Preschool - A Unitarian Universalist Home
Last week I visited our Ocean Breeze preschool program that is located in and administered by our UU Church in Swampscott MA.
I arrived to see 3, 4, and 5 year old children are engaged in small group conversations. After a bit they left the required group activity and were free to play or engage in creative arts. All the while there were teachers or interns to encourage them. There was a moderate focus on encouraging children to recognize colors, shapes and numbers.
I saw wonderful outdoor play equipment, and active games in our coffee hour space for use on a rainy day. There were happy, thriving children, in a calm atmosphere, and wished that all children had access to this essential opportunity to prepare for kindergarten.
Ocean Breeze has 30 children enrolled between 3 and 5 1/2 years old. The school is in session during the normal public school year from 9 am to noon. For an extra fee, parents can sign up for extended day program that ends at 2 pm and includes a choice of music, sports, language or the arts.
Remarkably, the school and the church have a good relationship in their shared space with their shared use of administrative services. The preschool parents have raised $25,000 to install a security system to protect the school and the church. They have raised $5000 for outdoor play equipment that is also enjoyed on Sunday by children attending church school. Preschool parents raise money to keep the surface around the play equipment clean and healthy.
The only problem is that church members would like to serve more children who have limited access to preschool. Promise the Children volunteers recognize that a parent or parents have to work to support a family. All children need the experience of socializing and learning in a group so as to make the transition from the world of “me” to the world of “us”. When parent(s) must work, a quality preschool is essential to guide the transition to kindergarten where children begin their academic learning. Without this experience children may face great difficulties.
Please let us know if your church runs a preschool or offers space to a non-profit or profit making preschool.
Links to information on preschool programs.
http://www.preksmarties.com/preschooldirectory/index.htm
http://www.strategiesforchildren.org/eea/eea_home.htm
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