So, we enrolled dd in a preschool that looks wonderful and gets the best reviews in terms of playbased preschools in our city. We were very lucky to get her in there as a lot of people put their name down when they find out they are pregnant! I am very happy with our choice and I think dd will love it.

My only concern (and I don't know if it should be a concern or not) is circle time. They learn one letter a week (!!??), and they learn colours, numbers, opposites, emotions...those sorts of things. Dd knows those things already.

Now, there is another preschool I like, which is just not quite as nice, but is really very good still. They do absolutely no learning. They do have circle time, but it is all singing and games. Also the children do not have to attend circle time, but they are encouraged to. The first preschool they have to attend circle time.

Is that relatively small amount of time (15-20 minutes) going to be a problem? I think she will be fine sitting for circle time and she will participate in singing etc, but after reading a couple of other thread here I am just concerned that she will be bothered by the curriculum. I don't want her to feel like she is beign treated like a baby (although she did make me awaddle her and give her a soother this morning! haha yes she is 2 and has never used a soother!). I also don't want her to get an idea that 2/3 year olds are not supposed to be able to identifify their letters/colours, let alone read books.

I would rather send her to the first preschool, but only if the ciricle time component is not going to be a problem.

Hmmm What do you think? Am I making a big deal out of nothing? I tend to do that!

It depends upon the child. It was okay for my DS7 (though I suspect he was kind of obnoxious about knowing all the answers...), but different kids are totally different.

Even that small amount of time can turn some kids off, but some are fine with it.

Did you visit the school with her? If so, did she get the chance to be part of the group and actually try out circle time, not just to observe? If not, I'd recommend a visit that gives her that opportunity. You can see how she reacts.

Both DS4 and DS6 did fine with circle time and letter of the week even though they were both already reading chapter books at that point. DS6 used to be really excited about finding the best thing for the letter of the week show & tell. The teacher was very understanding. She let DS6 bring in his "paper" about planets and read it to others or teach the other kids about continents.

Like I said we didn't have any problems. From what I've seen half of the circle time was singing and reading anyway, part of it was weather and such and then a little bit of something else. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

Not completely related but one of the most provoking thing a fellow parent of gt said, "we cry, sweat, and struggle to pick the perfect pre-school. then we send our kids off like sheep to whatever yellow bus comes our way." Not a claim to others - just a self reflection I'm struggling with but wanted to share.

Hi Onsie,
I don't think that you are making a big deal out of nothing. Ask the teachers at the preschool what they would do if your daughter started feeling left out or uncomfortable. I really don't like the type of school that has that 'have to' attitude, like they know what children need and have a big developmental chart in their heads that they kids MUST dance to or 'forget it.'

Personally, the 'almost as good' preschool with the humbler attitude sounds better to me. Do you really want DD to 'get' that other kids 'don't know stuff' at age 3? 15 minutes of feeling like an alien would be hard on me....some kids are flexible enough to handle it, but, why go there?

Grins

No advice from me, just a congrats on finding two places. I hope one of them really works out for you!