It’s almost preschool registration time around here, so Mike and I have been going over our options and we have some tours planned. Annie won’t start until September, so it’s hard for me to wrap my head around seven months from now. We’re only going to enroll her for two days a week in the mornings, but we are excited to see what a classroom environment will do for her. She really takes to her teachers in the different lessons we’ve signed her up for over the last half-year, so we’re confident that she’ll thrive in preschool.
The weather was nice on Sunday morning, so we walked up the street to the playground attached to the local school. As she did her cute little kid run ahead of us she shouted, “I’m at school! I woke up and I was older and now I get to go to school!” One of our neighbors was outside watering her flowers and cracked up.
I told her that someday when I wake her up at 6am for high school, I’ll remind her of her early enthusiasm.
On the playground Mike helped her with her big-girl bike while I sat at a lunch table and caught my breath. I’m just going to pretend I was winded because the baby is already in my lungs and not because I have to “take it easy” most of the time. I watched Mike explain peddling over and over to Annie. It would click for a moment, and then she’d get distracted.
At one point, a forgotten lunch box distracted her to the point where she turned her handlebars funny and the bike tipped over. She was fine (yay for helmets!), but startled. She cried a bit and asked to go on the swings. We told her she could – if she got back on her bike and rode it to the swing set. She hopped back on and started the process of figuring out how to peddle again. Mike and I high-fived behind her back all, “Yeah! Parenting moment!”
She and Mike had fun climbing all over the jungle gym. Luckily she didn’t ask me to climb on it with them! I would not have fit on the slide.
She did, however, convince me to swing with her, which I did for a few moments before I realized swinging = nausea overload.
I noticed that she was tackling some of the obstacles with lots of confidence, and she was much stronger physically. That’s what we were hoping she would get out of gymnastics and dance, and I’ve seen her progress during her lessons, but it was awesome to see her using her skills in other places, too.
I’m laughing that we forgot to take off her helmet while she played. Hee hee.
Sorry Annie!
After we thoroughly exhausted her, we walked back home. All of that…sitting….exhausted me, too, so Mike had to be the pack mule. It’s just too bad there wasn’t room for me.
She’s asked every day since if she can “go to school.” She’s definitely ready. Do kids usually go along on preschool tours? She would probably be beside herself if she was able to go with us.
Jay - The Dude of the House says:
When we went on preschool tours last year, the schools specifically asked that we not bring the Little Dude. With the kids there it can be distracting as you try to assess what’s going on around you and speak to the guide. Good luck, it sounds like Annie is ready!
Stacy says:
Hi Heather! I’d absolutely suggest taking Annie for a few reasons. 1) You’ll be able to see how the teachers interact with her before making a decision. They may be good at schmoozing parents, but you’ll want to see how they interact with her. 2) Even though it’s 7 months away, it’s good to give her an idea of where she’ll be headed to. I’d take her in a few times before she actual starts. I have 2 very outgoing children. The one I assummed would be all shy and cry the first day of school (the one that’s more clingy when Mommy leaves typically), couldn’t care less when I left! Gave me a kiss, waved goodbye, and ran off. My other child who normally doesn’t give a rats pahtootie who watches him or if Mommy and Daddy are going anywhere, all of a sudden became a stage 4 clinger the first morning of Preschool! It’s good to have them know the teachers faces/names and maybe meet a couple of the children there so that you can talk it up big time before her first day. Either way, I cried! I cried because my big girl was big and didn’t seem like she needed me. I cried because my little boy cried and wanted me to stay. Such a sap! Thankfully they both love school and our son made friends right away and got over his anxiety. Good luck finding the perfect fit for both your/Mike’s needs and Annie’s! I can’t believe it’s Preschool time for her already! She sure is growing up fast!
Kerry says:
I totally agree with your point about having kids warm up to their teachers and school before day one. As a teacher, though, I’m a bit baffled that you think we “schmooze” parents and need to undergo a “test” with the child. Most of us in the business are kid-lovers.
