Forum Index
»
Private & Independent Schools
school playdates for incoming three year olds
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
my son is 2.5 and we are applying to a number of the schools that start at age 3. He has playdates coming up. At 2.5, he's pretty unpredictable as far as whether he will share, behave well, etc, so we are nervous. Any tips? What do they ask such young kids to do at these things?
Thanks. |
Anonymous
| At our playdates when DC was 2 1/2, they seemed to be looking for any obvious developmental or emotional delays or attention deficits and for the ability to engage purposefully, follow directions, etc. They let the children engage with whatever activity they wanted to and didn't expect sharing or taking turns. There was a simple follow-the-leader (a teacher) game, and that kind of thing. At the school we eventually chose, the head of the lower school explained much of the process and what they'd be looking for in the parent interview, which we had before the playdate. We appreciated that effort to demystify the process. |
Anonymous
| They are also looking to see how easily your child separates from parents. And what the parents do if the kid flips out. We did a playdate at Green Hedges in Virginia and my daughter got very involved with a toy in the waiting area and pitched a screaming mimi when it was time to go over to the playdate. I kept my cool and got her moving. She had a blast at the playdate and was accepted. |
jhuber
Member Offline
Member Offline
Both of the previous posters do a very good job to summarize some of the things that schools may be looking for in a playdate. We do expect 2 1/2 year old to act like, well, 2 1/2 year olds. And we understand that everyone has an off-day. I can sympathize with the story of your daughter not wanting to join the playdate. I suffered a little mortification (after the fact) when I found that my oldest son, at the age of 2 1/2, would not agree to any of the activities or testing until he could have a snack - from the box of graham crackers he spotted up on a shelf in the classroom. John |
Anonymous
| Any good strategies for helpling kids adjust to these playdates? |
Anonymous
|
It always makes me feel better to know that one of my friend's daughters was the one who cried during her playdate when some boys wouldn't share, and the mom got called, handled it, etc. and the girl was still accepted, after much mortification by the mom of course.
My best tip is to arrive early, make sure they are not hungry/thirsty/sick, and don't give them lots of orders or bribes. I think too much prep tends to confuse the kids, and it probably stresses them out. I always talk to my kid a few days before about how we are going to into the room and he gets to play with the other kids and teachers, but the mommies have to go outside for a few minutes and have coffee. You'll be ok without me though, because the teachers and other kids will be there to play with and you will hardly even notice I'm gone, and its just for a few minutes. Then I'll come back and get you after us mommies finish having our coffee. Oh, and they have blocks, so you will have so much fun. Seemed to work for my older one pretty well - I'm hoping it works for my little 2 year old - his playdate is coming up. I remember they told me last time I went through this that they look for speech ability, vocabulary/colors/counting, fine motor skills, and stuff like that. As PP said, they just want to see how they separate and if they are on track to be normal kids. I fully expect my son to have a tantrum if someone tries to take whatever he's holding out of his hands, but I don't think the teachers are going to try and bait him into a fit. I just hope he doesn't throw a block at another kid. |
Anonymous
| What if your child has a runny nose, but is not sick? I typically would not let him go to a friend's house with a runny nose, but the notification of playdate card said don't reschedule unless it is absolutely necessary. Any guidance on the right protocol? |