DD1, 2.6 had her first afternoon at a Montessori nursery on Thursday, she's booked in to do two afternoons a week. I'm going to stay for the first couple of weeks to settle her in. This is long and boring, I'm sorry, but I'm trying to clarify my thoughts at the same time as asking for your advice.
When we arrived she went out to run around the garden, for half an hour with the other children. She liked it. No one really went ott welcoming her, or explining what was happening, just let her get on with it.
Then the children were all asked to line up. Their names were called in order of who was lining up well, and those children went inside to the 'classroom'. They took their coats off and put them in a box, then tooke their shoes off put slippers on. Then for about 1 hour 15 mins they played with the fantastic toys t their own pace. DD ws pretty much left alone, no one bothered even to tlk to her for what felt like ages, but she was OK. The staff were really firm about the children putting 'work' away when it was finished with and before getting new 'work' out. I can understand this and think it's great tht this is encouraged, but they seemed to spend their whole time chasing round making sure people were putting things away. At one point, a little boy started absentmindedly singing (joyously) loudly, and was told not to make so much noise. There were two staff to 12 children which felt like a stretch, and there was a student, but she didn't seem to be much help.
When this time was over, the children put everything away, and then collected mats to sit on for sit down time, one day it was singing, the next every child got to stick something on a picture. The sticking day, every child took it in turns to chose a picture to stick on a wall collage. DD1 went first, she chose a picture, took it to the collage to glue and stick on to the picture. This seemed to take ages, then she was sent to line up at the door to go and wash her hands. Then each child took a turn to do the same, it took ages and all the while DD1 was expected to stand very still at the frint of the line. Some of the children who were waiting to stick were getting bored, and inevitably were rolling around standing up by the end, and they were not llowed to glue. When the other children were ready, the good queuers were taken to wash their hands, after which they were expected to queue again to come back in to the classroom. Then they sat down and eventually when everyone else was sitting down too, they were given plates of fruit to share. After this they put on their shoes and coats, and each childs name was called, "Boris, stand up, turn around, stamp your feet, line up", which I guess should have been fun, but actually Boris just looked like he was following orders, which had been delivered without a hint of fun or humour, and it just looked sad, not fun. They then queued again to leave the room to play in the garden. Oh I'm waffling a lot. But I just though there seemed to be so many rules, such a lot of telling off, so so much lining up, the really obedient kids looked a bit like they'd been brain washed (I know I'm being extreme, and exaggerating, but ykwim). One girl who was a total pita just seemed to be getting told 'no' all the time.
I think the problem is that the two women who look after the children didn't seem fun, loving, or to have a sense of humour. Does Montessori have to be all about quiet play and 'work' or can it be fun and loving too?
I just want to do my absolute best for DD, and before these couple of afternoons watching it, I really though that Montessori would be best. A friends dc go to a nursery which sounds like a lot of fun, the kids run around, engage in free play, have warm relationships with the children, which sounds great, but they will only have children for full days and I only want her to go for half days atm. I want her to be learning, and love all the teaching toys Montessori has, but I'd also like her to have some fun, and enjoy herself. She said she liked it, but I think it could have been so so much better if the women were a bit nicer.
I'm really sorry, I didn't really know where to start, feel free to skim read!!!
Feeling really sad about it because I just wanted it to be right for her, but tbh I don't relly wnt these women looking fter my dd.