Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Preschools - need help

I have a DD who wll be 2 in December. We are in the process of applying to preschools for the fall. Our pediatrician suggested Montessori would be a good fit for her. The problem is due to her age, she HAS to be in the toddler room next year (18mo-3yr). She won't be 3 until December of next year so they will not accept her in the "primary" 3-6 yr old class (they said something about state law and choking hazards?). Also maturity wise, at this point, she wouldn't fit in. But academically she would be ahead of the 3/4 year olds in the primary class.
A good example happened today in our Botanic Gardens class. They allow her to be in the older class because she can understand and do those activities. Today after she did several minutes of the activity (matching colors and shapes to pumpkins) she started rolling all over the floor. She was just ready to move on but couldn't just sit and wait or continue to do the activity. This happens with generally every activity. She can and will do it - for a bit - but then wants to move on. This would obviously not go over well in a 3-6yold classroom. My biggest fear is that it would be even worse in the toddler class because they are doing even easier activities. I really don't know what to do. I wish I could find something at least 2-3 mornings a week that wouldn't make her already zone out and act out. I know there are many things besides academics in toddler level preschool such as independence, socialization, ect. But I just wish she could have both. What did you do?

You can always look for an accommodating home daycare with an academics minded "staff". My daughter has been learning to read Chinese (her Mom is Taiwanese) since she was a little over a year, and she started learning to write numbers when she was about 27 months at daycare. Like Montessori, most home daycares have children of different ages together, which is probably good for the younger gifted children.

We're looking to move her out soon because we want her doing more group activities, which she is very shy about, but it's been a good fit for her younger years.

This is pretty much our story except we were less perceptive than you. You are right to worry about the zone-act out stuff.

The problem before they turn 3 is the laws, the diapers, the self-control, and communication.

Once they get to 3, are out of diapers, and can carry on a conversation like an older kid, the doors will open.

We were able to get Mr W at 3.5y into a PreK with 4&5 year olds this summer.

I agree with the response above that an in-home daycare with home-schoolers might be your best bet. We did that for Mr W for about 6 months, then did the Montessori route. But he quickly blew through their "primary" class and we had to pull him out of that after a few months.

So, HS daycare until close to 3, primary for 6 months, then get her into a true PreK in the summer of her third year.