Albany Preschool Cooperative

A Playbased Parent Cooperative in Albany, CA

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06.03.16 | 1 Comment

Rough and Tumble Play

Our preschoolers might have been a bit shocked when we told them they were allowed to “wrestle” at school this week. Of course we meant “play wrestling” and emphasized this was all fun and games.

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We set up the tumbling mats nearly every day in the South Yard, and the children took turns play wrestling with each other.

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Children love to play rough and providing them a safe environment to do it in can be an excellent learning experience. Play wrestling is a non-aggressive way to allow children to test their limits of strength, teaches them to take turns, and gives them the opportunity to begin defining their own personal boundaries, as well as the personal boundaries of those around them.

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Play wrestling is fun! Which means the children are cheering each other on, smiling, laughing, and of course remaining friends even after climbing, rolling and sitting on one another.

05.17.16 | Leave a Comment

Mud Kitchens

Our preschoolers have been busy cooking up masterpieces in the kitchen – the mud kitchen that is! Hours are spent mixing, pouring, transporting, plating and serving. They are loving the opportunity to mimic “home” play.

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Mud kitchens have some structure given a defined kitchen space with a well stocked variety of loose parts – pots, pans, dishes and utensils. However, they are designed to give preschoolers free opportunity to collect their own ingredients from the outdoor environment – flowers, leaves, sticks, and of course, mud – so be sure there is plenty of water.

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The opportunities are endless – a chocolate mud pie, a lobster stew, a birthday cake, and whatever else they can mix up. And that’s what keeps them coming back again and again and again.

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Bon appetit!

01.27.16 | Leave a Comment

Art at Albany Preschool

The art table is always open (and quite popular) at Albany Preschool. Every day an art project is announced at circle, and as soon as circle ends, our preschoolers rush to grab an empty seat. We make art with paint, tape, balls, fabric, cars, recyclables, yarn, sticks, rocks, our own hands, and so much more. You name it, we can make something with it.

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We know that kids love art, but why do we love art so much? Art stimulates both sides of the brain, boosts self-esteem, strengthens hand-eye coordination, teaches open ended thinking, and helps children exercise their creative problem solving skills.

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Next time your child brings home their masterpiece, further the learning experience by talking to them about it. Say things like – How did you make that? Tell me about your picture. I see you mixed paints to make new secondary colors. I see different shapes, line patterns, brush strokes. And if you can, try avoiding value judgements such as – That’s beautiful, I like it, etc.

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You can have fun at home with art too. It can be as simple as dipping an old toothbrush in paint, stamping with rocks, cutting and gluing toilet paper tubes. Get creative – there is no wrong way to do it.

12.10.14 | 1 Comment

We’re Hunting Dinosuars!

dino_01While waiting for our Stone Soup, these three adventurers decided to go on a dinosaur hunt. After much deliberation, they built an elaborate trap.
The trap was very successful. Hunting, building and waiting for their prey was such hard work, they decided to take a break and make dinosaur stew.

They also made coffee to drink while the dinosaurs were stewing.

11.24.14 | Leave a Comment

Why we LOVE sand play!

Albany-Nov-7-721Most children have a natural attraction to sand play. There is no “right” way to play with sand, so there is no fear of “doing it wrong.” Because it is opened ended, the children decide the direction their play will take. Through this play they satisfy their inner drive to explore their world, thus gaining an understanding of their world.
Through digging, scooping, burying, and planting objects the children strengthen their large muscles and improve their hand – eye coordination.
When, as a group, they establish the story line and individual roles in their play, they strengthen their imaginative play, their sense of empathy and the skill of seeing things through other’s perspectives. Albany-Nov-7-282
Cooperative play is strengthened by the need to share the tools, negotiate the path the water takes, and compromise if all do not agree.
How can we as parents and teachers help? We help by supplying a rich environment, with plenty of “loose objects”, by asking open-ended questions, such as, “what will happen next?” and standing back and giving them the time and space to explore their ideas.

 

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OUR MISSION:

Albany Preschool is a place where kids play, learn and love school. Parents and teachers work together to create a nurturing community of lifelong learners and friends.

Location

850 MASONIC AVE. ALBANY, CA
(510) 600-3416

Albany Preschool Parent Cooperative, Nonprofit Federal Tax Id: 94-3050711, Facility Number 010209917