Little Folks - really that great?

[Anonymous]

I've been reading all the posts about it being a feeder school. But what makes it so special?

I visited there and wasn't particularly impressed by the teachers. I thought the classrooms were a little shabby - and so were the materials that the kids were working/playing with.

Overall, it seemed like a nice school with a very nice philosophy, but that's it. What makes it so special?

[Anonymous]

My son went to Little Folks, and I have to say I liked it because he really seemed so happy there. I honestly don't know what they did. Every so often I would pop in to look (although at the time they were in a church where you had to ring a doorbell to get in, so you couldn't 'sneak in'), and they just seemed to be engaged in really happy play. I don't know if it's any different from any other preschool. I can just say he did loads of arts and crafts, lots of pure play, and seemed to enjoy very much being with the other kids. Every day I picked him up he had such a happy face, and I liked that the teachers all came outside with the kids and you had a good 10-15 minutes just to gab with them about the day. Very approachable, and basically at that age, you want someone who gushes about the funny/sweet things your child did during the day and these guys did that.

As for the staff, I can say I just totally loved Joan Rosenbaum (red room teacher). I really learned a lot from her, and she was very low key and reassuring. My son was in the red room, and that was Marta and Joan. The yellow room was Gay and Nori. I felt like Nori was a big sweetie pie (very very nurturing) but I feel like Gay was a little too highstrung for me. I always felt a little uncomfortable around her and one meeting with her made me panic about my child's development, needlessly I can see in hindsight.

What's the big deal about Little Folks? I'm not sure if there is ANY big deal. I liked it. I also like my kid's soccer league and my church. It certainly does not deserve all these people falling all over themselves to get in (and I think this is only fueling Gay's feeling of superiority). But if you have been accepted and are thinking of sending your child there, it certainly is perfectly nice.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. We'll see if we get in.

I like that your child was happy and that you actually get feedback every day.

I'm still a little confused about why it's such a hot feeder school, but I guess that part doesn't really matter to me.

[Anonymous]

We love it for the same reason as the PP - my kid is really happy there. Wants to go to school every day, including weekends. Wants to stay for "lunch bunch" (afternoon) every day. Talks about friends, teachers, things they have discussed at circle time. Brings home creative projects that were obviously done without too much "help" from the teachers (so they're not perfect- but I know my child did them). Learns from the older kids in the class and loves "teaching" the younger ones. They are obviously placing value on creativity and imagination. My child has shown significantly more consideration for the needs of others than when we began there. All of the kids know each other and not just the other kids in their classroom.

The teachers have been there for a long time and obviously care about the kids and have a great deal of patience, wisdom, and experience, as well as keeping up to date on new ideas about education and development- Nory, Joanie, Gay, and Marta, mentioned by PP, are still there and the two newer teachers are fantastic.

The parent community is warm and welcoming, and parents are encouraged to become a part of the life of the school. There are biweekly parent coffees at the school. Gay is readily available to discuss any questions or concerns at any time.

So we think it really is great. The classrooms are not as visually appealing and the materials are not as beautiful as at St. John's or St. Patrick's (though the playground really is great). I don't think they'll have my child reading and writing and doing algebra before the age of 4. I think the "feeder" concept is way overblown. However, the school is a fun, stimulating, warm and nurturing place for kids and the faculty is superb. We're happy to be there.

[Anonymous]

We visited, NCRC, St. John's and Little Folks last year. We (actually, my husband) decided not to apply to Little Folks. He loved NCRC. I loved St. John's. I'm sure Little Folks is a perfectly fine preschool, and actually we both liked Gay. We just didn't like the facilities and, the teachers seemed a bit less than engaging. That said, we have friends who swear by Little Folks, and whose children had great experiences their.

[Anonymous]

A little off topic, but I was VERY surprised to see that the Little Folks summer camp is $2000 for about five weeks - mornings. That makes it about triple or even quadruple the cost of most other preschool morning camps I've seen.

And several mornings a week they go to Montrose Park. I sort of feel like I could just bring my kids there myself. Except it's pretty hot there with no shade in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Little Folks tuition is expensive, more than several other schools I looked at.

[Anonymous]

That's because it's a full day program. It's on par with most of the others (cheaper than some, like WIS and River School) once you consider their full day options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm still a little confused about why it's such a hot feeder school, but I guess that part doesn't really matter to me.

What makes a school a "hot feeder school" is the relationship that the school and its administrators have with competitive private ongoing schools.

Not necessarily related to the facilities or quality of a preschool's programs at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's because it's a full day program. It's on par with most of the others (cheaper than some, like WIS and River School) once you consider their full day options.

Yes, but the camp is mornings-only, which still makes it about 300 percent more expensive than the others.

[Anonymous]

I remember feeling the same way about the camp. It's insanely expensive.

As for their school tuition, I don't think it was bad, especially if you were full day. Now I look back longingly at those tuitions (about 15,000 for full day. Now my DC goes for an equivalent time period, perhaps 1 hour more, but the tuition is about 8,000 more).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's because it's a full day program. It's on par with most of the others (cheaper than some, like WIS and River School) once you consider their full day options.[/quote

Actually, Little Folks does appear to be a lot cheaper option. St. John's (9am-3pm) is a bit over $17,000, and more for early arrival. NCRC is a bit over $20,000 for full day, and more for early arrival. School for Friends is a bit over $16,000 (8am - 6pm), though it appears to provide hours more in line with daycare versus preschool hours.

[Anonymous]

15,000 for nine months for 9-3 is not inexpensive. not the highest i've seen (i think the river school was the highest) but $1600/month is at the high end for preschool. it's $1400/month for a half day (8:45 to 11:45) which is alot. others are $1000-$12000 for a three hour day.

[Anonymous]

School for Friends is a 12 month program so it doesn't really compare with a 9 month program.

[Anonymous]

I think Little Folk's tuition is expensive when the director says outright that she expects even half-day children to apply as full-day if they expect to get admitted.