Rancho Co-operative Nursery School

Philosophy

Here at Rancho Co-operative Nursery School, we believe that children learn through play. To a passerby, it may look like the children are simply having fun. Well, they are; but at the same time they are learning many important concepts. They are experiencing gravity when they shovel sand into a bucket. They are learning about motion while riding a tricycle. They are practicing their communication skills when they are working together during dramatic play. If the children are safely engaged in an activity, I encourage adults to refrain from interrupting or directing their play. We let the children create their own dialogue (even if it seems disjointed or fragmented to adult eyes and ears.)

We also direct and encourage them in their social skills -- how to communicate with their peers and with adults. We believe that when a child is accomplished in their social skills, they are better prepared to enter Kindergarten.

Our daily activities include a full hour of outside play. The children are free to play in the sandbox, ride tricycles, swing and climb on the play structure. We offer painting each and every day and encourage the children to use unlimited supplies to enhance their creativity. Many times we see children seemingly paint the same image over and over again. We believe that they should have the freedom to continue until they have successfully worked through their individual creative process.

The remainder of our morning is spent indoors enjoying a snack, engaging in circle time and exploring free play. We offer the children a myriad of choices including dramatic play, blocks, kitchen, writing desk, and our library, just to name a few.

Each day a different artistic activity is set up for the children. We present the materials and just let the children explore. I discourage parents from making suggestions or showing the children "how to do it" because we want the children to use their own imaginations and to learn how to execute their own ideas. When an adult draws a picture or molds clay as an example, children become frustrated because they are not yet developmentally skilled to perform as an adult. This frustration can cause the children to simply give up and stop trying on their own. We also set out a different manipulative toy each day for the children to enjoy. The manipulative toy focuses on the children's fine motor skills, which are necessary for future literacy.

As a co-operative nursery school, we work together to ensure that the school runs efficiently. Parent participation allows us to keep our tuition low and it allows parents to spend a little bit of time with their children during their first school experience. Our co-op is small compared to others, and this affords a very strong sense of family. We encourage and support each other and many times we make friendships that last a lifetime.

It is our mission to give a child the base upon which to build socialization, creativity, and self-esteem. To enable a child to think independently, confidently, and successfully in cooperation with supportive adults. To nurture the whole child so that he can develop to his fullest potential socially, emotionally, physically, creatively, and cognitively. A Rancho Co-op Nursery School graduate is ready to enter Kindergarten with confidence. She has a great sense of how to solve problems independently, how to respect her surroundings, and is eager and ready to learn.

~Cynthia Alphenaar, Academic Director

Rancho Co-operative Nursery School ~ 2551 Motor Avenue ~ PO Box 641 432 ~ Los Angeles, CA ~ 90064

310-558-9378 ~ RanchoC@RanchoCo-op.org

Where children blossom and families bloom Since 1948~ Facility # 191600569