Preschool
Our plan all along was to put Mina into the Playschool that is at her current center (they enroll kids infant through kindergarden). They may not be the "best" and surely aren't exclusive at all, but it has been a good fit for her. They have become an extended family of sorts for us and have been flexible with her/our needs
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These parents in question have been very strict with their son. This is a trivial example of it, but the school provides 2 snacks a day, but they always send him with his own food (he doesn't have any allergy issues, they just don't want him eating the "junky" school food, like sometimes a Ritz cracker or little cupcakes that the teachers may bring in as a treat . . . for the most part the snacks are pretty healthy and they actually go out of their way to try and help provide education to parents on healthy food options). I'm behind the sentiment of that of course, but I also don't want my kid to be the only "weird" one who isn't allowed to do what all of the other kids are doing, either. If the girl isn't allowed junk ever, I think she's going to gorge on it when she gets the chance (at least, that's what I'd do :) ). I don't think this family owns a TV. Nothing wrong with it at all! They are just very extreme in one direction, where we are looking to find a more balanced experience for Mina until she's old enough to make up her own mind.
I think the caliber of teacher seems to go down as the kids age: exceptional in the infant room, good in the toddler room, OK in the preschool room. But, the teachers also rotate around (and the director who I have a lot of respect and confidence in moves all over). I like their flexibility and the diversity of kids there (in background and ability). We'll just have to see how it goes. Staffing doesn't have a huge turnaround in terms of the folks that are making this a career (and the school has some good, ongoing training opportunities for teachers). There are some teachers there though that I think are just there because they have young kids who also go to the school, they live in the area and can walk, and they do take great care of the kids there, but they aren't what I'd call "educators". This young, perhaps that's OK anyway. We have a rich environment for Mina at home, too.
Their "schedule" in the preschool room (sometimes they have guest teachers like music/dance/animals, sometimes they walk to local parks for 'field trips', right now they are hosting some chick eggs in a little incubator until they hatch)
I know they don't always follow this, because sometimes they are outside when I pick her up (between 4:30-5, which is supposed to be "self selected activities"), and they do bring them out to play in water tables/sprinklers/bathing suits in this hot weather.
7:30 - 9:00 Arrival, Free Choice (table activities related to theme).
9:00 - 9:30 Circle Time (calendar, songs, talk about theme).
9:30 - 10:00 Snack
10:00 - 11:00 Self Selected Activities
11:00 - 12:00 Large Motor Activities (outside when able).
12:00 - 12:30 Story Time
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch, Clean-up, Ready for Nap / Rest
1:30 - 3:30 Nap / Rest Time
3:30 - 4:00 Waking, Clean-up / put away mats / cots
4:00 - 4:30 PM Snack
4:30 - 5:30 Self Selected Activities
5:30 - 6:00 Departure Time / quiet time
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The other parents are, I think, more strict than I would want to be. It sort of feels like the community / family she has there is more valuable than what she may get by uprooting her like they did.
I think that day that I stumbled on the conversation was his last day. I haven't seen them since.
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