How to Be Highly Involved in Your Child’s First Preschool Experience

Interested in being highly involved in your child’s first educational experience? Looking for classes taught through science-backed, play-based inquiry? A cooperative school may be for you!  Cooperatives create a foundation for lifelong learning by teaching literacy, math, social skills and critical thinking experientially.

Learn more about ten schools keeping the magic of learning through play alive!

Eastside

West Linn Community Preschool

West Linn Community Preschool is a vibrant community where parents take an active role in a student’s educational journey. Their veteran teacher focuses on creativity, community and curiosity in their experiential classrooms. This model allows families direct involvement with their childrens’ introduction to learning. Children flourish alongside their parents at WLCP! Open house is February 3, 2024.

Irvington Co-Op Preschool

Irvington Co-Op Preschool offers multi-day options in a mixed-age classroom. Irvington Cooperative Preschool’s goal is to provide a stimulating and creative learning environment that encourages development of each child’s love of learning and social skills through structured and unstructured play experiences. Open house is February 10. 

Brooklyn Co-Op Preschool

Brooklyn Co-Op Preschool is a supportive, play-based environment where children explore the world around them in their own way, engaging with others and making choices about their work and play. They develop high self-esteem through a positive first school experience, with support of family teachers and guidance of a professional educator. Open house is February 3, 2024. 

Westside

Multnomah Playschool

Multnomah Playschool is reimagining cooperative preschool by reshaping how parent volunteer responsibilities are shared. Parenting is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. At their core, they build a community that supports and connects families. Open house is February 24, and April 28, 2024.

Southwest Parent Child Collective

Southwest Parent Child Collective is a vibrant co-op preschool, administered by parents and staffed by an experienced teacher. Leveraging a play-based approach and Reggio Emilia principles, they help students learn about themselves and their surrounding world through play, art, experimentation, outdoor time, books, dance and song. Open house is February 10, 2024.

Gabriel Park Preschool

Gabriel Park Preschool is a play-based preschool focussing on cognitive, social, and emotional growth.  Children are encouraged to identify and express their needs- building social skills, independence, and confidence.  Opportunities are provided for art exploration, fine and gross motor skills, language building, writing, and math games. Open house is February 3 and 6, 2024

Ashcreek Playschool

Ashcreek Playschool is a Beaverton play-based program for kids ages 2.5 through kindergarten in a quiet neighborhood with a fenced-in playground. Ashcreek takes children on a journey in the classroom and outdoors in nature, teaching children to learn through their senses — socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Open house is on February 3, 2024. 

Portland Kinderschule

Portland Kinderschule is a German Immersion Cooperative Preschool offering a nurturing, play-based program for 3-5 year olds, and summer camps for  4-8 year olds. Their open house is on March 2, 2024.

Tigard Playschool

Tigard Playschool offers a play-based curriculum providing children the opportunity to learn how to play with children their own age while discovering new and exciting activities.  Age two through to pre-K classes help children develop independence, self-confidence and a positive attitude toward school. Open house is February 3, 2024.

Creative Hands Preschool

Creative Hands Preschool is celebrating their 10th year as a school with teachers who have been there since the beginning. They love to build community both inside and outside of the classroom — through restaurant nights, coffee/donut mornings, parent trainings, etc. Their open house is Jan 24, 2024.