Montesori daycare? & changing from in home daycare to center

NicB

Molly is in a home daycare right now, and while she absolutely ADORES her and our provider adores Molly it's time we move on (she's WAY out of the way, her hours changed and they don't work for us anymore, and she takes WAY too many personal, sick and vacation days).  We've made it work for the last year but Austin is getting a new job and there is no way we can make it work.

I toured Goddard and wasn't all that impressed. It seemed very rigid, and Molly is 2....with the attention span of 2 seconds.  I went and toured Hope Montesori today and I really liked it.  I don't know much about Montesori, but I liked that it's very much self propelled and not super structured with an activity every 1/2  on the dot.  That being said, I was a little freaked out when she said the kiddos dont play, they "work" and that's how they learn.  But it seems like "work" is really just play.

Have you had your 2-3 year old in montesori? like it? love it?  hate it?  meh it's ok?  I'm freaked out by having to change providers.  Centers are SO diferent from in home care.  Have you switched to a center from an in home?  Were you worried about the change?

amwadas

We switched from an inhome to a center this week actually. We moved and decided that it was time for DD to be in a more structured environment with kids her own age and plus we wanted the daycare to still be close to home so that it was easy for either of us to pick her up. The transition for us has been rough, but we have also been putting DD through lots of changes - new house, big girl bed (which we let her chose if she wanted to sleep in the bed or keep sleeping in her crib, she chose the bed) and now a new daycare. So we have had lots of crying at drop off and lots of sassiness at home! It's only day 3 so I knew it would be rough. I anticipate by next week it will be easier for all of us. And everyday while drop off is rough, pick up is fine. I get there and half the time she doesn't even notice I walked in and is off playing so I know she is enjoying her day, it is just her getting used to new teachers to trust - and so am I!

FB me in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping I can tell you the transition was fine!

JEN1974

We had our kids in a Goddard center before we moved daycares because of work...can I ask which one you looked at?  If you looked north at the new one in Arvada or in Thornton, I cannot rave enough about the owners of the center (they own both) and can tell you more about the Thornton one if that's where you looked.  While they have a "schedule", it's really not all that rigid.  The kids have "centers" to rotate through with activities and centers may be drama, which is pretend play in the kitchen or dress up area...and noone is really forcing the kids to stay in one center or the next, but they do limit how many kids can be in one (ie. the computer--only 2 kids at a time).  There's flexibility in all of that and no 2 year old has an attention span of more than 2 seconds and they know that.  The schedule is more of a guide for the day.  The afternoon is more loosely structured after nap and outside time while all the kids are waiting to be picked up.  Most days when I walked in DD would be sitting at a table "reading" books but others would be playing, etc. 

DownToEarthGirl

I'll start by saying that I love Montessori - I think my son did really well although he's not a huge self-starter and I loved their whole-earth/world view of teaching. 

That being said, I think 2 is too young to start work cycles like Montessori has.  I know it looks and seems like play, but is called work, but it was tough on my 3-4 year old when he started.  He would say things like, "can't we just stay home and play?" after a few months at Montessori.  For a 2 year old, I guess I'd look around a little more for a play-based preschool that also teaches some of the basics.  Play is so important to a child's mind development and there will be time for Montessori in a year or so once imagainative play has kicked in stronger. 

NicB

JEN1974:

We had our kids in a Goddard center before we moved daycares because of work...can I ask which one you looked at?  If you looked north at the new one in Arvada or in Thornton, I cannot rave enough about the owners of the center (they own both) and can tell you more about the Thornton one if that's where you looked.  While they have a "schedule", it's really not all that rigid.  The kids have "centers" to rotate through with activities and centers may be drama, which is pretend play in the kitchen or dress up area...and noone is really forcing the kids to stay in one center or the next, but they do limit how many kids can be in one (ie. the computer--only 2 kids at a time).  There's flexibility in all of that and no 2 year old has an attention span of more than 2 seconds and they know that.  The schedule is more of a guide for the day.  The afternoon is more loosely structured after nap and outside time while all the kids are waiting to be picked up.  Most days when I walked in DD would be sitting at a table "reading" books but others would be playing, etc. 

