La Plazita preschool - too “academic”?
Hi all, we are getting ready to choose a preschool for our son for next year when he’ll be three. One of the top contenders is La Plazita. It’s close to us and has great hours, and we love the Spanish immersion aspect of it. But I took a tour recently and I must say I was turned off by the emphasis they placed on their “curriculum” and “kindergarten readiness.” I of course want my kiddo to learn, but he is three and I mostly want him to play and explore the world and make friends and use his imagination and enjoy being a kid. (For context, the other school we’re considering is Oakland Garden School.) Does anyone whose kid attends or attended La Plazita have thoughts on this aspect of it? How much emphasis is placed on learning academic skills vs. free play, imaginative play, outdoor time, etc? Or, am I looking at this wrong and it’s actually great that they focus on academics? My kiddo is very physically active and full of energy and imagination. He could use a little structure, but I don’t want to stifle his exuberance this early, especially since he has his whole life to be in school. Any thoughts welcome!
Parent Replies
I don't have experience with this school, but I am a former longtime preschool teacher and I would say that most play based programs have plenty of structure.
My first child was in a play-based preschool, and my second is in La Plazita. I don't know that the teachers at La Plazita really spend time on academics, but the structure is more rigid than I would like. We are at La Plazita because it is convenient, relatively affordable, and because it provides Spanish, not because it matches my idea of an ideal preschool program.