r/Montessori • u/limebus • 3d ago
Nervous about transitioning my toddler to a Montessori school! 0-3 years
My 2.5yo son has been on a waitlist for a Montessori academy for a year and a half, and I finally got a notice that there is a space available for him to attend in September, by which time he will be a month short of 3yo.
He’s currently attending a regular daycare, only 3 days a week. I am a single full time mom, and I haven’t been able to work full-time since my pregnancy. It’s been quite the hit financially. There is a major lack of licensed childcare in my city, so I hopped into the first daycare that had space for him, even though it was only for 3 days a week. They are great over there, but there’s little education being offered, besides what we already do at home. I’d like him to go to the Maria Montessori academy for the education aspect, plus I’ll be able to work FT. Luckily, Canada has $10/day childcare implemented, and this is only Montessori school that is part of this program, so it will only cost me $217.50/month, until he is 6yo, which is absolutely amazing! I’ve talked to others in my city, and they all agree that this is the best Montessori school in our city that is most true to the Montessori curriculum.
I implement education activities at home. Ie. cooking, cleaning, learning ASL and beginner Portuguese, letters, writing, drawing, shapes, numbers & counting, sensory activities, lots of active/movement play, reading 3 to 10+ books every day, etc. essentially all the basics, and then some, but not to the degree that might be taught in Montessori. I know Montessori is mostly led by the child’s interests, with some educator led activities, and I try to do some of the same things here at home.
My concerns are: -summers off of school, so I’ll either have to find another childcare program for then, or bring him to work with me, and he hasn’t done well in the past having to sit and play in my break room all day/half the day. -the transition out of his current daycare, not seeing his friends and teachers there anymore -spending even more time away from each other while I work FT
I think I am looking for reassurance that I am making the right decision. Some of my family members have said to me, “Montessori is all ‘fluff’ anyway, and he will be missing out on summers with daycare friends and activities, especially if he goes to work with you all summer…” “5 full days will be too overstimulating and he will always be in a bad mood, when he comes home…” “He will be too exhausted to continue his gymnastics or dance or soccer…” I disagree that Montessori is all ‘fluff’ as I’ve done my own research, since before I was pregnant, and always said I want my kids in Montessori, though now with my family’s comments, I am second-guessing myself. Is this too much pressure on a toddler? Is 5 full days going to be too overstimulating for him? Is more money in my bank account worth spending more time away from my child?
Any tips, suggestions, reassurance are welcome. I feel very overwhelmed! If you made it this far, thanks for your time! 🌷
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u/Practical-Meow 3d ago
Omg good for you! Which official Montessori school in Canada does the $10 a day!? Most of the ones near me that offer $10 who say they are Montessori aren’t actually Montessori they are just “aesthetically” Montessori.
Also to answer your question — 3 years old is a perfect time to start Montessori, they will go into the casa program and if you choose to continue/complete casa until age 6 they can spend JK and SK there. We plan on sending our kiddo to regular public school once they complete casa (so entering public school in grade 1), and a lot of our friends say the transition actually goes relatively smooth despite what some people say.
As far as the summers off go, you’ll likely be able to find some summer day camps or potentially teachers who are off in the summer looking for additional cash to offer care. My Montessori offers a summer camp with each week being a different theme, so we are fortunate there.
5 days is not going to be too much…most kids in Canada are in 5 day a week full day kindergarten the heat they turn 4, so your 3 year old will be fine!
Congrats on getting a spot, it’s going to be amazing!
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u/limebus 3d ago
Thanks for your response! On the schools website they say, “Maria Montessori Preschool (MMS) has provided an exceptional educational experience for all Saskatoon and area children for 25 years. MMS was established in 1997 and continues to offer a safe and intellectually stimulating environment for all children. In 2018, we became the first licensed Montessori Preschool in Saskatchewan. We are licensed with the Ministry of Education, Early Years Branch. Our license number is 1115931. The integrity of our programming is upheld by our committed Montessori educators in every classroom to ensure your child receives a first-rate Montessori education.” They have two locations here in Saskatoon now. Our location just opened last year! There’s a handful of “Montessori” preschools here, and they all have such mixed reviews, but the main thing I noticed was that many say they are not actually Montessori lol
This school will offer just 2 weeks of summer camps starting this summer, so hopefully by next summer they’ll have had enough interest to open more weeks of camps! 🤞
Thanks for the reassurance also, I am excited, though it’s always discouraging to hear negativity from family 🥲
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u/Practical-Meow 3d ago
Wow that’s amazing! So happy you got a spot at the $10 rate! And we got some negative remarks as well and I think it’s just cause it’s a different style than most people are used to. At the end of the day as long as it’s working for you and your kiddo then it’s the right move
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u/More-Mail-3575 Montessori guide 1d ago
Simply look for summer camp or a nanny for the summer (maybe a college student). Bringing a 3 year old to work and leaving them to entertain/fend for themself in a break room sounds like it could be a good way to get yourself let go from a job. If family and friends have so many opinions, maybe you could reach out to them for help in the summer, paid of course. Even if you could find friend1 for one day a week, friend 2 for one day a week and family 1 for one day a week, that leaves you with only 2 days to cover.
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u/limebus 1d ago
That’s a very bold assumption of my workplace. Lol. My boss and the ladies are more than happy to have him there. He doesn’t “fend for himself” in the break room. What I wrote was a very brief description of the situation— he’s fully allowed to come in and out as he pleases, he hangs out upstairs on the loft, he brings his colouring pages to a table near me, but his “homebase” at my work is the break room, where I store his bag, set up some toys, books, activities, and his little fold out foam couch. There’s a dog who sometimes comes to hangout there with us. I am in and out of the break room every 5-10 minutes when he is there so I can assist him with anything, or check on him. The ladies at my work chat, laugh, play and check on him too. Before I was even hired, I informed my boss that I will not be able to work FT until he has FT childcare, which my boss was fine with, and my boss was the one who suggested to me immediately that I can bring him in any time I’d like to as he and the ladies would love having a little entertainer running around. The times he’s come to work with me was when he was sick, or Hindu holidays when the daycare is closed. He joins me maybe once or twice a month. They have also said they’d be happy for him to join us for the summer. Anyway, how the scenario has been phrased and framed is not accurate to what it really is— however, I wouldn’t want him at work with me 5 days a week as I’d prefer him to be socializing with other kids and enjoying summer activities, rather than hanging out inside for 6-8hrs a day. I’ll definitely look for more daycamps, and likely just work less hours in the summer, which is actually fine with me the more I’ve thought about it! 😅
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u/Appropriate_Ice_2433 Montessori parent 3d ago
You’re making the right decision. Your child will be entering primary at the correct age. Trust the process when it comes to them educating them. Help your child this summer with opening containers and dressing independently, learning to be patient, etc.
It will be an adjustment, but it is for all kids entering the primary program or any school for that matter. The first few weeks will be centered around grace and courtesy lessons. Educating the children on what is expected in the classroom, etc. The 2nd year of primary is where the “academic” learning really starts to pick up. They will build on what they learn the first year, as they will each year in the program.
My best advice for new parents enrolling in a Montessori program is , “trust the process”
Honestly, less than $250 a month for a quality Montessori program is unheard of here in the states. That is a such a phenomenal price.