EARLY LEARNERS

A happy group of 3- and 4-year-olds found new uses for shaving cream recently in an upstairs room at Manito United Methodist Church.

Two cans of the white stuff had been squirted on a table. The kids dug in with both hands.

They made mountains and valleys and smeared the foam up to their elbows. Giggling, they searched through the mounds for hidden plastic bears.

“I found one!” squealed 4-year-old Warren Atkison. The classroom smelled like a barbershop.

It could have been chaos, but thanks to their teacher, several moms and one dad who helped supervise, it was just good clean fun.

This was the Wednesday class of Manito Cooperative Preschool.

“Parent Cooperative Preschools are an excellent choice for families who want their children to participate in a fun learning environment,” Janet Gunn said. Gunn is the manager of the Parent Education Cooperative Preschool program, a statewide program affiliated with community colleges.

“Parent participation ensures quality at a reasonable cost,” said Gunn. There are 11 cooperative preschools throughout the Spokane area.

While some kids slathered themselves with shaving cream, another group sat at a table quietly cutting biscuit dough with alphabet-shaped cookie cutters.

Warren’s twin sister, Anna, busily rolled out the dough and cut shape after shape. Happily absorbed in her task, she didn’t give the shaving cream table a second glance.

Teacher Carrie Horton believes this illustrates the true value of co-ops. Because of the abundance of parental help, children are free to explore and learn in ways that feel good to them.

“Kids know where they’re at developmentally; they know what they need,” she said.

“A common misperception is that this is just a play date,” she added. “But there is structure to co-op. It’s a community and a functioning preschool.”

Across town at the Mead/Northwest Spokane Co-op, teacher Kim Devereaux described their co-op as “a partnership with the parents and me.” They meet at Country Homes Christian Church.

“I wanna be a dog,” the kids sang quietly with “Teacher Kim” on a recent morning. “Papa” Rich Beadle stretched out on the floor while his 4-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, clambered on top of him.

He and his wife, Ginny Beadle, are both retired educators.

Ginny took their four kids to co-op when they were young. Now they’re delighted to be a part of Ellie’s preschool experience.

After singing a few songs, the kids scattered to various activities. Two small girls chatted and scooped brightly colored pasta at the sensory table.

In addition to the Beadles, several moms were there to help as well.

“Many hands really do make light work,” Devereaux said with a smile.

Three-year-old Eli Caballero came to school dressed as Batman. He ran over to give his mom, Barb, a quick cuddle. Eli and his twin brother, Nic, love co-op.

“Now is my time to do things with my kids,” Barb said. “I felt too overwhelmed when my older kids were this age.”

In the Spokane Valley, the West Valley Co-op meets at an unusual location inside Seth Woodard Elementary School.

“West Valley went out of their way to find a place for us,” said Nicole Stone, the co-op’s chairwoman. The preschool meets on the stage in the school auditorium.

The school put up a wall and added an air conditioner for the group.

“We’ve upstaged all the other co-ops,” Stone said with a laugh.

The preschool recently celebrated dental week. Parent volunteers soaked eggs in cola overnight.

The kids got to see the harm sugary soft drinks could do to their teeth. Then they grabbed toothbrushes and practiced their teeth-cleaning techniques on the eggs.

Younger siblings often accompany parent volunteers.

“You’re never too young to learn,” Stone said.

West Valley co-op teacher Bethany McCabe said co-ops are a great way to make friends.

“The best part is the connection with other parents,” she said.

At the Mead Co-op, Katie Christensen agreed as she sat on the floor with 4-year old Caleb while 1-year-old Nathan watched them play. She said she gets great ideas by watching other parents interact with their kids.

Another unique facet of the preschool co-op program is ongoing parental education. Through participation in co-op, the adults are enrolled in a parent education class and receive college credit for their work in the preschool.

Their required commitment includes attending co-op with their child at least one day a week, participating in education staffing time and attending a monthly parenting seminar. The facilitators are employed as adjunct faculty through the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Manito toddler teacher Brenda Blazekovic said, “Last week during staffing we talked about tantrums. It’s really great to hear from parents whose kids also throw tantrums.”

Co-op parents are actively involved in planning the curriculum.

At the Mead Preschool, chairwoman Heather Schmidt said, “We’re involved in our children’s learning. We work together on the lesson plans.”

She stressed the community feeling of the preschool and added, “I’ve made fabulous friends.”