Posted on 01/22/2007 7:09:26 AM PST by Cat loving Texan
Preschoolers gone wild.
Children were doing flips off sofas and hitting each other with soft toys when Rob D'Amico walked in to enroll his son at Habibi's Hutch.
"I was a little freaked out at first because it was different," said D'Amico, a communications director for the Texas Federation of Teachers.
The South Austin preschool on Manchaca Road, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, calls itself a "Natural Childlife Preserve."
It doesn't make children sit down and learn their ABCs or separate them into different classes or even say "please" or "thank you," said Andrew Urbanus, the school's director.
Children ages 18 months to 4 years spend as much time as possible outdoors in a huge backyard filled with swing sets, sand piles, playhouses and toys learning how to get along with each other, Urbanus said.
"We want them to have a chance to deal with the uglier side of life, to learn to channel their aggression," he said.
If children can learn how to talk to each other, or even yell when they're upset, then there will be less biting and hitting, he said. Teachers constantly watch over the students and help them talk to each other when fights begin, he said.
"This is not just chaotic baby-sitting; there's a purpose here," Urbanus said.
Children are allowed to cover their bodies with washable paint, run around in their underwear and walk barefoot over the sand-covered outdoor play area.
The preschool was started by Dottie Herschmann, a West Texas Baptist who is now teaching at a high school school in Florida, Urbanus said. He said no child has been kicked out of Habibi's, which means "beloved one" in Arabic.
As he spoke one sunny January afternoon, Urbanus separated two boys who were starting to fight in the backyard. One boy yelled at the other, "I don't like it when you hit me!"
A few days later, teacher Carlos Romero sat with children playing with clay and then rushed over to the swing set, where one boy was crying because he couldn't get another child to get off a swing.
"You could ask him if he'll get off," Romero said.
The boy continued crying, and Romero stayed with him.
"Sometimes it's hard waiting for your turn," Romero said.
A parent, Karen Peoples, arrived a few minutes later to pick up her son, who was running around with other children.
He has learned different ways of dealing with anger from the male teachers at the preschool, Peoples said: "He gets to see that men can problem-solve without raising their voices or yelling."
Adina Chiro-Gianis, an attorney and parent, said she likes the fact that the preschool throws disco parties for the children.
"I get a really good feeling being here," Chiro-Gianis said.
Children are safe in this environment because there is one staff member per every seven children, Urbanus said.
There also is not much equipment they can climb and fall from, he said.
More than 60 children are enrolled at the school. The young students perform their own plays and have cooking classes with items such as pasta, salad and banana bread on the menu once a week. There is a two-hour nap time every day.
Susan Empson, an associate math professor at the University of Texas, said her children attended Habibi's Hutch 10 years ago.
"My kids were well prepared for kindergarten even though they hadn't had a curriculum that helped them learn to count," Empson said.
D'Amico's son thrived so much at Habibi's that now his daughter goes there also, he said. He has learned to appreciate the school's approach to learning: "You should see the kids jumping in mud puddles on a rainy day."
cosborn@statesman.com; 445-3871
I have a real problem with the Texas Federation of Teachers!
I can't find much fault with this place. I'm sick of seeing people push their babies to read and write at the earliest possible age (so they can show off that they have a little genius). I think the only formal education a child this young should have is the kind they get all snuggled up in a lap listening to mommy or daddy read them a book.
Thanks but no thanks. Homeschooling, year 7. Hopefully my kids will never see the inside of a child detention center.
Sounds more like a day-care than a school.
If that's the episode where they all drive hybrids and sniff their own flatulence, yes!
I'm so ashamed to admit that I love that show...... :)
Militant
That's particulary relevant to old recoving ex-psychotherapists like ol' Militant here....
Makes me shiver!
Militant
I hate the TFT, and think it's hilarious that a communications director for the state's leading public school Teacher union is sending his kids to private school (however wacky the school istelf is).
Wonder how many other Teachers' union thugs send their kids to private school.
