To OP - when we went to CDS (great experience!), it was difficult to get in and those who had participated in the parent-child course, had a leg up. I do not know if that is still the case. I just checked - they still exist and start at 18 months. I did the course with both children

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brooksfield was awful for us. I’d go with Country Day (or almost any other preschool for that matter).

OP here. Curious to hear more if you’re willing to expand on this. We were so excited about Brooksfield based on their website and other reviews but were thoroughly unimpressed with the virtual tour (the Admissions Director word vomited for an hour with no time for questions, the whole presentation was very disorganized, video was super laggy, etc.), but we didn’t want to discount it based on one person’s online tour…

Believe what you saw on the tour. They talk the talk but do not walk the walk in our experience.

This isn't exactly what you asked, but since you asked in the private school forum instead of the preschool forum, you should consider the Langley School. They have one of the best preschool programs around. It is expensive, but it is one of the strongest programs at the school.

CDS doesn't focus on reading, but that doesn't mean that some kids aren't reading when they leave. It's developmentally appropriate for children to not be reading even by first grade. Early reading has no effect long-term. Focusing on it is just not necessary.

My kids went to CDS. One was reading fluently at age 4 and was reading at a 6th grade level in 1st. He's now in college. He did well in school, but not nearly as well as his younger sister - who didn't read at all when she left CDS for our public K. By third grade the school tested her for giftedness - not something we had ever considered. The advanced reading group in her grade wasn't advanced enough - her teacher sent her to the library instead where she did book reports with the librarian. She's now a straight A student in her junior year at one of the so-called Big 3.

Surround your children with books and read to them, and chances are they will learn to love reading, too. Don't stress about your preschooler's academic achievements. Good grief - there will be plenty of time for that later. CDS is a lovely, warm and nurturing place. I cried on my daughter's last day.

Ok I’ll bite. My kids were reading pretty fluently by the Fours program. I won’t credit that all to CDS as I worked hard with them at home. What I WILL credit is my daughter who sat at the “writing center” everyday, all day, writing “books” which ended up being what we wrote about on her “top private” school application that she went to after CDS, and now, many years later, STILL writing but real books, hoping to publish and be an author. So there’s that.

My shy, introverted daughter was very happy in her Montessori school, which she attended from infancy through grade 3. There was plenty of time for interaction and developing social skills, and she discovered she really loved helping the younger children in the mixed-age classroom. She’s now a student tutor in high school. She’s still naturally introverted and shy in new situations, but she’s self-confident. Her Montessori experience, we believe, gave her a solid foundation socially as well as academically.

Anonymous wrote:My opinion:
Montessori could be OK for already extrovert kids. But definitely choose play-based for kids who are introvert and needs social-emotional learning. Academics will be OK whichever school the kid is in.

Our experience: My child attended play-based a long time ago. No academics at all. She did very well academically later on. I believe that delaying academics and focusing on play-based environment actually enabled a lot of curiosity and creativity. My child was shy. She blossomed in this environment.

+1. We have two children, very different personalities—both did Montessori for pre-K. Our naturally independent, easy-going child thrived in that setting and enjoyed learning new skills from the “big kids.” Our shyer and, frankly, needier, child was miserable and the mixed-age setting and long stretches of time working alone exacerbated their anxiety and stunted their socio-emotional development. Both were reading and writing and knew basic math concepts by the end, but in retrospect, I wish I had moved my one child to a more traditional pre-K setting. Not every kid will thrive in Montessori and I wished I had gone with my gut and not pushed it. Lesson learned, and they’re fine now, but there was quite a bit of unnecessary suffering.

OP i think you are overthinking this. For preschool, pick what is most convenient to your home and schedule. I have one child who went to CDS and my others did not. Guess what - they all ended up at a top private and are all thriving. Ironically, my CDS kid is the only one who did know how to read before K. It doesn’t matter at all. My others went to a play based school that did no academics. They will all learn what they need in K and everyone catches up. The kids who came to their K from preschools that had pushed academics have actually not done the best as they’ve progressed through school. Those kids seem to be more rigid and look at completing things as the goal. Other kids really came in with a bigger curiousity which has helped them progress through their private. If do CDS again but only if it was convenient location wise.

