Parent Cooperative Program

Our parent cooperative program is a collaborative effort between our parents and program; sharing similar philosophies to achieve a high level of programming for our child development community.  Together we play, move through daily routines, observe, collaborate, plan, and document children’s experiences.  We leverage children’s natural curiosity to be active participants in their learning by asking questions, hypothesizing, reflecting, and discovering answers through exploration supported by teachers and families providing materials and hands-on experiences. 

For Parents Parents gain insight into child behavior by observing other children. They observe how other parents and professional teachers handle various situations and gain greater understanding and enjoyment of their own children through active participation in their education.  Through serving, parents learn about administration, running meetings, and other skills useful to them in other stages of their lives.  Parents learn useful ideas for helping their children at home and in the world around them.

For Children Children participate in a supervised play and learning experience with children of similar developmental stage. Equipment, materials, and physical facilities are scaled to children’s sizes.  An opportunity is provided to interact with adults other than their own parents.  Children find security and a feeling of belonging in a world which is non-threatening and interested in them.  Learning to respect and accept the rights and differences of others is emphasized.  Children have hands-on experiences in creative arts, music, science, literature, and language geared to the needs of their developmental level.  Improved mental health results from improved total family understanding through active participation in the preschool program and administration of the school.

For the Community Parents and children develop and extended family with friendships they carry throughout their lives.  They gain a strong sense of responsibility and develop a positive self worth which carries over into every aspect of community life.  Our parent cooperative provides preschool experiences within the financial means of most families.

For the Program Parent Cooperatives allows our program to move beyond daycare.  Together we achieve something spectacular in today’s world:  working families taking a collaborative approach in their child’s most formative years.  For every hour you serve in the classroom at Small Blessings we will credit your account.  Opportunities include:  assisting in the classroom, serving Kids Night Out, providing enrichment programs,  maintenance, and housekeeping (includes sewing).   Adults working with children are not left alone, have complete background checks, and have attend a six-hour orientation, called the “Ins and Outs of Child Development” held quarterly.

Small Blessings, Inc. is a member of Parent Cooperative Preschools International.  For more information about this organization visit www.preschools.coop.

For more information please contact Lee Ann Balta for more information at call 328-2223 extension 115.