at home.

Hannibal Smith

movingsucks wrote: »

Is there a danger that the child will be bored in school when the others are learning this or is it better for them to have a grasp so they're not overwhelmed?

I think its more that they're like sponges now...so teach them as much as possible now. its more than numbers and letters that you get inschool ....they letters are sand letters that they feel so they have an image in their mind....with numbers they have an ascending order of things....like sticks numbered 1 to 5, 1 is short 5 is long...so they have an image in their head of 5 being a larger number than 1.

there's also problem solving....they have a name for it but I can't remember....where they build towers and they learn if they don't do it right the tower will fall so if the tower falls they understand why and go again.

In the school we're signed up to most pupils will have gone to montessori so I can't imagine there being a problem. its a really positive way to begin learning and they are so intelligent at that age it is remarkable what they are capable of.