 

I looked at the one in Westminster on 120th and Main St in Bradburn

JEN1974

Don't know anything about that one, but just wanted to let you know that while there is a schedule, it's flexible.

sara_c

We've transistioned from in home to center, once with each kid.  J was 4, but M was almost 3.  Both did fine and honestly at that age they needed some more activities than in home can provide.  M loved that they had a built in playground he could play on everyday.    The "teachers" are all wonderful and we haven't experienced any turnover with them at all.   

I looked at montesorri, but it was too $$$ for us, so I can't fully comment.  I would be a bit concerned she's only 2 though. 

tra_la_la

I have been looking at daycares this whole week. I went to the goddard on alkire (n. Arvada,) a primrose, and 2 montesori style schools.

I have one more montesori based school to tour but if I get this job we will probably go with the Goddard school and here is why:

The primrose was completly scheduled, 15 mins to eat, then 15 mins of dancing, 30 mins of story, 25 mins of bathroom/diapers and self play, 30 mins of art, etc. I didn't like it and G didn't seem to want to join the kids. They would set a timer and when the timer went off it was time to move onto the next activity.

One of the 2 montesori style schools seemed pretty good but it was $250 more a month than the goddard and their outdoor space was not very nice, and they required a lot of parent interaction. Brining in new toys for the school, donating books, volunteering to help the class, etc. The other montesori school was also a lot more and G peed her pants when I left her alone in the 2 year old room for half an hour and they didn't notice it (I should also say she hasn't peed her pants in weeks.) I also didn't think either of them offered as much or more than the goddard school did. At both the teacher's seemed to be more focused on us telling them what learning methods they could use with our kid so they could use it for the whole class.

like the PP said I really liked the owner of the new one in Arvada, she was helpful, very friendly and really cares about the kids. She knew the name of every kid we walked past (even in the other rooms.) She cares about what the kids eat and tries to get the best snacks she can in there. The day seemed to follow a very loose schedule:

drop off, centers, snack, yoga or music, activity/play, lunch, nap, play, snack, free play, pick up. There wasn't a time everything was done though or a time limit. The owner also told me the teachers will change the days activities based on the kids mood, number of kids there, and if they really like something they will continue with that activity instead of pushing the kids to something else. Nothing in the room was off limits at any time. I also liked that they try to have a new theme every month and bring in new books, activities and toys based on the theme. They also had the smallest classroom size out of all 4 schools. 10 kids per room with 2 teachers. The owner said the class can leagally have 14 but they cap it at 10. DH is going to their open house this saturday so he can see if he likes it.

Sunflower22

Montessori isn't really daycare - it's learning. Ours doesn't take kids until they are 2 1/2. V started when she turned 3 and she has absolutely thrived. I love that it's self-directed, however if kids spend too much time in one area our teachers will suggest other areas. 

Ditto DTEG, maybe give Montessori a shot in 6 months or a year. 

smilelari

We are actually at one of the Colorado Springs Hope Montessori locations and have been since Gavin was 8 weeks old.  We absolutely love it.  They start the more structured Montessori work in the 2-3 classroom, although, they kind of guide them into motor development and learning activities even before that encouraging them finish an activity before moving on.  Some of the activities are as simple as pushing trucks but they also do a lot of counting, sorting, colors, etc.  Gavin knows a lot of colors and can count to 15 in English and to 5 in Spanish (although he'll only do it if he doesn't know you're paying attention, LOL).  They do spend time just playing as well with time spent outside every day.  They have a theme every week, like farm animals or what trees do in winter.  I also really like the discipline style.  Assuming all Hopes do the same thing it's a combo of Love and Logic and Conscious Discipline