Preschool

Tyler started his new preschool at the end of August. It is so different from daycare. So much structure! So many activities! When Tyler gets into the car at the end of the day, he sits quietly, staring off into space, for much of the ride home. I realized I have to stop asking him questions, and just let him chill for that time. On the days that I run with the stroller to pick him up, then run with him in the stroller back to work to get the car, he chatters, but only to tell me about the Truffula Trees. At night we try to get more information out of him about his day.

We were invited to an open house for his school last week, and we got to see him in action. First, I learned how very, very important it is to attend these events - when I arrived, a few minutes late, I could tell he had been crying, and a staff member explained, "He thought you weren't coming." Ouch! We sat next to a little girl whose parents didn't come, and my heart was breaking for her. At daycare, parents were invited to events, but I could tell from the pictures, only one or two would ever show up. But at preschool, parents are THERE. 

I hung out while Tyler ate his snack (apples and cheese) in the lunchroom, then watched as he was directed to dispose of his trash, push in his chair, and stand with his hands behind his back and wait until he was called to line up. It seemed a bit militant, but I realized, it likely prevents fights caused when kids poke each other and the teachers can't monitor as closely. 

Upon entering his classroom, he has to slide his picture out of an envelope on the door, and post it in the right spot on the door, to show that he is present for the day. I saw a binder with his picture on it, opened it, and discovered artwork about the letter A, the letter for the week. The teacher then went over the calendar with the kids, singing a song about the days of the week, first in English, then in Spanish, and then the months of the year. She then helped them identify the specific day, date, and month. She went over their job list for the week. Tyler's role was "Door Holder." Then they spent time with the letter A, identifying words that start with A, and reading a book about occupations that start with A. Next they danced to some music - a freeze dance. Tyler's mode of dance is jumping. And wow is he happy doing it! I saw he's very good at freezing on time - something he struggled with all summer in sports class. Next was a book, then another dance, an elephant dance, walking around in a circle swinging their trunk. 

Then the kids were told to line up again, and headed off to the "computer lab." There were two computers. While two kids at a time work on the computers, the other kids are divided to sit at tables, each table with a different project. The first table we were assigned to was the robot construction table. It was tough! The next table was much easier, stringing plastic keys onto a keyring. The third table was puzzles - and then it was Tyler's turn to work on the computer. He played a game to release letters, hear the letter sound, then click on objects that started with that letter. 

After that, he returned to the puzzle table, but both Tyson and I needed to get back to work. Most other parents had already left. We were surprised to see the lower lip jut out, and despite our efforts to "rip the bandaid off quickly", we could hear him wailing after we left. But he doesn't cry each morning when I drop him off, and he's not crying in the evening when I pick him up. He engages more quickly in the mornings here than at the previous school, and just seems to be having so much fun. The "tricycle yard" is bigger than the play yard at daycare, and there's also a sand yard with playground equipment, slides, tunnels, which I know he gets to play in too, but they use that after lunch and towards the end of the day, but are always back inside by the time I arrive to pick him up. He had his first Chapel experience, they have chapel once a month, and this month's value is "Friendship." Yesterday, a magician visited, but all Tyler will say is that he brought a white bunny.
 At the end of the day when I come to pick him up, there are several families hanging out, letting their kids play on the grassy lawn (a novelty in Tucson.) We're so excited for Tyler to get to have so many new opportunities!