Therapeutic Nursery School (Oakland, CA)
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Therapeutic Nursery School (Oakland, CA)
Sept 2011
Does anyone have experience with the East Bay Agency for Children's
Therapeutic Nursery School, or with any similar programs in the East Bay? I
am seriously considering the EBAC preschool for my child.
wondering
My child attended the Therapeutic Nursery School for one school year,
2006-2007. A setting like this was recommended for him as he had problems
with making transitions and had frequent emotional meltdowns in regular
preschool. The school was unable to give him the attention that he needed
and the director recommended that we try a setting such as this. At the time
the brochure said that the school was for children who had suffered some
type of childhood trauma, which fit him. The negatives for me were that I
found the facility a bit depressing and lacking in enrichment objects and
activities. Also I'm not sure the teachers were trained to handle children
who needed a therapeutic approach to their learning. In our case, they
didn't seem to have the training to handle a child with special emotional
needs. They were nice people, but didn't seem really equipped for the job.
That was a disappointment to me. And I didn't like the padded room that the
children would be put into when they had a meltdown. That was a little too
institutional for me. The positive was that I found the play therapist that
worked with my child to be very good. She was an intern, but seemed to have
good training and I felt that she worked well with my child. I know that
there have been staffing changes there, so you will want to visit and see
what you think about it. I know that EBAC has another site in Oakland,
Building Blocks or some name like that, and I heard that it was a nicer
setting. Overall, I would say that TNS was an OK experience for our family.
A former parent of TNS
Dear wondering,
I am an occupational therapist who specializes in working with young
children and preschoolers with special needs. My experience and
professional views with therapeutic settings have been mixed. It is intended
for children who have rather severe emotional issues, so I would just be
careful about the goodness of fit for your child. For any parent looking at
a preschool, it is vital to visit and actually stay to watch how the program
is run. This first visit should be without your child. Then go visit with
your child. Finally, ask important questions such as when do kids get
outdoor time, how do you discipline children, and how do you resolve
conflicts between the children. The last two are especially important if
you are considering a therapeutic setting.
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