Recently former Country Day parent with a child at a top private. Loved, loved, loved Country Day. Would agree reading wasn't the strongest, but my DS was reading when he left. I credit CDS with the fact he was well above average in Science and all Social Emotional Skills - which are incredibly important in K and beyond. I would choose CDS again in a heartbeat and without hesitation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same reaction as PP. We strongly considered Montessori especially because my son is on the older end due to a fall birthday but “advanced” as far as 3/4 year olds go so liked the mixed age classroom. Ended up at country day because we loved how they talked about early education, the teachers, the grounds. No regrets, but I’m sure he would have thrived in Montessori too.

OP here - so glad to hear, thanks. Definitely like their philosophy. In terms of “academics” (kind of hate using that word with 3 year olds, but…), how do you think their reading program is? DC loves books and we want to be sure she’s at a place that fosters that and supports reading skills, and I’ve seen a number of commenters note this as an area of weakness at CDS (especially when compared to Montessori). Curious to hear if you have similar perception.

She’s 3, OP. I guarantee her reading skills will be fine no matter where she goes. She could go to a two day per week Mother’s Morning Out program in a church basement and her reading skills would be just fine. She will learn what she needs to learn in kindergarten.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brooksfield was awful for us. I’d go with Country Day (or almost any other preschool for that matter).

OP here. Curious to hear more if you’re willing to expand on this. We were so excited about Brooksfield based on their website and other reviews but were thoroughly unimpressed with the virtual tour (the Admissions Director word vomited for an hour with no time for questions, the whole presentation was very disorganized, video was super laggy, etc.), but we didn’t want to discount it based on one person’s online tour…

Not PP but please do dismiss the school based on your admissions tour. That’s the whole reason you do an admissions tour. Believe what you saw. You said you have decision paralysis and this is why. You are afraid to trust the information you’re gathering and afraid to go ahead and make your own decision. Mama, there are going to be so many more choices you will make for your child! Trust yourself. Nix this school. (And I know nothing about this school. I just know a lot about self-doubt.)

My opinion:
Montessori could be OK for already extrovert kids. But definitely choose play-based for kids who are introvert and needs social-emotional learning. Academics will be OK whichever school the kid is in.

Our experience: My child attended play-based a long time ago. No academics at all. She did very well academically later on. I believe that delaying academics and focusing on play-based environment actually enabled a lot of curiosity and creativity. My child was shy. She blossomed in this environment.

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but currently trying to make the same decision and having the same struggle re montessori vs traditional. The appeal of montessori for us is fostering independence, self-confidence, and setting her up for success in early reading and math. But the traditional school also seems like a great, nurturing place with wonderful resources that could make for a very positive experience. Would the personality of the kid (ours is a little on the shy/anxious side, although generally happy and sweet) make you recommend one setting vs the other?

Personality absolutely matters. I prefer Montessori but sent one of my kids to play-based because I thought he needed the warmth and affectionate atmosphere of play-based. All are doing well!

Anonymous wrote:Same reaction as PP. We strongly considered Montessori especially because my son is on the older end due to a fall birthday but “advanced” as far as 3/4 year olds go so liked the mixed age classroom. Ended up at country day because we loved how they talked about early education, the teachers, the grounds. No regrets, but I’m sure he would have thrived in Montessori too.

OP here - so glad to hear, thanks. Definitely like their philosophy. In terms of “academics” (kind of hate using that word with 3 year olds, but…), how do you think their reading program is? DC loves books and we want to be sure she’s at a place that fosters that and supports reading skills, and I’ve seen a number of commenters note this as an area of weakness at CDS (especially when compared to Montessori). Curious to hear if you have similar perception.

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but currently trying to make the same decision and having the same struggle re montessori vs traditional. The appeal of montessori for us is fostering independence, self-confidence, and setting her up for success in early reading and math. But the traditional school also seems like a great, nurturing place with wonderful resources that could make for a very positive experience. Would the personality of the kid (ours is a little on the shy/anxious side, although generally happy and sweet) make you recommend one setting vs the other?

OP here - you’ve captured our thoughts perfectly (and our LOs sound very similar)! I know they’ll probably do well in any quality preschool, and I’m not hyper-focused on the academics at this age, but do want LO to be happy and not “fall behind” in the major stuff.

Also trying to be realistic with expectations - all of this may be moot if admissions are difficult with CDS (anyone know the general stats for acceptances these days)?