Son's preschool - it is nice except the room for his teacher is very small?

Question

I went to see my son's probable preschool today, it was/is very nice - problem is my son is very active, the room is very small and closed in, although it does have one window. I do like the playground, it is bigger and also the director. I haven't met the teacher yet, but saw her in some pictures, she seems okay. The thing is the room is so small and will have eight children. I was told the room isn't set up yet, so maybe the teacher can do something with the space to maximize it. Question is even with maximizing it should I let him go to a place where he will be spending three to four hours a day in a small area? They do have a couple other classrooms I would much rather see him in, would it be not nice to ask the director to switch him? I was thinking about homeschooling, but this preschool is nice and has lots of things I was looking for like it is in a church, nice director, good shaded playground, schedule, all exept for the size of his pretty small classroom. What is you opinion, should I ask to switch him, or something else?

Answer 1

Maybe there will be a room plan that will maximize the floor space, when the teacher gets set up. Why not try asking if they would be implementing these ideas?

-all equipment in proper storage, and the storage against the walls so that the floor is not cluttered.

-pillows to sit on on the floor, or stackable chairs that can be picked up and stowed in the corner.

-Some outdoor time so that the kids are not inside all the time.

-Coat hooks and a shoe cubby so that the clothes are picked up.

It seems a shame that after you have found a place that has met your needs so well, that you may need to give it up. Little ones are very adaptable, and they have an uncanny knack of being an angel for someone else where they can be so trying for their parents. I bet you'll find that the teacher will have no problem keeping him happy, and with all the new things to see and do the time will fly for him, and he won't even notice the small space. Hope I have helped for you.  :)

-Bins on wheels for art supplies so that they can be put anywhere.

Answer 2

I think that your son should be fine.  Think of yourself as lucky to be in a room that size because of state licensing.  They base the number of children permitted in a classroom, on the square footing of the room.  The bigger the classroom, generally means more children and less individualized attention for your son.

In my experience with "active" children, the less open spaces, the better.  It helps them control themselves, and focus on other things, rather than running around the room. This will prepare him for Kindergarten, when there won't be as much play time, and more often being expected to sit and complete tasks.  The preschool sounds nice, so they should give ample outside time to his class, enough for him to burn off some energy.  Do they have an indoor play area for when the weather is bad?

Good Luck!

Answer 3

IF the facility is licensed they are required to have a certain amount of indoor and outdoor square footage per child.  check the local licensing regs for that.  if they are in a church they are not required to be licensed though.  some church facilities do it anyway and some don't.  ask the director if they are licensed as that could make a difference.

a small room for younger children is really more beneficial.  large rooms tend to ignite younger children and they tend to run more and listen less.  if this is a school type environment for only 3-4 hours a day and not daycare for 8-9 then he'll do fine.  consider that they will have playground time also.  

ask the director and the teacher how much time they spend in the classroom and how much time outside.  see if you get the same answers.  find out what the daily schedule is like and if it's structured or just free play all day.  this will also make a difference.

your child will really be fine for such a short amount of time per day.  you can't always control his environment and he needs to learn to adapt (and maybe you do also).

Answer 4

He will be fine. He needs to learn how to act in differnet environments. If they are a preschool they are most likely policed by the state and safe for your kid.  

Answer 5

You know your son best, so your gut feelings may be correct.  If you don't think he has enough room to explore, there is nothing wrong with explaining your concerns to the director and requesting he be placed in a room with more space.  I am a preschool aide, and space is very important for young, active children!  Follow your instincts and request a larger room.  Your son deserves the best preschool environment you can find for him during this foundational time in his development, so don't worry about what the director thinks about you asking for more space.  He is your son, and she is just a lady you probably won't know in ten years.  

Answer 6

The size of the classroom has nothing to do with the learning experience involved in the said classroom.  Sounds like he will have plenty of other places to move around.  Your son also needs to learn to adapt to his environment.  I would try and see how he adapts.  It's scary to let them go, but they usually do very well.

Answer 7

I think it is critical that you send you son the message that he is entitled to a big room with windows and perhaps a skylight or two. If you make him go to a school where he has to touch other people that would be so yucky.

