Geoffrey started preschool on Monday, September 10, 2012. He is in the seeds program at Hilltop Preschool in Fountain Valley. He will be going on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Luckily, I (Grant) was also scheduled to work that day, so we didn't have to worry about me leaving him by himself the first day. Geoffrey was very shy at first, hiding behind my legs. As soon as he saw the playground he was off and I probably didn't see him for an hour, he was having so much fun. I had talked up the fact that he was allowed to go barefoot at preschool and his shoes were off from the moment he stepped on the playground until we left at the end of the day! He finally came in for snack time and checked in with me.
Geoffrey spent most of his time playing by himself or alongside other kids. Once inside, he had a lot of time playing in the "loft" where the babies were. He was playing up there with 2 other boys! He was very cooperative and had no problem staying with the group. At lunch, I sat down and joined him. When the day ended, Bobbi met us to see Geoffrey for a few minutes. After she left, he played on the playground outside while I cleaned inside.
Geoffrey's second day of preschool was Tuesday, September 11, 2012. I was not scheduled to work this day and had not arranged any childcare for Katelyn, so Geoffrey was definitely going to spend some of the day by himself. We got to preschool a little before 930. Katelyn and I stayed with him on the playground until about 10, when i tried to leave. He had a fit and ran after me screaming. I told him that I would stay a little longer. I figured I would stay until snack and he would be more distracted. it didn't work. As soon as I told him I was leaving, he started crying and clinged on to me. Lynette, the director and also one of the Seeds teachers asked me if she could help. I told her I thought it would be better for him if I left quickly and that I didn't think he would cry for long. I gave him a kiss and told him I would see him after lunch. He immediately started screaming and Lynette picked him up. I quickly left. As I left I heard him scream "PUT ME DOWN", and Lynette said "I will in a moment". I quickly left and didn't look back. When I got to my car, parked on the street behind the preschool I could still hear him screaming.
I returned just after lunch when they were sitting down to story time. Geoffrey didn't see me come in. When I came in, one of the dads who was working told me he cried for about 10 minutes and then was fine. All the kids were sitting on the carpet, and Geoffrey was directly in front of Lynette actively engaging in the story. You could tell he had really taken to her, but also that he wasn't used to large group situations. For example, when Lynette would turn to a page that interested Geoffrey, he would stand up, point to what was interesting to him and start talking over Lynette, who was reading the story. When this happened, one of the girls behind him whose view he was blocking said "I can't see". Lynette then said "Geoffrey, when you are done looking at the picture, could you please sit on your bottom so everyone else can see?" Geoffrey sat right down.
After the story was over, he got up and finally saw me, then came over and said hi. We sang the goodbye song and then went and played at the park next to preschool.
Week one went well. I think he is going to really enjoy this school, especially once he gets the hang of going there on his own!
Luckily, I (Grant) was also scheduled to work that day, so we didn't have to worry about me leaving him by himself the first day. Geoffrey was very shy at first, hiding behind my legs. As soon as he saw the playground he was off and I probably didn't see him for an hour, he was having so much fun. I had talked up the fact that he was allowed to go barefoot at preschool and his shoes were off from the moment he stepped on the playground until we left at the end of the day! He finally came in for snack time and checked in with me.
Geoffrey spent most of his time playing by himself or alongside other kids. Once inside, he had a lot of time playing in the "loft" where the babies were. He was playing up there with 2 other boys! He was very cooperative and had no problem staying with the group. At lunch, I sat down and joined him. When the day ended, Bobbi met us to see Geoffrey for a few minutes. After she left, he played on the playground outside while I cleaned inside.
Geoffrey's second day of preschool was Tuesday, September 11, 2012. I was not scheduled to work this day and had not arranged any childcare for Katelyn, so Geoffrey was definitely going to spend some of the day by himself. We got to preschool a little before 930. Katelyn and I stayed with him on the playground until about 10, when i tried to leave. He had a fit and ran after me screaming. I told him that I would stay a little longer. I figured I would stay until snack and he would be more distracted. it didn't work. As soon as I told him I was leaving, he started crying and clinged on to me. Lynette, the director and also one of the Seeds teachers asked me if she could help. I told her I thought it would be better for him if I left quickly and that I didn't think he would cry for long. I gave him a kiss and told him I would see him after lunch. He immediately started screaming and Lynette picked him up. I quickly left. As I left I heard him scream "PUT ME DOWN", and Lynette said "I will in a moment". I quickly left and didn't look back. When I got to my car, parked on the street behind the preschool I could still hear him screaming.
I returned just after lunch when they were sitting down to story time. Geoffrey didn't see me come in. When I came in, one of the dads who was working told me he cried for about 10 minutes and then was fine. All the kids were sitting on the carpet, and Geoffrey was directly in front of Lynette actively engaging in the story. You could tell he had really taken to her, but also that he wasn't used to large group situations. For example, when Lynette would turn to a page that interested Geoffrey, he would stand up, point to what was interesting to him and start talking over Lynette, who was reading the story. When this happened, one of the girls behind him whose view he was blocking said "I can't see". Lynette then said "Geoffrey, when you are done looking at the picture, could you please sit on your bottom so everyone else can see?" Geoffrey sat right down.
After the story was over, he got up and finally saw me, then came over and said hi. We sang the goodbye song and then went and played at the park next to preschool.
Week one went well. I think he is going to really enjoy this school, especially once he gets the hang of going there on his own!
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