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The amount of time I have spent trying to decide if Aidan is ready to start preschool is enormous.  Given that he is an August 30 baby he qualified to start in most “3’s” programs this fall.  He just didn’t seem ready to me.  I chalked it up to him being due November 23 and decided to start him next fall.

He has given us signs over the past couple of months, however, that he is wanting some kind of new challenge.  I wasn’t really ready to throw him into a preschool that was for more time than a couple of hours a couple times a week starting off.  I looked into various preschools and found some that were WAY more academic than I even thought possible for a group of 3-4 year olds.  I mean….DESKS?  Seriously?  For 3 year old boys?  Yeah, right.

I had a friend of a friend suggest looking into a cooperative preschool.  Somehow I stumbled onto the Mercer Island Learning Lab.  They have  “3’s”, “4’s” and “5’s (pre-k)” programs.  Aidan and I observed one day in the classroom in December.  He leaped right in.  He painted, he built marble tubes with other kids, and he asked to go back after we left.  I guess the decision was made.

I love the classroom and I love the philosophy.  They follow the Reggio Emilia philosophy which believes that learning at this age should be child led and that they must explore and that too much structure stifles a love of learning.  The two teachers told me that in their minds preschool should serve really only 2 main purposes.  1.  An opportunity to build social skills.  2.  Create a love of learning in a child through self-directed learning and exploration. 

The classroom has 2  full time teachers and 3 volunteer parents each class time.    There are 15 children in the class and it meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11:30.  Parents are always welcome to stay with their child at any time, but are required to be a class parent about 2 times a month.  I stayed today and Aidan did well.  I think he will be more than fine with me leaving now that he knows the 2 teachers.  Today he built blocks, played with farm animals, hid in a bear cave (kids took a box and made it a bear cave), played in the water table, painted, sat down during story time, joined in group welcome circle and did some arts and crafts.  He had a blast.  At the end of each day they always have outside time.  The playground has a massive “sandbox” and it is amazingly muddy after our December snowstorms melted. 

Note to self.  Go out and get rainboots tonight or tomorrow.  Lots of the kids grabbed shovels and went to town.  Aidan got incredibly muddy and needed a bath when he got home.  He had a blast!

This seems like just the right kind of environment for a 3 year old boy.  I think he is going to grow a lot from it.

And last but not least, here is the eye candy. 

Daddy getting me ready for my first day.

Guess who is going to his first day of preschool?  Yup, ME!

Daddy and me at the front door.

Mommy and me at the front door.

Teacher Judy leading the welcome circle.

Daddy checking out the classroom.  Ice in the water table today.  And a pretend kitchen! 

Outside time!!!  Getting dirty just the way boys are supposed to!