We were at a preschool where the teachers would just stand around on the playground and chat with each other. It was a Montessori school, FWIW. We left, for that, and many other reasons.

At our next preschool, the teachers did allow the kids to play on their own, but especially with the younger kids (2s and 3s), they would engage the kids by pointing out bugs, helping them count rocks, assisting with pretend play. It wasuch better, IMO.

Thw complaint I would have is they should be more actively supervising. I have worked at two good area preschools and at both teachers were not allowed to stand together or be chatting socially w each other on the playground. Teachers were to spread out so they could see as much of the playground as possible. One of the preschool s had guidelines that if there arw two teachers one close to bars one close to swings, if a thirs present by thw slide etc. To be sure we werent just chatting. Lots of accidents avoided this way.

Anonymous wrote:Playground time at our school is free play, the adults watch and also spot the kids on some of the climbing things.

This. OP, you need to lighten up. Free play is very important to a child's development. The teachers are watching out for your child, I assure you. Let your child be.

Anonymous wrote:I am never on this site. I don't live anywhere near DC, but I teach early childhood education to college students and I observe in LOTS of preschools including the Lab School on our campus. Teachers should be treating outdoor time as teachable curriculum time. They should be interacting with children not only for safety purposes but to encourage physical development and social development as well as language and literacy skills. The time should be loosely planned with teachers bringing different materials and activities to the playground. As always, not every preschooler will be interested in doing the same thing at the same time. That is to be expected. But there should be planned, intentional experiences for children indoors and outdoors.

As a parent, I hope not. My 4 year old is scheduled from morning until evening with "development activities". She is school at 3, she is taking immersion language, she is in yoga and swim classes, and now her school is doing dance classes in aftercare. For fuck sakes, leave free play alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.5 to young 3s class:

Referee kids, watch gate exits, spot kids on climbing equipment, take pictures. Occasionally they will facilitate or just initiate a game of hide and go seek or something, but the focus is really getting the kids to play with each other or independently. There is plenty of time for structure inside. I also don't think they could do their job of safely monitoring the kids and the playground as a whole if they were involved with individual kids.

What about the 1.5 to 2.5's?

I'm more worried about safety in that age group than any "socializing interventions". Will the teachers also stand together, and only monitor from a distance??

I teach this age group. With age-appropriate outdoor equipment and materials, and a safe and enclosed environment, the kids are allowed to romp around and explore. My assistant teachers and I spread out to keep an eye on the kids, but we still stand back and let them choose their own activities.

Anonymous wrote:I am never on this site. I don't live anywhere near DC, but I teach early childhood education to college students and I observe in LOTS of preschools including the Lab School on our campus. Teachers should be treating outdoor time as teachable curriculum time. They should be interacting with children not only for safety purposes but to encourage physical development and social development as well as language and literacy skills. The time should be loosely planned with teachers bringing different materials and activities to the playground. As always, not every preschooler will be interested in doing the same thing at the same time. That is to be expected. But there should be planned, intentional experiences for children indoors and outdoors.

This is the new theory in child development, but as a preschool teacher, I disagree. With the advent of helicopter parenting, sometimes playground time at preschool is the only time kids ever truly get to play freely and interact with whomever and whatever they want. I believe this free choice develops a sense of independence and eventually self-confidence, and I truly believe that independent imaginative play is one of the most important things for a developing brain. Classroom time is so structured, as we move the kids from circle time, to Spanish, to music, to art...they need some time to play and let their minds be their guide.

Young 3s room here too. Teachers hang back, intervene when necessary, give out water, interact if kids approach. But its one of my favorite things to watch because I like seeing ds playing independently with other kids.

Anonymous wrote:2.5 to young 3s class:

Referee kids, watch gate exits, spot kids on climbing equipment, take pictures. Occasionally they will facilitate or just initiate a game of hide and go seek or something, but the focus is really getting the kids to play with each other or independently. There is plenty of time for structure inside. I also don't think they could do their job of safely monitoring the kids and the playground as a whole if they were involved with individual kids.

What about the 1.5 to 2.5's?

I'm more worried about safety in that age group than any "socializing interventions". Will the teachers also stand together, and only monitor from a distance??

Anonymous wrote:Nothing, other than intervening in disagreements, etc. Kids need free play and need to learn how to navigate those social relationships on the playground without much intervention from teachers.

Agree!

Signed: A teacher

I am never on this site. I don't live anywhere near DC, but I teach early childhood education to college students and I observe in LOTS of preschools including the Lab School on our campus. Teachers should be treating outdoor time as teachable curriculum time. They should be interacting with children not only for safety purposes but to encourage physical development and social development as well as language and literacy skills. The time should be loosely planned with teachers bringing different materials and activities to the playground. As always, not every preschooler will be interested in doing the same thing at the same time. That is to be expected. But there should be planned, intentional experiences for children indoors and outdoors.

Playground time at our school is free play, the adults watch and also spot the kids on some of the climbing things.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This class is 2yr/3yr so these kids are very young. I am not as much worried about safety as I am about my child playing alone. She needs to be encouraged to participate and I hate the idea of her playing there alone. She always tells us "I did the monkey bars and no one helped me". I dont know if she is saying it proudly or as though she's wishing someone assisted her.

Your DD is proud that she could do this by herself. It is called becoming independent and.learning to rely o. herself and you should be praising her and take her to a playground where she can show you what she can do "all by herself."

Anonymous wrote:I was in for a conference at my DC new preschool today. I noticed that the kids teachers (and this is of a young 3s class) all talking together on the playgrounds while all the kids ran around on a fairly big playground. Is this normal? I dont want to over react but I expected my teachers of my very young preschooler to be actively playing with the children and not standing to the side chatting to the each other. I send my child to preschool so they're taught how to engage socially with other kids. If i wanted them to play alone, i would have a nanny.

Oh, good gracious, you cannot be serious . NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!''! Kids want to play with other kifs, NOT GROWNUPS. YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!

OP *hugs* b/c I know you are worried about your child. I actually could have written your post about a month ago when my daughter started a new class. I would often pull up for pick up and see her standing by herself or playing by herself. I used to also wonder how come the teachers aren't encouraging her to play with others. However, I took a step back and realized that she's really HAPPY and talks about her school all of the time, so I took that into consideration. Does your child seem happy? Also, as time wore on and my DD got more comfortable I began to notice her playing with other kids sometimes. After a parent teacher conferences I learned she has several friends and is very talkative at school so she's not lonely as I had initially gathered. Is it possible for you to do a classroom observation or meet with the teacher? Good luck!!!!!

Kids won't learn to problem-solve and share and take turns if someone is there leading them to do it all the time. Free play is SUPER important. Your child needs to learn how to fall and get back up, get her feelings hurt and be soothed by a friend, etc.