My latest rant

Shame on me. Shame on me for not investigating Lilly's preschool. I heard so many good things about this school. They are accredited to offer Kindergarten. Our pediatrician even commented that Kids of Grace is a good school. At this point, I'm trying to figure out what kind of "school" it actually is! It doesn't seem like school to me at all.

The philosophy's of the school seem to be a bit different than mine. I am way more interested in having Lilly learn things (like colors and shapes) rather than play all day. It seems like this school is way more focused on open, free play and...chapel. Lots of moms have different opinions on preschools and mine is not necessarily the best philosophy, but I think for my girls it's the way I want their social school engagements to go.

This is what I know they do on a daily basis:

• Open free play. When I drop her off all the kids are playing with toys scattered around the room. I don't think the room has nearly enough books to hold Lilly's attention for very long. As a coincidence, Lilly's teachers sent home a Scholastic Books fundraiser catalog and order form. It was NOT accompanied by a note of any kind. I thought that was pretty poor. I don't even know when the deadline is. On the order form it reads something like "If you place your order online then your classroom will earn a book". I will definitely be placing my order online.



• Go outside and play on the playground. I must confess it's an awesome playground. When Will and I used to attend service at that church we donated to the playground fund so it's nice that Lilly can take advantage of our contribution.



• Free play...yes, more free play. Sometimes they will get out play doh so I'm told.



• Circle time. I think the teachers read a story to the kids. I'm not really quite sure what goes on in circle time other than that.



• Potty/wash hands.



• Snack.



• More open play. When I pick her up at the end of the day she is again playing with toys scattered across the room.



• On Wednesday mornings they have chapel. I think they are a little too young to be marched down to the chapel and forced to sit quiet and still for 30 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for learning to say a prayer before snack, but I just think the chapel part is a little too much. Instead of chapel, I would like to see her do a craft of some sort, any sort. She's gone to school for 3 days now and has yet to bring home any artwork or craft. She did bring home a small fistful of homemade blue play doh on Monday, but come on!



• Blue (do they study it on a daily basis? I'm not sure.) They are supposed to be studying the color blue this month. Lilly does not know her colors. (Sophia and I are working with her, but everything is either YELL WOAH or GEEN.) Each month they will focus on different color. What a great way to have them learn colors. I feel like they could take it one step further and at least provide color pages and blue crayons if not a craft of some sort (are you seeing a pattern here). She has been to school for 2 weeks and hasn't brought home a single thing. When Sophia was in her 2-yr old preschool program she brought home a craft and a color page every day. They practiced things like pasting and eventually cutting. As a side note, I have dressed Lilly in blue every day to help her to learn the color. The teachers haven't said anything about it. Oh well. Perhaps I'm expecting too much.

Get this Pavlovian trick! I'm not a big fan. Why not just teach them with words...? When the teachers want the kids to clean up they ring a bell. They said that by the end of the year when the kids hear the bell they automatically clean up.

When I went to orientation I asked if they have parties and celebrate things like Valentine's Day and Halloween. The teacher, Ms. Brenda, looked at me like I was a little nuts. She said they do things for those holidays. I hope they make a big deal out of it because Sophia's school does and I would hate for Lilly to feel excluded from all the fun.

I have yet to receive a class roster. I'm not sure if I'll ever get one.

Every day when I pick her up I ask how she was. They always say Good! That's it. No more no less. I have no idea if she's actually using the potty there or not. (I keep forgetting to ask, but you think they would tell me or at least give me a hint.) She always has on a new pull-up when I pick her up.

As far as I can tell, they do not have a computer to play with or to even use once a week. Bummer! Sophia had computer time in her 2-yr class. She also had music once a week. I'm assuming Lilly is getting some sort of music because they will perform in a Christmas show.

I can't wait for next year until she's in Beach Manor and I hope this year isn't a waste. I know she's going to learn socialization (and cleaning up) and will make some new friends which I'm thrilled about. I've been scoping out the moms and I see two that have little girls (Gracie and Quinn, I think) in her class and I think I would mesh with them. The moms look to be about my age, maybe a little younger. They are already friends so it might be kind of hard to crack that shell, but maybe Lilly and their girls will do it for us. I would like for Lilly to have a set of friends just like Sophia does.

OK. It's 8am and both girls are still sleeping so I need to take advantage of this quiet time.

Thanks for reading my rant.