Preschool Admissions Playdates

[Anonymous]

What the heck are these? We just moved here with our son, and have no clue what they’d be looking for from someone who’s not even 2 yet. Our dude is super shy and has been home with me, so he doesn’t have a lot of social skills. Does this mean we shouldn’t even bother applying?

[Anonymous]

There are lots of preschools that admit kids based on a lottery. In my experience, those tend to me more developmentally appropriate, since, as you note, evaluating a 2 year old is pretty dumb. The lottery based schools tend to be less prestigious, though. If you post where you live, people can give recommendations.

[Anonymous]

They are trying to get a sense for your child's personality and temperament, how easily they currently separate, how well they currently follow instructions, etc. I think. (I'm not a preschool admissions person.)

Don't worry about it. Just bring your kid. It will be fine.

[Anonymous]

I work in admissions for a daycare and we offer them as a help to ease transition for when the child starts. It usually helps them to spend time with their future teachers and classmates, before starting. Especially if the child has been mainly at home, it helps to have a, somewhat, familiar face their first day..or the first few weeks. This also allows the teachers to get to know you and the child a bit beforehand, ask questions (like if there are any allergies, or particular things your child likes/doesn't like). A lot of times you can like the program on paper, but not have a great feeling once in the school. Play dates can help with that feeling.

[Anonymous]

DD went for a playdate in the classroom she'd be joining in the fall. I told my friends it was just to make sure she wasn't 'feral'. I assume shyness is to be expected, but they just want to make sure there's no glaring behavioral issues that would be a problem.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies! We’re living in Penn Quarter forge moment until we find a place to settle. It doesn’t look like there are any good options in this neck of the woods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in admissions for a daycare and we offer them as a help to ease transition for when the child starts. It usually helps them to spend time with their future teachers and classmates, before starting. Especially if the child has been mainly at home, it helps to have a, somewhat, familiar face their first day..or the first few weeks. This also allows the teachers to get to know you and the child a bit beforehand, ask questions (like if there are any allergies, or particular things your child likes/doesn't like). A lot of times you can like the program on paper, but not have a great feeling once in the school. Play dates can help with that feeling.

Really?

The school I sent my kid to did playdates leading up to the first day of school, and that made a lot of sense to me for all the reasons you give. Especially if the kid's actual teacher is there.

But an admissions playdate many months before school start, that includes kids who aren't going to end up coming, doesn't fill those goals at all. A two year old is not going to look back at a visit they had 8 months ago, and remember the one other kid from the group who was there, and is no in the other two year old class, and find that comforting.

[Anonymous]

My kids school did an admissions play date and it was very low key. I don’t know if they screened anyone out because of it, but I rather doubt it. It’s not a snotty school. It was a major plus for us because she was really excited about the school after the play date. The assistant head attended and was really sweet with the kids and gave each child a small present and she just felt so happy and welcomed there that I think it did increase our comfort level about picking that school. All summer she talked about the assistant head and how he was so nice and gave her a present so she couldn’t wait to go back.
So I was skeptical about it but it ended up being worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

That sounds really cute! Which school was it?

[Anonymous]

For my son, it was literally what the poster above mentioned--to make sure that our kid wasn't "feral". As long as he wasn't ripping materials off of shelves and climbing on tables, he was admitted.

I imagine all preschools are different, but at the one my son attends they only turn down 1 or 2 kids a year, and even then they just recommend waiting 6 months and trying again when they've matured a bit.

[Anonymous]

OP -- I'm not sure you're getting accurate answers here. Are you applying to preschool that has more applications each year than there are slots available? Do they operate using a waitlist or random lottery or do they pick and choose who they want to admit (like private school/college)? If the latter, then the admissions playdate is essentially one way they decide which kids/families they want to join their community.

So, on the playdate:
1. They will assess your child's temperament and watch how your child interacts with other kids in the classroom.
2. They will have a chance to meet and speak with you and decide if your family will be a good fit for the community.
3. You'll have a chance to see how they operate and decide if it's a good fit for your child and your family.