Stacy says:
Kerry, I agree, that most teachers are great with kids! My best friend and sister are both teachers. My comment comes from experience. I did experience two different Preschools that had teachers that were FABULOUS to talk to 1:1, but once I observed them with little ones I saw that they’d be best teaching older kids, not littles! I think it takes a certain type of person to be with very young children for great lengths of time. Some teachers are better teaching older children versus younger. JMO.
Kerry says:
Sorry I jumped to the defensive, Stacy. I totally see your point.
Kerry says:
And wow, I sure say “totally” a lot! *Shuffles off to find her thesaurus.
Elizabeth says:
Our daughter attends preschool that is attached to her daycare so she was used to it but for her kindergarten(!) tour, they asked that children not come so that parents could focus on the school.
Kris says:
I will agree with those who said not to bring her. If you are touring multiple preschools, what if you select one and she liked another one better? Also, I would find it difficult to pay attention if my kid was with me.
For the daycare/preschools we have used, my husband and I have selected them first and then the child is usually invited to visit prior to actually enrolling. In fact, at the one we use now, it is required that the child visit for twice for 1 hour visits prior to starting. I think it makes it easier on the child/less confusing if you can say “Oh look, Annie. This is where you’ll eat a snack/paint/play with your friends.” Even at Annie’s age, I would not feel right saying those things if I knew that it wasn’t a done deal and she might not be at that school.
Jessica says:
We were told to bring our daughter to the preschool meeting. They allowed her to play with the other kids and it gave us a good indication of how she would do in school.
lynne says:
Safety-wise, it is better to take off their helmets when they play on play structures. Apparently is it more likely that they will get hung up on something by their helmet than that they will suffer a head injury because of not wearing one. Or so I’m told by our local safety authorities anyway! I don’t mean this as a drive-by, because obviously you were right there with Annie and she was in no danger, and it’s probably a very marginal danger anyway, plus it’s really none of my business But just thought I would post it as a bit of helpful information for all parents.
Mommy says:
I think the policy depends on the school- I would go without her until you narrow it down to just a couple, and then bring her along to see how she does at each school to help you make your final decision?
For us, it was a much better fit at an actual preschool rather than daycare. Nothing against daycare or anything, but I just felt for my kiddos, they did best with kiddos who, like them, were at school just a couple hours twice a week, rather than kids that were there every day, all day long.
She will LOVE school! Have fun looking!!
Nellie says:
If the schools do not have specific restrictions, DEFINITELY take Annabel with you for the Preschool Tours! Wait till it’s time to pick out a backpack and snack bag and juice bottle – she will be loving every minute of it!
I have a feeling Miss Annabel will be the go-to gal in her class and the one everyone in school, including teachers will know and love!!
Mary Bennett says:
I own a preschool up in the Bay Area and the kids come on the tours all the time. Sometimes they do have issues getting the kids to leave but usually it makes parents feel better to see how their child reacts to the environment. Also once you choose a school they should let you bring her for a couple if times in advance with you so she gets the idea of it being her school, who her teachers are, etc so get first day won’t be all new.
Miriam in KS says:
I agree. We encourage parents to bring their child when they come tour our preschool. We are arts-based so the visiting child is welcome to paint and play right alongside our students. We also schedule an open house before classes start for new students to come see the classroom and meet their teachers. Then the first day is only an hour and the class is divided in half so as to give the little ones some comfort in not so many people at once.
A parent may love a school, but really, it is about how your child responds to the school. And next year’s class will be a totally different one from the one you see on tour day. Things to ponder and consider.
LAnn says:
I agree with the commenters saying that you should not bring her along. The decision on where she attends preschool is an adult decision. Annie would likely be overwhelmed by the choices and could base her choice on a princess picture on the wall vs. a baby duckling photo, fruit juice being served at snack vs. water, or visiting the class during quiet time vs. rumpus time. And how would you explain to her that the classroom decorated with princess overload is grossly inferior and overcrowded, thus she will not be attending that particular class. She can’t understand the big picture. You can. And as far as observing the teacher interacting with Annie, it’s a nice thought, but the teacher is going to be interacting with the preschoolers who are actually in the classroom. He/she may greet Annie and introduce her to the class, but his/her primary responsibility is to the current students. Honestly, if my child came home and told me that they had extra extended quiet time because the teacher was busy giving a tour/intro/sales pitch to a prospective family, I’d be peeved.
