Co-op Play and Learn: Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool

Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool is a special kind of preschool which fully involves parents, teachers, and children in the educational process. The program and environment of the Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool are designed to enrich the lives of young children by providing for:

Building positive social relationships
Creating and exploring with art, science, manipulative and play materials
Developing strong motor skills
Growing in the love of books and the use of language
Gaining a greater understanding of the wider world beyond home and school
Promoting feelings of self-confidence and dignity
Finding enjoyment in music and movement
Experiencing growth based on individual needs, interests, and capabilities

CO-OP PHILOSOPHY

We believe children 2 ½ -5 can be taught almost anything. We CHOOSE to create an environment that allows them to teach themselves as much as possible by exploration and discovery, building confidence and competence. We don’t wish upon them a veneer of learning acquired to please adults, but promote self-motivated, practiced listening skills, and a love of learning for its own sake. Just as discipline and courtesy must be internalized to work well, so building blocks of learning must be embraced before more overtly academic approaches can succeed. Lots of pencil and paper tasks lie ahead of them in school. When asked to write something, we want them to have something to write about! Current brain research tells us that children have one minute of focused attention span for each year of age – for tasks not of their own choosing. We owe it to children to help them use their time well, so that they – and we – can be lifelong learners.

Our learning through play philosophy incorporates the use of the following to deepen and broaden the spectrum of intellectual empowerment: