I am looking for information about a good preschool in Tacoma, WA. Don't know if the Co-op program is best or what. I value references from parents who have had great preschool experiences.
My son goes to St. Mark's Lutheran by The Narrows. Fantastic preschool. Smallish, not a co-op, but great. The teachers are wonderful. They are on N. 17th out by the bridges. I believe the 3 1/2 class is full but the 2 1/2 class and the pre-K still have room.
preschool is really about social development more than anything IMO - We did Co-op (Narrows Co-Op) through Bates. They are in Univ Place. We had tried another Co-op prior to that (Lakewood Co-op) through Clover Park.
Co-ops are only as good as the parents who use them. We had a terrible experience at Lakewood and a wonderful experience at Narrows.
However, if I were to go back to Narrows co-op this year, it would have been a totally different expereince. Co-ops work well and if you cant work in the class perhaps a grandparent, aunt or friend could instead. Several parents did that.
The alternative would be to arrange to drop your child at an in home daycare with a loose curriculum to give your child an opportunity for social play and development.
My oldest did Co-op for his last year prior to Kindergarten. Before that, he was in daycare. My 2 and 3 year old do not go to preschool and probably will not until theya re 4. But they are well rounded social adept children and already know anything that would be considered academically necessary for preschool/kindergarten
I'm also researching preschools and have heard good things about both Concordia Luthern and Cascade Christian. They both have campuses in Tacoma. I decided it's a little too far for me to travel. I would check into them now though, they are both almost full.
My nephew and a lot of other children of friends of mine have attended Puget Sound Christian school in Tacoma off of 84th and Hosmer. My neighbor teachers the three year old class there and it is such a good school. My nephew loved it and we were all sad when he "graduated". It's very safe and they have a great curriculum.
Hi C.,
While my daughter didn't go to preschool (I stayed home with her), I have nothing but good things to say about the preschool at her elementary school. I have gone into her school many times this school year to volunteer for various activities so I've met the ladies who teach preschool and have been able to go into their classes a few times. What great ladies these are! They seem to really interact with the children, keep them entertained and happy as well as teach them! I'd recommend that you take a look at that one. The preschool is at Northeast Tacoma Elementary school.
Best of luck to you in whatever you choose.
M.
Hi C.,
My youngest daughter went to preschool for two years through the co-op program run by Clover Park Tech. She attended the one on Fort Lewis, and even though I didn't care much for the teacher, I still really liked her program and howw rounded it was, and I liked all the parents, and my daughter LOVED preschool. She learned so much, and because she was such a shy little kid, it helped her immensely to transition into kindergarden and that setting of being with several other children of various characteristics and behaviors, plus she learned to interact with other adults that weren't me.
A co-op situation might not be the best for you unless you can work it into your schedule with work, or your husband can. At "ours," the soldier dads and moms would frequently come in and do the parent helper thing for the day(only a few hours a day), and a soldier's schedule is pretty rigorous, so if there's any way possible *you* can work it into your schedule, if you like to be around other children, you just might like the co-op option alot.
Hth,
K. W
