Looking for a Specific Type of Preschool

Updated on May 20, 2005
B. asks from Orland Park, IL
4 answers

I have a 2 year old and am looking for a preschool that is not just playtime, coloring, naptime and snacks, but has a regular "school" curriculum of math, sciences, reading and writing for toddlers. He's ready for this step, but not old enough to enter preschool.

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J.

answers from Chicago on

BArbara
I am in the same boat. my daughter was 2 in efb and I am finding many places will not take her until the sept after she is 3.
I have fund one place, my local Jewish Community Center that has a program they claim is 'school"-like. it is $$ (to me) and it is two days/week for 3 hours/day.

I am waiting for the fal schedule to come out frmo the YMCA becuase I have been told they have good pgms. tho, I go to the Y in NOrthbrook b/c they have more stuff for toddlers than any Y I have foudin Chi.

sorry i this isnt as helpful as you would have liked.

but you are not alone ;)
J.

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A.

answers from Chicago on

I am in the suburbs, but I took my daughter to Children's World (a chain daycare). They did a preschool program for 2 and up. I was very satisfied. My daughter learned to recognize and write letters. Also worked on phonics. I was disappointed that they did neglect numbers though.

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

Barbara,

As a mom, a former preschool teacher, and a graduate of (and admissions interviewer for) an extremely "fancy" college, I'd really like to dissuade you from enrolling your son in the type of school you're looking for. That type of instruction is simply not appropriate for a 2-year-old, no matter how gifted, and in my opinion the schools that offer it are ineherently lower-quality.

That said, there are toddler programs that go above and beyond normal daycare programs. These schools encourage independant thought, exploration, and creativity. I guarantee you that every kid applying to my alma mater can read :), and many of the rejected applicants have straight A's. Intellectual curiosity and intrinsic motivation set a kid apart, and predict academic success at the highest levels. In other words, it's not about the information you know, it's about what you DO with the information you know that matters.

Maybe you could look into a Montessori school (look at the AMS website for IL member schools), a school that uses the Project Approach (such as the Compass School in Naperville) or the U Chicago Lab School (or ask them for recommendations). These would be places that could help your obviously gifted son develop to his full potential.

I hope you don't find me too preachy! It's a bit of a soapbox topic with me.

K.

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N.D.

answers from Chicago on

I am sorry that I cannot help but I would love to hear what you find! :)

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