But I bet they know everything about Kwanzaa.
"I can't find much fault with this place. I'm sick of seeing people push their babies to read and write at the earliest possible age (so they can show off that they have a little genius). I think the only formal education a child this young should have is the kind they get all snuggled up in a lap listening to mommy or daddy read them a book."
I don't necessarily disagree with you...but this place is not even reinforcing manners...
Up here...in the Seattle area..these kind of places are EVERYWHERE...EVERYWHERE!
There are VERY FEW RULES...NO ROUTINES (although the one mentioned above DOES have naptime)...
I would maintain that even in a NO FORMAL EDUCATION environment that there should be some kind of structure...Ie..."Please choose between playing with clay and coloring"...
These are the kind of places that would never even have a coloring BOOK because the pictures would be CONFINING in that the child would not be allowed to choose what they wanted to draw..and LINES suggest that you must stay WITHIN them..
Also..the idea that a child must stick TO something, like sitting down for 3 minutes of singing time is TOO CONSTRAINING..children should be able to wander around and CHOOSE when they want to sit down...
Forcing any WHOLE GROUP activities fosters a PACK mentality which represses creativity and leads to a mindset where one must FOLLOW THE CROWD...
Need I go on??
I TOTALLY understand what YOU are saying...but what I AM SAYING is that this kind of place is EXTREME...
What you are saying(I think) is let kids be kids....but I am guessing(just because you are a FReeper;-) that you would assert that there are certain times during childhood where one must "learn the proper way to behave"..
If this center (above) is anything like the ones around HERE..their ONLY goal is to teach non-violent ways of working out problems..
THAT IS ALL..there are NO OTHER GUIDELINES..none..nada...zero..
My son is on the wait-list for this school. This school has been recommended by his current daycare’s director as well as the Early Childhood Intervention worker assigned to us b/c of my son’s hyperactivity and tendency toward aggressive when there’s crowding and expectations for him to sit still or wait in line. He’s only 2 1/2!
He has been assessed as being advanced in all areas (cognitive, verbal, emotional, physical) for his age, but he needs more space and freedom than a crowded daycare room with no where to climb and explore without being scolded constantly.
Read this testimonial from a Habibi’s Hutch parent:
“The first time I walked through the door of the Hutch, I cried. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Children running and playing freely. Children working together to resolve conflicts. Children huddled around a teacher reading a book. At Habibi’s, there are no time-outs, no scolding, no shaming. Instead, teachers actually take the time to communicate with children about behavior, consequences, and solutions. It’s unheard of, and yet, it’s the only way to responsibly treat our children and the only way to raise responsible adults. My son attended Habibi’s for three-and-a-half wonderful years. When he started kindergarten, he continued going to Habibi’s after school. I know that every afternoon he is getting at Habibi’s what he is not getting at public school all day – freedom to make decisions, to experience consequences, and to discuss solutions, not to mention freedom to run and climb to his heart’s content. My son is now in first grade and just got his report card. He is excelling in every subject and is described as a “quiet leader” by his teacher. He would not be who he is today without Habibi’s Hutch.”
another parent writes:
“How many times have we heard teachers say they love Habibi’s kids because they are ready for the next step and know how to function in the world. My kids have developed their self-esteem and are better people for having been exposed to Habibi’s Hutch.”
I spoke with an Early Childhood Intervention work and she told me that this school (Habibi’s) is actually very structured. They have rules regarding respect and they have routines. When it is outside time it is outside time. I witnessed teachers explain rules to children when I was there, and was impressed with the level of respect the teachers had for the child’s intelligence. It went beyond ‘b/c I said so.’ There is immense consistency at Habibi’s, that helps the kid’s feel taken care of and safe. Within that framework however they are free to explore their own creativity and the tools/resources around them.
Wow Coffee Cat.
If you have found a place that will allow children to run around, AND prepare them for the expectations of life including the times that they have to “sit”, you have won the preschool lottery.
Good luck to you and your son.
I wish you the best.
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