Creating your own cooperative preschool �� just the basics - Outside the Home

Whether you are a parent working outside the home, in the home, or somewhere in between, finding the perfect preschool has probably been an issue for you. Many parents, especially those outside the mainstream, search in vain to find the right preschools for their children; where the teachers and administrators understand that gelatin isn't vegetarian, fruits and vegetables are ideal snacks, children learn through play, and self-esteem is top priority. It's hard enough to leave a child with someone else, but add a different set of values, diet, and/or parenting philosophy to the mix, and it can be horrifying! However, if you have the time, inclination, and motivation, there is a choice: you can start your own in-home preschool, also known as a cooperative preschool.

Somewhere between homeschooling and drop-off preschools lies the cooperative preschool. As with any other cooperative organization, this preschool is run by the families participating in it. It can be any size, ranging from a few families using each other's homes, to a larger organization with its own building, licenses, and insurance serving the needs of the community with full-time hours (and a less personal touch). The basic premise of a small, in-house cooperative preschool includes an organized meeting of children in one of the family's homes, rotating between homes, and rotating parent teachers.

There are definite advantages to a cooperative, in-home preschool. Having the children spend time in homes creates a more comfortable atmosphere. Families will be able to get to know each other well, and parents can witness their children interacting with others. If a child isn't ready to interact without mommy or daddy, the parent always has the option of sticking around until the child makes the adjustment. Members can work out their own curriculum, schedule, philosophy, and fees to cover the costs of materials, or they can work to keep it free by using items that families already own.

Getting Started

The first step in creating an in-home preschool is to decide what exactly you are hoping to achieve. How large of a group do you want? Do you want parents to act as teachers, or would you like to hire someone to teach while parents act as assistants? How many days a week will the group meet? What ages would you like to include in the class? Getting a good idea of your goals will allow you to weed out those people who might not fit into the framework of your vision. It also gives you something to work with when considering what other parents have to offer to the preschool.

The next step is finding families who are interested in participating. You may already have a group of friends of similar belief systems with whom you can organize. If not, talk to people at your local environmental meeting, veggie group, place of worship, La Leche League meeting, yoga class, or any other place where you might meet other families.

Once you've found the right number of interested families, set up an organizational meeting to hammer out the details of the co-op. Some items to consider for discussion include:

* frequency and length of preschool classes

* family schedules

* snacks

* materials

* curriculum

The parents may act as teachers, or the group may consider hiring a teacher. Each parent should have an assignment in the organization of the co-op. Research assignments may include checking with your local licensing agencies to verify whether there is a limit to the number of children allowed to participate, looking for inexpensive and fun activities for the children, and coordinating school days with working parents' availability to participate. Most importantly, don't expect to hammer out every detail in the first meeting. People will want to have a chance to think about their roles in the group, their preferences, and how to manage things.

It needn't be a struggle to make your co-op work. Utilizing a rotating schedule of homes with the host parent acting as the teacher and another parent working as an assistant keeps scheduling simple. A group of six families meeting weekly means hosting the class one week out of six and assisting for one other week. Instead of perusing educational books, the parent teacher can teach what they already know: gardening, cooking, crafts, music, or any other topic presented in a playful manner.

Maintaining the preschool and the spirit of cooperation will depend on everyone involved. As with any other cooperative organization, make sure no single person or family carries the weight of the group. One way to do this is scheduling monthly community meetings to keep everyone connected, informed, and involved. Once all the details are worked out, the fun begins!! The children will visit other families' homes for a day of fun and play, making new friends, and learning to love school.

Sources:

Oesterreich, Lesia. "Child Care Cooperatives." Iowa State University, University Extension. www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications

Pickford, Beverly. "Cooperative Preschool: Not just for stay-at-home moms." "Island Parent", Spring, 1991 for the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association.

Englehardt, Anne & Sullivan, Cheryl. Playful Learning: An Alternate Approach to Preschool. La Leche League International, 1986.

* Lucy is a freelance writer currently living in Texas with her husband, Barry, and daughters, Joy Lynn and Shirlee Anne. She has been a vegetarian for over 12 years and is the Activism and Interview Editor for VBC and vegetarianteen.com.

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