How to Start a Preschool Group
With the cost of preschool tuition, some parents are feeling the pinch. While most parents and professionals agree that preschool is an important time for a young child, the costs can be prohibitive. If you are home during the day, consider starting a preschool co-op. A co-op is when parents take turns teaching the children, equally sharing in the task of running the preschool in each other's homes. A co-op will provide your child interaction with other children, as well as opportunities to learn how to cooperate, listen and stay on task.
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Instructions
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Begin with a plan. Decide how many children you want in the group; four to six is an ideal size. Then decide what days and times you want to have the preschool and how often you will switch homes with the other parents that may choose to be in your co-op.
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Determine how the lessons will be prepared and taught. While the internet is filled with free resources, coming up with ideas, craft projects and a structured plan can be time consuming. Having to do everything may also deter parents from joining your group. Consider researching various preschool curriculum programs available and select one. Typically, these programs send the supplies and curriculum needed for each month. While they cost money, these programs are affordable when the costs are divided between the children attending. Some good programs may include detailed lesson plans and craft materials for as little as $15 a month per child.
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Find parents and children who want to participate in the co-op. Ask your friends, neighbors and church members with children in the age group if they would like to join. Because you have already chosen the program, days and times, it will be easier to explain what would be expected of each parent. Point out the benefits of your chosen curriculum, how easy the lessons are to prepare and how often the parents will be able to have a few hours to themselves.
If you have chosen a curriculum that is mailed once a month, consider rotating homes where the co-op is held once a month. One full month for a parent to host the co-op may seem like a lot, but stress that the parent then does not have to teach for several more months, depending upon how many children participate.
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After you have your preschool group filled, determine how much each parent needs to pay for the curriculum, collect the money and place the order. Allow plenty of time to receive the curriculum before starting the preschool group, about one month.
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Give a list of supplies needed to the parents in advance. Allow them time to get all supplies together including a paint shirt, glue, crayons, markers and scissors. Have all supplies in a container for each child. These containers will be passed to each teacher with the lesson materials each month.
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Start your preschool group. Keep parents updated on discipline issues, learning progress and when they are to teach.
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Tips & Warnings
Label all supplies with each child's name.
Keep everything together in boxes or containers to be easily transferable to the next teacher.
Order several months' worth of curriculum at a time to save you money and the possibility of forgetting to order.
Note any allergies of each child, so allergic reactions are kept to a minimum.
You may want a contract that all parents sign stating when they will teach, how much is to be paid and when, and what supplies they are to provide. This will protect everyone from misunderstanding as well as not doing their part.
References
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