Preschool

We had Koben all set for preschool in the fall, tuition paid, and we were confident in our choice. The preschool was so great and Koben really loved it when we went there. We knew they were moving to a new location in the fall. We had seen their plans drawn up and went to the new location site. It seemed like it would be really good. I didn't like it as much as the school they were currently in, but I saw the plans, pictures and the area and thought it would be just as nice. Well...we went to a playdate at the new playground last week and I did not get a good feeling overall. It is located behind an elementary school, which is where all the co-ops are located (in a school area). They were taking over an existing playground area and building a new portable near it. The original school we loved because it was private, safe and secure, all in one very large fenced area, really well kept and the teachers, staff and parents we meant all seemed really great. First off, I did not like that they had to walk the kids from the portable to the play area, which was fenced in, but did not lock properly and they thought it was no big deal/were not planning on fixing it.  There was trash along the sides of the play area where kids could grab it and cigarette butts in the sand area. Now I would think if you were going to have children playing there you would clean it up, right? The bark that they had put down was small and cheap, like wood shavings, and the playground toys that were there were really dirty and old looking, not some of the same toys we had seen. Plus, two boys were really mean to Koben that were going to be in his fall class. One stepped on his fingers on purpose, and later pushed him. Another boy through a huge handful of sand right in his face and tried to hit him. I was watching and Koben was being nice the whole time. I had to say something to the kids. I noticed none of the parents or teachers that were there were even paying attention to the kids. I was the only one with another child with me and playing a ways back with Kellan while Koben played and I still noticed all of this. I know kids will be kids, but they were little shits and their parents were'nt paying any attention to them-parents who would be volunteering in the class with my kid. Also, this school was completely open with no security fence or seperation fence, besides the one around the playground that didn't latch. It was just not what they had explained or what the plans looked like. Needless to say, I just got a bad feeling about the whole thing.

So...I kind of told a little lie. I called them a couple days later saying my husband was being relocated for work (the only way you can get a refund this late) and we would need to pull Koben out of the preschool. We got our refund check and he is now enrolled in our first pick preschool. We originally didn't go for this school because there was a waitlist for both the morning and afternoon classes. A couple of people in my moms group also had high praise for the school. I called as soon as I knew we would get a refund from the other preschool and they just had one spot open up for the tues/thurs 12-2:30 3's class. We really didn't want an afternoon class because Koben still naps around 1 or 2. We figured since we wanted him in this school so bad and he loved it, even more than the other one it seemed, that it was worth it. Its only 2 days a week and I'm sure he'll just fall asleep on the way home and adjust. We are super excited! I love this preschool!! It is hidden in the back of an elementary and totally fenced in. The outdoor area has a veggie/flower garden, log cabin playhouse, great covered sandbox, outdoor benches under a big shady tree for story time, theatre/stage, water faucets for water play, large shed with lots of outdoor toys and outdoor snack tables. The inside has a great craft area, reading tower with dress up area below it, lots of books and activities, a kitchen and the teachers seem really attentive. They work on a letter a week and have a new theme every week with learning and play centered around it.

Sorry about the long story here! We were just totally dissapointed in the preschool we signed up for (I needed to vent), but it worked out for the best. Now we have Koben in a really great school and I know he will have a blast!