Kelly says:
I would take her with, so long as they allow it. It would give her a feel for what her school will look like, and could help in the long run if she were to get nervous about going. (They often are nervous those first few days.)
Love the helmet. Our oldest grandson is Annie’s age, (turned 3 on 01/28) and is obsessed with helmets. When he comes over to our house he insists on wearing Mea’s softball helmet the entire time he is over. He got his own helmet, and bike for his birthday.
Mary says:
I’m in the middle. I say that you should go without her until you narrow it to two preschools. Then, take Annie to each a couple of times to gauge how she responds. This will help her not be overwhelmed and, since you will already like both schools, she can feel like a big girl getting to give her input into which she attends.
Also, I agree that going without her allows you to better talk with and engage the staff. Also look for things like the smell of the place (visited a daycare once that smelled strongly of urine – not where I wanted my kids to be), the appearance and attitude of the staff and children (clean, unkempt, etc) and the condition of the toys, furniture and bathrooms.
I also recommend dropping in uninvited once or twice once you’ve narrowed your choices. This will give you the reality of the school, rather than the best foot forward that a scheduled visit allows. The difference can be shocking.
Good luck. I think Annie will thrive.
Darcie says:
We were actually discouraged from bring our daughter on the tours…mostly because they wanted the parents to hear about the school and not be distracted. We didn’t listen and took her anyway. She was fine, she played with every toy in every room we went in…but she was a little distracting!
Cheryl says:
We were told to bring our son to the one we actually selected. He met the teachers while we talked to the director and when we were done he came up to me and said “Mama, this is my preschool!” We all felt it was right and he confirmed it. In fact it is a private school that goes from preschool all the way through high school. (3 different campuses) and we all loved it so much he is in 2nd grade there.
Alexandria says:
Hello
I think when you visit the first pre school with or without Annie you will decide what will make the best option for you. I personally looked at a few without my daughter then when I narrowed it down to the best one. The pre school let me bring her and she was able to do a half day. I could even sit in the back and let her interact with everything and she did snack. We left shortlt after snack. I think if you took her to the first visit you will see if she is more of a distraction for you to be able to focus on the curriculum. Every school is different.
KeraLinnea says:
Ack! Toddler Tummy! I miss having a little one around. I wonder how much I can talk my husband into..I should still have a couple years of fertility left….
I have nothing to offer about preschool. I was so broke when my kids were little that they didn’t go to school til kindergarten. Annie seems like a pretty well-behaved kid–you could probably get away with taking her on the tour. Especially if you and Mike both go, that way one of you can always focus on the tour and the other can focus on Annie.
J says:
We took our son on tours and I’m glad we did. It instantly helped rule out places based on how the staff responded to him — places we may have otherwise considered. Likewise, the preschool he ended up attending was the least fancy (in terms of building) out of all of them — but the staff were (are!) just phenomenal with him.
Also — I totally recommend visiting a Montessori preschool. They are wonderful places and it helps, I think, just to get an idea of what’s out there and the different environments available.
Danielle says:
When we interviewed at my son’s preschool we called prior and asked if we should bring him or not. They said ABSOLUTELY bring him. They like to meet them, give them a chance to see the school, and give the parents a chance to see how they react. While we were there asking questions, he played with the other kids and teachers. I mean it is a place that revolves around kids, they can take care of Annie for the few minutes you need to ask any questions.
Rebecca says:
I worked at a Montessori preschool and the parents were encouraged to bring their children.
And …..yeah right you forgot to take her helmet off.
Kristen says:
Clearly the answer is a toss up. I think you have to know your kid and do what works for YOU.
