Child Guidance
Educators will provide guidance to children in a positive and consistent way based on an understanding of the individual needs and development of each child. Educators will promote self-regulation and provide various tools through:
utilizing positive child-guidance techniques
offering children opportunities to practice social-emotional skills and develop effective communication strategies
employing environmental and activity modifications, adult or peer support, and other teaching strategies to encourage pro-social, safe behavior
making space to involve children in problem-solving and actively scaffolding conflict-resolution between peers
intervening quickly in instances of aggressive behavior and working with the child and family to find and resolve the root cause
Transitions
As your child grows they will be going through many transitions! If they are enrolled in our program from toddlerhood through the preschool years, our educators will be guiding them through these changes.
To ease the transition between classrooms, the Coop ensures children are familiar and comfortable with all of the teachers and children in both groups from the very beginning. It is important to us that children know and trust everyone in the building with them to foster a sense of security and stability. Our classes participate in regular school-wide activities throughout the year and play outside combined as one group daily. Children transitioning from the toddler program into the preschool class move-up with their familiar peers in September. New children will be offered opportunities to visit the program before enrolling, meet the teachers, and see the space.
Children are well-prepared for these transitions through regular discussions with their teachers and families. If your child moves to a different program in town or out of state, all information in your child's file will be signed and dated by the Director. If requested, we will transfer your child's records to another agency or school.
At the end of the school year, the Coop has a graduation ceremony, or ‘goodbye party’, for anyone leaving the program. Not only is this a fun community event, it is also intentionally planned to mark a transition and help prepare children for an upcoming change.