Answer 8

Talk to the director about  your concerns with the room size.  Otherwise it would be good to give it a chance and see if it works out.  I would give it a couple of weeks or three at the most.

Answer 9

Maybe your child would be switching classrooms... some schools have rooms for centers or for playing and their classrooms are only for educational purposes. Try asking the director and then also ask if that is the room that they will be in all day, if there is anyway your child could be moved to a bigger room, this may make your active child feel more secure and may also help out the teacher to have extra room for an active child as well. I don't think it is rude to ask questions. It is your child's preschool and you will be paying for it. Get what you really want him to have! Just try and see what happens! The worst they can do is tell you no!

Also in my opinion homeschooling is the best option... but it may not be right for you right now.... But I do think it is the best overall option... When my daughter hits Kindergarten she will be homeschooled. I just teach Pre K right now so she is in my class... that is the only reason I let her go to a private Christian School. It may be better for your child and you if he goes to this new preschool, but it may not... you can always just give it a shot!

Answer 10

Do not switch him to another school or home school him.  You are doing a good job of looking at many aspects of the preschool.  My sons went to preschool in a church that had small rooms, and I had the same concerns.  The teacher was well aware of the problem, and she did a lot of things to maximize the space.  DO NOT go to the teacher and "give her ideas" on how to arrange her room.  She knows she has a small room.  She has spent half her summer thinking about it, shopping for solutions, and hours pouring over teacher supply magazines (yes there is such a thing) figuring it out.  You will look like an idiot if, after all she has undoubtedly put into it, you start to question her as if she didn't already know what the problem was.  

The Preschool curriculum is varied and broad.  Your son will be given a structured, yet friendly environment in which to learn.  The typical time frame is about 20 minutes for one activity.  We have circle time for twenty minutes, then we get up and move to music in another room- that lasts for about 20 minutes, then it's back to the room for free play for 20 minutes, then craft, etc.  The idea is to be active, then sit, then be active, then sit.  I never do two sitting activities back to back.  If the teacher finds it necessary, she can probably arrange for an extra play time on the playground.  You could ask the teacher for a copy of the daily class schedule, just to give yourself an idea of how his day will go.

It sounds like it is a nice preschool, and you have done a good job at looking at everything that's there.  These would be my concerns- If it gets cold where you live, they might not go outside on the playground every day.  If they are inside, what is the alternative?  Is there a big room with toys, tumbling equipment and bikes?  There should be, unless you can go outside year round.  Also, It would be ok to ask the director about one of the larger rooms for your son.  It would be the director, not the teacher, that would be able to help you there.  If the director is reluctant to change rooms for your son, it could be one of several reasons.  Maybe the other rooms are for different age kids. Sometimes, even if the rooms are both for 4-year-olds, they could be for "young 4's" and "older 4's".  Directors also put kids in rooms according to the mix of personalities.  She wouldn't put all the active kids in one room if she could at all help it.  Another thought is that 8 kids is really not very many, and it does speak to the fact that it is a small room.  The state says that you can only have so many kids in each room based on square footage of that room.  If they only have 8 kids there, it is a small room.  As the year goes on, though, there won't be 8 in the class each day.  Kids get sick, go on vacation, etc. and there's always somebody missing.  

You like most of the aspects of the preschool.  The room size is not a deal breaker.  You are a good Mom to be paying attention and know that you have an active son.  Tell the director your concerns and request the larger room.  If she doesn't do it for you, just let it go.  Other things are more important at preschool.  (Like having a good director, and a good teacher.)        

Answer 11

Your son needs to socialize and will probably be happy playing with the other kids and having a nice playground and whatnot. See how he fits in. Great things can be done even with the smallest of spaces so don't write it off on that alone.

(for a moment I missread yoru question and thought you were complaining because your son's teacher was too small... )  

Answer 12

No, I'm sure that the teacher won't have him running around indoor anyway. I think you should still let him go and if any issues come up or he starts to seem a bit scared at tiny spaces then you might want to ask to switch him. But I'm sure inside he'll be learning and outside he will be playing. But if your still kinda iffy about it ask if they have some sort of gym or something indoors/bigger running space for the kids.