I am interested in starting a co-op preschool in my neighborhood. I want to build community, give my ds social interaction, give him role models and generally have fun. We are an AP family, still doing a family bed, etc.
There are lots of models for preschools out there - but what is others' opinions would an AP-friendly preschool look and feel like? I think it being co-op is a must...what do you think might also be part of the mix?
And if you are in PDX area, would you be interested in talking more about this idea during May and June?
Hi CindiC! What a great idea, getting a preschool started. Yes, definitely the idea of a co-op is good. Here are some ideas I've played around with while daydreaming about starting a preschool of my own:
-Setting up a little nature station. The kids can feed the fish and the hamster, watch as tadpoles turn into frogs, keep bugs they've caught, etc.
-Having the children participate in the preparation of lunch every day. Each child has a task--shelling beans, washing carrots, or filling cups with ice.
-Music time based on "Music Together," where the adult plays the guitar and sings while the kids are free to sing along, dance, or play along with their choice of tamborine, shaker, etc.
-A garden, even a container garden on the back porch where children can smell herbs, pick strawberries and beans, and learn that plants need water and sunlight.
-Plenty of open-ended toys and art supplies
-Minimal emphasis on drilling, rote learning, or typical "academic" subjects; major emphasis on experiential learning.
Good luck! I hope you can get other parents involved!
Cool...an AP preschool...
I really liked Super Pickle's ideas especially the lunch preparation idea and the experimental learning idea.
We can't forget gentle discipline...no shaming, yelling or negative time outs. The preschool could take advantage of cooling off periods (aka positive time outs) and talking things out with the kids.
Lots of free play time where the kids can roam about the "classroom" and play with whatever they like.
A huge dress up box full of all sorts of clothes...elegant dresses, firemen suits, tiaras, boas (I think that is the word I am looking for),capes,uniforms etc etc...and both boys and girls are encouraged to dress in whichever clothes they'd like.
And like Super Pickle said...lots of parental involvement.
Thanks for the great thoughts so far. I get more energized about this project each time some gives me a great new idea.
It is neat to be an adult and envision this magical place for our kids. I know others believe in home schooling, but IMO the right preschool could be a place for play together, creativity beyond what your mom/dad comes up with, and gentle lessons about life and working with others. A gentle, creative place could really be the mantra for what I am initially thinking about. Keep those great visions coming folks - you are a great asset!
IMHO, the way I envision the perfect AP preschool is what I envision when I see a young child's environment in an unschooling home. Lots of free play time, gentle discipline, the ability to decide and make their own lunch, experimental learning, dress up boxes, nature items that can be collected on walks such as leaves, tadpoles, caterpillars etc etc.
I really don't think the two are always mutually exclusive. I think we can bring in some of those principles to create a beautiful and loving environment in a preschool.
In a nutshell, I'm trying to say--I believe that an AP preschool incorporates unschooling principles into the classroom.
-And, if you want to be truly AP, imho it should be a part-time operation. Separating kids this young from their parents all day, every day will only stress them out and you might have discipline and attitude problems.
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This is the one part of AP that has always bothered me. In an ideal world, we could all spend that much time with our children. However, we do not live in an ideal world, and assuming that to attachment parent you have to be a SAHM or the like is elitist. Not only that, but my daughter is neither stressed out, nor a discipline problem.
There is a problem with preschools and childcare situations for those of us who, due to single parenthood and/or economic situations, cannot stay home with our child(ren), that I think an AP preschool could address.
I cannot tell you how many times I, as a single mother, and then as a married working mother, have dreamed of a preschool run by AP parents. A place like this would be even more important for those who have to leave their child(ren) for longer periods each day. To know that, while I am at work, my daughter is getting the same love, gentle discipline, and respect as she does at home, would be the most wonderful feeling...
I can't encourage you enough to go forward with this idea. I noticed that you are in Portland. You might look at the Helen Gordon school there (if it is still around) for some ideas. I went there for preschool 25 years ago, and it was the most loving
atmosphere! I don't know if they are still like that, or even still around, but you might get lucky.
my mother in law is running a preschool like the AP one you are dreaming up in Sedona AZ. One of the things I think is definitely important to her is that the preschool is mixed age...all ages together....children learn so much from different aged children...she has babies through to five year olds. Older girls especially seem to like imitating the baby care stuff...she lets them take diapers out of their diaper drawers and they diaper their cloth dolls....they make little slings for the dolls from the dress up basket and carry the dolls around just like they see my MIL carry the babies! it's really sweet to observe.
my MIL is taking a course called "lifeways" which is a waldorf type early childhood education program...I think it's based out of Wisconsin.
