Hi there,
We are desperately looking for a 4 or 5 day preschool option for our soon to be 3 year old - starting either this spring or in September. We would like something that values play, imagination and a child's uniqueness. I like reggio emilia, but I only know of one school in Columbia. Montessori has great toys and activities, but I find think the in practice it would be too limiting of my child's creativity. I love the focus of Waldorf on imagination and the outdoors, but it far, expensive and may be a bit too counter-cultural. Our difficulty thusfar in finding a center or a preschool is that all the ones we've toured in our area seem like glorified babysitting, and all of them use television. (having no tv is as much a part of our family's choices and values, as it is an indicator of the overall philosophy of the center and the quality of teacher engagement with the children). I also don't want a program that is overly structured, scheduled and rigidly academic. Any suggestions for preschools in the Southern Baltimore County or southern howard county or northeastern anne arundel county areas, that have caring and involved teachers, outside play and embraces imagination and active learning without being overly demanding of young children academically?
Any suggestions or feedback from your experiences are MUCH appreciated!! Thank you!
D.
Both my children attend The Young School. They follow the reggio emilia philosophy. My daughter is in the pre-k program and she just loves it. There are multiple locations so you there might be one in a convient location for you.
I live in Columbia and my son did the RECC (regional early childhood center) program at his districts public school. They were great. He did a 5 day a week program 4 hrs a day but they also have a 4 day 2.5 hr/day program too. The program is an inclusion program for kids needing special education services and the kids without special needs (like my son) are the peers. All the kids get the same services (ie speech, physical occupational) therapists that the other kids get since its done in a group setting and the child/teacher ratio for my son 1:3 so he did get a lot of one on one attention also since it is a specialized program they teachers were great quality and certified and degreed. We loved it and my son came out of it reading on the 4th grade level but they didn't push him more than he was willing or we were willing.
Hi,
My son went to Lornewood in Columbia (centers in Owen Brown and Bryant Woods). They no longer have a kingergarten, but he came out of the Lornewood kindergarten reading. The owner is an old family friend, and I am certain, if there was ever any problem, she woud respond quickly.
Cindy was the main teacher at the Bryant Woods center, and she was amazing.
Good luck!
C.
Columbia has a lot of very good small Montessori schools. It is a philosophy that does amazing things for children academically, socially, spiritually while teaching self-direction, independence, self-confidence, curiosity, love for learning, appreciation for cultural diversity. It teaches freedom with limits. There is structure and routine which children find comforting. If you find another program that offers the same things, then it must be good, too.Go into the schools and pick the one that works for you. You'll feel it!
I am a Montessori child, teacher, parent. E-mail me privately if you want any other info or need to know what to look for when visiting schools.
Good luck!
M.
