My Morning at Preschool

Last Monday was my first parent help day at Tiny and Buba’s preschool. They’re going to a co-op preschool that follows the Reggio Emilia approach. Parental involvement and sense of community are both a huge part of the school’s philosophy, and parent help days are just one way that bring the children’s families/homes and school together.

I’ve been told that some co-ops require the parents to act as teachers or teacher’s helpers on their parent help day, but at Buba and Tiny’s school, the parents are mainly there just to experience the school day with their child(ren). It was my job to bring a snack for the class (we brought green grapes and string cheese sticks), to set up the snack while the teachers read books, and then to clean up the snack when snack time was over. All in all, my helping responsibilities took about 20 minutes. I spent the rest of the time hanging out with Tiny and Buba and letting them show me all the things they love to do at preschool.

Soon after all the kids had arrive, one of the teachers announced that they would be making gak that day, and anyone who wanted to help could do so. Both of my kids rushed to the child-sized table, but not every kid made that choice. And that was okay. It was perfectly acceptable for others to continue doing their own things. The kids who did come to the table got a little lesson about the various ingredients needed to make gak, and they all got a chance to stir the mixture, both with the big spoon…

and with their hands.

After all the mixing was done, the gak needed to sit for a bit (I think to dry up a little more, so it wouldn’t be so watery). Both Buba and Tiny went to wash their hands and then decided to stay and play at the sinks for a while.

Then Tiny did some painting while Buba made some bead necklaces with a teacher.

We also read books, sang song, checked out their caterpillars, used scissors and tape for self-directed art projects, and eventually made our way back to the gak.

The morning ended with outside playtime (the second of their two outdoor “recesses”), and I could hardly believe it when the clanging bell rang, signaling that pick-up time had begun. The day flew by even more quickly being at preschool than it does when I’m off trying to get other things done.

Because I spent three hours at preschool Monday morning, I didn’t get to my exercise class at the gym. And no shopping trips or errands were accomplished either. But on the flip side, I got to spend three whole hours being with my kids- playing with my kids!-with no phone calls, or emails, or laundry or other chores to interrupt or come between us. It was an incredible experience, and I could clearly see how we all benefited from having that kind of playtime together. It was a great morning for all of us!