I am thinking about starting a similar cooperative here in Flagstaff AZ so I'll probably email this thread to myself!
Corasmama, you are right. That comment about part-time sounded very elitist. I am very sorry to have offended you and I honor you for doing one of the hardest jobs in the world. Please accept my apology. I'll go up and delete that comment if the computer will let me.
Most of us do understand that being a SAHM is just one of many attachment parenting "tools," like extended nursing, co-sleeping, etc. You don't have to employ all of them in order to be an attached parent.
While I would still hold that being away from a parent *is* a stress on a young child, it doesn't necessarily have to be bad for the child. Probably, most AP'd kids are secure enough in their parents' love and care that they can cope well with regular separations. Being in an AP preschool would lessen the stress even more. And, after thinking about it, I realized that it would be much less stressful for a child to be in the same home, with the same caregiver, all day long than have to be transported from preschool to babysitter or daycare.
So, CindiC, if you were so inclined, it might be nice for you to offer to keep the children of wohm's for the rest of the day.
I would be very interested in being involved in the development of an AP co-op daycare. My son is 9 months old, and we are beginning to run into the problem of who can care for him when we are unable to. My boyfriend works full-time, I work part-time and go to school part-time, but so far we have managed to care for him ourselves by doing the schedule juggling act. I think it would be great for our son to interact more with other children, because he is clearly interested in socializing with other kids when he gets the chance (not very often, unfortunately!)
We practice AP, co-sleep, breastfeed, and all that yummy stuff, and would love to meet others who share a similar philosophy! Oh, and I live in Portland too, so feel free to contact me privately and we can chat!
I think the idea sounds great - I don't know a lot about attachment parenting. I plan to breastfeed and co-sleep (at least for a while). I do, however, know about preschoolers and the stress that separation can bring for some. In my classroom, parents are welcome to stay although they rarely do and we strongly encourage them to allow their children to develop meaningful social relationships with peers. I think that they tricky thing might be having so many adults around - preschoolers tend to think in very black and white terms and you would have to make sure that you were all on the same general page as far as rules, etc. Not that with only three teachers (like I have) there aren't instances of miscommunication, this is real life after all... I would just worry about children feeling confused about who is in charge. We often have class picnics though and I solve that problem by making sure that everyone knows that we will follow the rules of the school but that each parent is in charge of his/her individual child. Does that make sense?
Also, I highly recommend Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community by Alfie Kohn.
Best of luck to you. If you have any questions, feel free to IM me or post them here.
Just an update to all - we are moving ahead. The local co-ops are still full and we are on waiting lists. One friend got in to one then gently kicked out when they realized her dd didn't make the age break by 5 days.
To give us some resources for mailings, etc. we are holding a family garage sale this weekend. Wish us luck! We are also going to host a community meeting. I will post the date and location here in case any Portlanders are watching. Any teachers out there interested in joining us?
We will be hosting two informational meetings for the SE preschool:
- Thursday, July 11 from 6:30-8:30 pm at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main (two blocks
north of Hawthorne)
- Saturday, July 27, 3:30-5:30 pm at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th
RSVP helpful, but not required. For more information or to RSVP contact me
at 503/232-0880 or ccarrell@teleport.com
Thanks for all the good wishes and interest. Our first meeting last week drew 24 families - better than we hoped for. The room was full (and very hot!). We did three groups: facility, bylaws & policies, and schedule & curriculum. Lots of good ideas like: no potty training req'd, need a sunny space with a nature area (ideally), end the day with lunch with families, etc. Next meeting is July 27 and I will post an update then. We think we need at least 10 families interested in two days a week then we can feel comfortable searching for a teacher and signing a contract for space. If things move along, maybe we can start in October. Wish us more luck!
I'm a little late to the discussion, but wanted to say what a great idea! I'm soon becoming a sahm, but while I've been working, I've been lucky to have an AP nanny for my son. It is such a relief to know that if I can't be there with him, the person who is taking care of him is doing it in ways similar to how I would do it.
Good luck! Sounds like you're making great progress.
Cindi: Have you seen the book Playful Learning? It's an LLL book, and has lots of ideas for doing exactly what you sound like you're planning. I highly recommend it. I used the ideas while my DD was home with me.
Any preschool run by a true AP parent is going to respect children where they are. My DD just finished her second year of spending time 3 days/week in such a school, with a teacher who respected her and never shamed her for wanting to be with her mommy. Noew I have to grit my teeth and see if we can survive public school kindergarten. How I wish ALL teachers could be AP!
Cindi- Have you heard of PCPO? It's an organization- Parent-Child Preschools of Oregon- that supports cooperative preschools. Our co-op preschool is a member and they are a marvelous resource as far as helping you to draw up policies, etc. Saves you having to re-invent the wheel.