That's about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in admissions for a daycare and we offer them as a help to ease transition for when the child starts. It usually helps them to spend time with their future teachers and classmates, before starting. Especially if the child has been mainly at home, it helps to have a, somewhat, familiar face their first day..or the first few weeks. This also allows the teachers to get to know you and the child a bit beforehand, ask questions (like if there are any allergies, or particular things your child likes/doesn't like). A lot of times you can like the program on paper, but not have a great feeling once in the school. Play dates can help with that feeling.

Really?

The school I sent my kid to did playdates leading up to the first day of school, and that made a lot of sense to me for all the reasons you give. Especially if the kid's actual teacher is there.

But an admissions playdate many months before school start, that includes kids who aren't going to end up coming, doesn't fill those goals at all. A two year old is not going to look back at a visit they had 8 months ago, and remember the one other kid from the group who was there, and is no in the other two year old class, and find that comforting.

Right..that's exactly what we do. Have a playdate with the child before they start..not months beforehand, it's usually fairly close to when they either plan to start, or already have a start date. It's not an "admissions" playdate. It's a playdate for the kids to be in the class they will be in. It's not mandatory, it's the parents decision, but we offer them to help ease the transition when they do start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in admissions for a daycare and we offer them as a help to ease transition for when the child starts. It usually helps them to spend time with their future teachers and classmates, before starting. Especially if the child has been mainly at home, it helps to have a, somewhat, familiar face their first day..or the first few weeks. This also allows the teachers to get to know you and the child a bit beforehand, ask questions (like if there are any allergies, or particular things your child likes/doesn't like). A lot of times you can like the program on paper, but not have a great feeling once in the school. Play dates can help with that feeling.

Really?

The school I sent my kid to did playdates leading up to the first day of school, and that made a lot of sense to me for all the reasons you give. Especially if the kid's actual teacher is there.

But an admissions playdate many months before school start, that includes kids who aren't going to end up coming, doesn't fill those goals at all. A two year old is not going to look back at a visit they had 8 months ago, and remember the one other kid from the group who was there, and is no in the other two year old class, and find that comforting.

Right..that's exactly what we do. Have a playdate with the child before they start..not months beforehand, it's usually fairly close to when they either plan to start, or already have a start date. It's not an "admissions" playdate. It's a playdate for the kids to be in the class they will be in. It's not mandatory, it's the parents decision, but we offer them to help ease the transition when they do start.

I guess I'm confused. Do you do admissions playdates, or playdates for incoming kids. Playdates from incoming kids are a great idea, but they aren't what the OP is asking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in admissions for a daycare and we offer them as a help to ease transition for when the child starts. It usually helps them to spend time with their future teachers and classmates, before starting. Especially if the child has been mainly at home, it helps to have a, somewhat, familiar face their first day..or the first few weeks. This also allows the teachers to get to know you and the child a bit beforehand, ask questions (like if there are any allergies, or particular things your child likes/doesn't like). A lot of times you can like the program on paper, but not have a great feeling once in the school. Play dates can help with that feeling.

Really?

The school I sent my kid to did playdates leading up to the first day of school, and that made a lot of sense to me for all the reasons you give. Especially if the kid's actual teacher is there.

But an admissions playdate many months before school start, that includes kids who aren't going to end up coming, doesn't fill those goals at all. A two year old is not going to look back at a visit they had 8 months ago, and remember the one other kid from the group who was there, and is no in the other two year old class, and find that comforting.

Right..that's exactly what we do. Have a playdate with the child before they start..not months beforehand, it's usually fairly close to when they either plan to start, or already have a start date. It's not an "admissions" playdate. It's a playdate for the kids to be in the class they will be in. It's not mandatory, it's the parents decision, but we offer them to help ease the transition when they do start.

I guess I'm confused. Do you do admissions playdates, or playdates for incoming kids. Playdates from incoming kids are a great idea, but they aren't what the OP is asking about.

I might be confused as well about what she's asking. We do playdates. I don't know what an "admissions playdate" is exactly. I just happen to work in admissions and therefore am the one who is scheduling said playdate and hanging with the family when they're here for it. If they are screening the kids to see if they are a "good fit" for the school and not accepting/enrolling based off of the playdate, that's a whole other conversation and actually discrimination. We do our playdates for families who have already accepted a spot or are seriously considering it and want to make sure it's a good fit for their child. If they choose not to enroll after the playdate, that's on them.

[Anonymous]

How is screening kids "discrimination"?