UrbanBaby

07.10.08, 09:32 AM Toddler
14 replies

What do you think are the best preschools for a shy 3 year old? UWS, UES or uptown? TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Toddler 07.10.08, 09:32 AM Flag

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I would avoid montessori, but otherwise, the usual suspects. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:35 AM Flag

OP: why avoid Montessori? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:36 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:40 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 10:01 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 10:46 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 10:48 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:37 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:39 AM Flag

OP: But is it for a very shy child? If not, why not? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:39 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:43 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:41 AM Flag

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 | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 09:51 AM Flag

What about WSMS? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 07.10.08, 10:01 AM Flag

We loved WSMS and had a very shy child. It is not strict Montessori and the teachers are fantastic. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 09.11.08, 06:28 PM Flag