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The purpose of Avon Cooperative Nursery School is to provide the pre-school child with space in which to play with suitable materials and equipment, and to provide the child with opportunities to become independent.

The second purpose of this Co-op pre-school is to promote greater understanding for parents in matters related to the early years of children. By using parents as classroom assistants, our program is enriched in many ways. Their presence in the school creates warmth, and a feeling of home-school rapport, as well as a good teacher-child rapport.

Learning Through Play
Art, music, stories, dramatic play, science, and motor activities are designed to stimulate the pre-schoolers perceptual, intellectual, and cognitive skills.

The development of large and small motor skills are advanced through the use of a wide variety of educational materials. Program activities and materials are chosen to help your child continue to develop a sense of personal well being by:

* Encouraging creative & imaginative play
* Promoting decision-making abilities
* Encouraging sharing

Play is one of the most valuable experiences children will have in their development. It helps them to understand their world and learn about life. It is one of the strongest driving forces for children - it cultivates their minds and bodies. Current research continues to support learning through play.

Research Updates

Reports Highlight Importance of Play

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new report, The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds, that claims unstructured play is essential for children's development. The report states that the loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress and anxiety - and even cause depression - in some children. Unstructured play helps children manage stress and become resilient. It also enables children to achieve key social, emotional and cognitive developmental milestones. For more information, visit www.aap.org

The importance of free play is echoed in a paper entitled Let the Children Play: Nature's Answer to Early Learning, released by the Canadian Council on Learning's Early Childhood Learning Knowledge Centre. This paper illustrates the ways in which children's logical mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, cognitive problem solving, social and emotional self-regulation, social problem solving and communication skills and literacy develop. Visit www.ccl-cca.ca for the full paper.

(Kenneth R. Ginsburg MD MISEd. "Let the Children Play: Nature's Answer to Early Learning." Canadian Childcare Federation Magazine Spring 2007: 40)




			The purpose of Avon Cooperative Nursery School is to provide the pre-school child with space in which to play with suitable materials and equipment, and to provide the child with opportunities to become independent. The second purpose of this Co-op pre-school is to promote greater understanding for parents in matters related to the early years of children. By using parents as classroom assistants, our program is enriched in many ways. Their presence in the school creates warmth, and a feeling of home-school rapport, as well as a good teacher-child rapport. Learning Through Play Art, music, stories, dramatic play, science, and motor activities are designed to stimulate the pre-schoolers perceptual, intellectual, and cognitive skills. The development of large and small motor skills are advanced through the use of a wide variety of educational materials. Program activities and materials are chosen to help your child continue to develop a sense of personal well being by: * Encouraging creative & imaginative play * Promoting decision-making abilities * Encouraging sharing Play is one of the most valuable experiences children will have in their development. It helps them to understand their world and learn about life. It is one of the strongest driving forces for children - it cultivates their minds and bodies. Current research continues to support learning through play. Research Updates Reports Highlight Importance of Play The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new report, The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds, that claims unstructured play is essential for children's development. The report states that the loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress and anxiety - and even cause depression - in some children. Unstructured play helps children manage stress and become resilient. It also enables children to achieve key social, emotional and cognitive developmental milestones. For more information, visit www.aap.org The importance of free play is echoed in a paper entitled Let the Children Play: Nature's Answer to Early Learning, released by the Canadian Council on Learning's Early Childhood Learning Knowledge Centre. This paper illustrates the ways in which children's logical mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, cognitive problem solving, social and emotional self-regulation, social problem solving and communication skills and literacy develop. Visit www.ccl-cca.ca for the full paper. (Kenneth R. Ginsburg MD MISEd. "Let the Children Play: Nature's Answer to Early Learning." Canadian Childcare Federation Magazine Spring 2007: 40)
			All illustrations ©2004 Julianne Waller