Little Folks Visit

[Anonymous]

I know Little Folks is a popular preschool so maybe a few of you can relate to my experience or give me some feedback. I am new to all of this stuff......We just had our visit and I was a little confused. I understand it was not an evaluation of my child - just a chance for me to see the class in action, so to speak. If that is the case - what I saw was bland and boring. I know that is not true - because I have talked to countless people who rave about the school and I liked everyone I met and Gay, especially. We went from room to room and my DD played and I said hello and chatted with the teacher, asked a few questions and chatted with some other moms. But the teachers that I saw were just sitting there - not much interaction or teaching going on - and also not really observing the visiting children at all. I know that wasn't the point - but they almost seemed to ignore them. I dunno - the whole thing felt weird. Gay asked if we had any questions - but the other moms already had kids in the school so they seemed more familiar. I did not really have any questions - and certainly wasn't going to voice this concern on the spot. I know I could probably call Gay to discuss - but I don't know how I will be perceived. Does anyone have feedback?
We also looked at NCRC which had a more "organized" play session, albeit - maybe they do more "screening". Same thing with Aidan, which many of you are also familiar with. The other schools we are considering are P Street Kids - which seems more like a daycare - although very cute and everyone seems nice.

Would appreciate any insight or advice.

[Anonymous]

I did a visit to Little Folks too and was a bit confused as well. I did spend some time in one classroom with a teacher who seemed very good and nice...but I spent most of the time corralling my child from room to room and trying to figure out how to get him situated. I think he had a hard time settling down in one room and then having to move to another. The teachers in the other rooms didn't interact with him much either so I'm not clear what we gained from the visit really since i had already visited and asked questions. In two of the three classes we were in it seemed like the teachers worked with individual students on projects montessori style. In one classroom it did seem like the teachers were just there and the kids were playing happily without much teacher interaction. So again, I'm not sure what I gained from the visit or what insight they got about my son. I did think it seemed like a nice school, kids were happy, teachers seemed good/nice, nothing amazingly impressive was going on although it did seem like they had a great arts program. Might be that the visits were scheduled during a open play-ish time.

I did visits at some Montessori schools where it was more about the teacher sitting down with my child and doing activities with him..but I think the purpose there was to "assess" his readiness, etc.

[Anonymous]

We attend Little Folks and love it.

I would have no qualms calling Gay to discuss if you have any questions or concerns. I don't think it will be perceived negatively- she really wants involved parents so your going that extra mile to find just the right school for your kid could well be perceived positively.

The reason the teachers don't try to involve your kid at the playdate is just as previously mentioned: they are not evaluating your child, so they just go through the day as usual.

I don't have much to say about teachers not being involved with the current students; there is a part of the day called "jobs" where the kids each choose a solitary activity to work on and I think the teachers float from kid to kid, and when they are in free-play mode in little groups I think the teachers do the same thing. There are also more organized times like circle time, snack time, and special music, art, movement, etc. . . times.

Anyway, we think the place is great, but the playdate definitely is different primarily because it's not a structured evaluation of your child. If you have any doubts about the school, might as well call to put those doubts to rest- otherwise even if you get in you won't be comfortable sending your kids there. Although Gay has a VERY strong personality, she is always very approachable and professional and always puts the kids and their experience first.