advertisement
Click Here
On CBS.com: New York hates New Jersey
Sign up | Log in
new post » see more posts »

  • What do you think are the best preschools for a shy 3 year old? UWS, UES or uptown? TIA

    14 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
    07.10.08, 09:32 AM [ Flag ]

    • I would avoid montessori, but otherwise, the usual suspects.

      [ Reply | Options ]
      07.10.08, 09:35 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • OP: why avoid Montessori?

        [ Reply | Options ]
        07.10.08, 09:36 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • many people will disagree (and to a certain extent it depends more on the school than the montessori philosophy), but I do not think montessori is a good fit for very shy children. Because the education is very self-directed and about doing your "work" or the "work of play," very shy kids can get overwhelmed by what they experience as chaos in the room. Sometimes very shy kids get a lot of comfort from structure. I also think that developmental preschools are more warm and fuzzy and more likely to take the time to nuture and reassure a shy child.

          [ Reply | Options ]
          07.10.08, 09:40 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

          • hmm. i've had two kids in montessori and i dont think the atmosphere is chaotic. compared to "developmental" schools i've visited, i found it calmer and easeir for my shyer kid to handle. the active one had more problems in montessori

            [ Reply | Options ]
            07.10.08, 10:01 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

            • interesting. SIL pulled her very shy dd from a montessori halfway through the year. She was completely overwhelmed and every time SIL went to pick her up she was just wandering around the room looking lost. Found a spot for her at a no-name neighborhood preschool. It took her about 6 weeks to get acclimated, but then she was fine and now loves preschool. The difference was night and day.

              [ Reply | Options ]
              07.10.08, 10:46 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

              • i thinkit really varies by school, not jstu how it is structured but how the teachers deal with shyness. my shy kid is going to an unstructured day camp program now and its really hard for her. Montessori is not.

                [ Reply | Options ]
                07.10.08, 10:48 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • why? montessori gives kids room to grow and explore at their own pace, and 1 on 1 with teachers during lessons do a lot to boost confidence. I think montessori is a much better option than throwing a shy kid into an unstructured play heap.

        [ Reply | Options ]
        07.10.08, 09:37 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • np: Well, I wouldn't say that other preschools are "unstructured play heaps." Montessori was a good option for one of my kids, it's not for every child.

          [ Reply | Options ]
          07.10.08, 09:39 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

          • OP: But is it for a very shy child? If not, why not?

            [ Reply | Options ]
            07.10.08, 09:39 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

            • I wouldn't have thought of it as shy/not shy. Our decision had more to do with self-sufficiency, liking following rules, and the ability to work alone on tasks while others do their own thing.

              [ Reply | Options ]
              07.10.08, 09:43 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

          • OR: didn't mean other schools to sound so terrible (I'm 8 months pg and, according to my DH, excessively hostile). My point just was, montessori seems like a great option to me.

            [ Reply | Options ]
            07.10.08, 09:41 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

    • I don't think there is any one school for a shy kid. They're all very competitive and hard to get into. You can't afford to only apply to a few or you won't get in anywhere. I disagree with OR and think Montessori would be fine. I like Metropolitan Montessori on W85th.

      [ Reply | Options ]
      07.10.08, 09:51 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
advertisement
Click Here
advertisement
Click Here

UrbanBaby Asks...

What are your Thanksgiving travel plans?

Already voted? View Results

See previous polls »

Boards Help

Abbreviations
More Boards Help

Site Feedback Thank you for your feedback about the new site. We are paying close attention to your comments and we will incorporate them as we make improvements to the site. Please continue to report problems and offer feedback on the Site Feedback Board and visit our Site Talk blog for answers to some of your questions and updates on specific issues.

Flashback