One thing that my daughter’s first preschool teacher said to me and my husband made such good sense that I thought I’d share it. We planned to send our daughter to preschool two days a week, just as you’re considering for Annie, the first year at the same age as Annie. The teacher, however, recommended doing three days, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, instead. She said it was better for maintaining the routine of school, since kids would have no more than a two-day break in between school days (except for planned breaks, etc.). If you only send your child on Tuesdays and Thursdays, well, then she will have four days of no school until her next school day. My daughter’s preschool teacher suggested that this meant less time transitioning back to the school routine every week for most kids.
Something else to consider, that’s all.
Amy says:
Former preschool director and a mother of 3 preschoolers here. I would recommend visiting several preschools and narrow your prospective schools to 2 or 3. Formal visits are great and you’ll see and hear lots, but you should always be welcomed to drop in unannounced to observe classrooms. When you think you know which is the school for Annie, take her for a visit. You should even be able to stay for the day with her. There are many grat schools out there, if you can find an NAEYC accredited school, you know it has met strict criteria in all areas. On a side note, maybe wait until closer to school starts to really hype it up, September is a long way off for a little one!
Leslie says:
I would definitely take her on the tours…I did and that’s how I could tell how good they were by how they interacted with HER more than me!
Mary Ann says:
I teach kindergarten now, but was a former preschool teacher. Yes, yes, yes take her on the tour and if the shcool discourages it pick another school. Set some rules up front so she knows what’s expected, and help her clean up what she plays with. When you walk through look for kids engaged in hands on creative activities, and teachers on the floor playing with them. Look around the room to see if there is a good variety of age appropriate toys in multiples, a wonderful library, lots of open ended art materials, and music playing in the room. There should be quiet cozy areas, a block center, dramatic play center, and sensory activities available. Most good schools will provide a fun area for Annie to play in while you have an opportunity to ask questions.
Jackie says:
I just want to say your weather is beautiful and you’re very lucky for it!
Lisa says:
Good lord, you guys are cute. I love the picture of Heather and Annie on the swings – if we still lived in LA, I’d totally demand a playdate.
Not sure about the preschool thing. I lean toward not taking her if the tour is happening while enrolled children are in school. My daughter wasn’t allowed to come on our daytime preschool tour for insurance reasons, but it did also make it easier for me to focus – especially since I kept focusing on “OMG, she is going to LOVE this place.” If she’d been there, I’d have had to focus on her either wanting to get into everything or having stranger anxiety. But I was also able to see how the adults and children interacted. I’d just try to figure out what’s the norm for the school(s) you’re checking out, how you think Annie will react if she accompanies you, and go with whatever makes sense for your situation. Good luck!
Kristin says:
I say dont take her until you’ve narrowed it down to one or two. Then you can take her and get her reaction, which depending on the kid may not be very useful in the deciding factor. It can take some kids several weeks to warm up to the idea of school – even if they seem excited about it.
Also, what is with the sand on the playground? Is that a CA thing? Itd be my worst nightmare. Sand just never seems to go away.
Annalisa says:
Whether they let you take Annie on a tour of the school will probably depend on the school. Many schools will ask you for a solo tour, and then if you like the school, you get to do a ‘get acquainted’ walk with your tot in tow.
We did tour a Montessori last year that actually requested that my kid come along. I wished they hadn’t, as she whined ‘scaired’ the whole time because this didn’t look like her daycare, and so I spent most of that time reassuring her that mommy was going to stay with her no matter what instead of being able to talk to the teachers (ultimately I turned them down because they wanted to put my 18 month old in a 2-3 year old classroom and begin working on potty training her, based on having no space in young toddlers, and having success with other kids doing that in the past, and I was like “yeah, cause you haven’t met a kid like mine yet… my kid only does stuff when SHE feels ready”).
Debbie says:
Most definitely take her with you. I teach preschool, and it’s better when the parents bring the child to check out the school. That way the child gets to see what preschool is all about as well.