They also put on a conference every year with lots of workshops .. I haven't attended (it's in PDX, we're in EUG) but my dh went this year and was totally inspired by what he learned. I think they very much advocate child-led learning, have many AP leanings although they don't call it that. Something to look into, anyway. If you want I'll get you their phone number.
Some of the things I like about our co-op preschool, although some of the emphasis has changed somewhat with a new teacher, are
teaching kids conflict resolution tools they can use themselves
giving the kids the environment and letting them choose what to do with it (child led learning)
parent involvement! each parent is asked to sign up for one "parent aid' day per month to help in the classroom (2 parents each day) and many choose to sign up for more.
Well, no ideas just encouragement. It's so wonderful that you have taken this idea and run with it to the point where you can actually see it happening! So often we parents have ideas or complaints, but never go anywhere with them.
I would love to read more about this process as you go. Maybe this is something we can do here, too.
You all are so great! After a tough morning with my three year old, I gain great smiles from reading the latest posts here. I am thinking about keeping a journal on the creation of this preschool and maybe writing an article next year. I will check on the LLLI book - I am our local treasurer (another thing pressing on my time this week). I returned from vacation to 14 phones messages and 42 emails!
PCPO is the greatest resource! They have been our aid and advisor for the past three months. For others outside Oregon, almost every state as a similar organization. I don't think I would have started this conversation with my friends unless I had talked with PCPO.
Here is what we are doing this week on the preschool project. I want to welcome any interested folks to check out what we are thinking and writing. Feel free to give me feedback or borrow stuff for your own use.
I've also included a link to our job posting. This thing is really rolling! Our job announcement was posted to the Parent-Child Preschools of Oregon web site. Please refer anyone who might be interested in applying to this ad:
The notes for the July meetings are done and posted on my temporary web site listed below. There are four documents there in Acrobat format (.pdf files) and Word format (.doc files). The Acrobat files are universal and are designed to be Web viewed or printed. If you do not have the free Acrobat reader, I have listed a link below.
Also our work sessions scheduled for August so far are:
Thursday, August 8 and 15 from 6:30-8:30 pm at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main (two blocks north of Hawthorne)
Saturday, August 17 from 3:00-5:00 pm at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th
The documents are:
Flyer - a new flyer about the preschool that you can post to Web sites or print and put up in your neighborhood. We'd like help getting the word out to more people. Let me know where you have posted the flyers so we can track them. Thanks!
Policies - draft policies developed at the July meetings (things like parental roles, age limits, etc)
Schedule - draft schedule and curriculum ideas
Site criteria - list of the things we'd like in our new preschool home
The documents are at the address below in the filesharing page:
Sorry you all were way down my list of things to do...but I thought I'd let all 500 people who looked at this thread know that WE DID IT! We opened the Hawthorne Family Playschool October 1st with one great teacher, 21 energetic kids, 20 families and lots of well wishes. From my last posting in August it was sooo busy. Finding a great teacher really made it click for us, even though we had all our registrations before we'd even found Amy.
The day is from 9 am - Noon with all the great things we talked about earlier: nature (snake skins, shells, a manual coffee grinder to grind lavender), music (parent-made goat-skin drum for all the kids the pound on), homemade playdough, lots of blocks...every kid seems to love it. Parents have stayed with their kids until they were ready for separation (which is just the way it should be). Some kids nurse to help the transition. We have two classes and are adding new students each week until we reach 14 students per class (we have only 5 vacancies left and we aren't even open a month).
It has been a ton of work for all the members and especially our board members. But I think everyone would agree it has been a very fulfilling and creative experience.
I'll keep you posted and feel free to ask questions!
For anyone who runs across this wonderful thread, here's another update. Three years later we are still going great with a new teacher (our first teacher is now our substitute teacher), my second son is now a student and we have a great community. We've added a Friday program for the older kids, but kept the other days mixed ages (not without some debate though). Our new teacher brought a higher level of organization to the classroom, which we were ready for, plus she is a professional musician so we get a lot of singing and guitar (which my youngest just loves). Still lots of time in open play, focusing on good problem-solving and outdoor play too.
It is still a ton of work and we've learned that co-ops aren't for everyone. Families with flexible work schedules can handle it best. We've had lots of active dads and grandparents. We've given several scholarships and had at least two single parent households participate. Again, thanks to the great Mothering community for all the support and ideas we received. Our next open house is in March 2005 and you can find us at www.hawthornefamilyplayschool.org
Wow! No kidding! Congratulations making it thus far. I'm impressed!
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