A Parent At Preschool

My daughter goes to University Heights Preschool which is a parent cooperative. Among other things, being part of a parent cooperative preschool means that parents volunteer in the classroom about once a month. What a great opportunity!

One of the nicest things about being a classroom helper is that you get to be a kid again. Imagine tea parties, giant Lego cities, train tracks criss-crossing everywhere and whole Mr. Potato Head families. Grab a spot on the floor next to a few enthusiastic preschoolers and have fun.

Being around so many preschoolers is great for your mental state…really! Children are so enthusiastic and optimistic you can’t help loving life just a little more by the end of the class. And preschoolers have a lot to teach you about forgiveness too. Enemies at one moment can become best friends the next. No one holds a grudge.

For me, though, the biggest perk of being involved at my child’s preschool is that I get to see her grow and develop. At preschool, children try all sorts of things they might not get to do very often at home. Preschoolers change so much between September and June. You see their physical skills develop like how they run and jump at gym time. Their fine motor skills are especially amazing to watch over the course of the year. See how well they use scissors at craft time or manipulate a marker to draw a picture of their family. They get better at sharing, negotiating and conflict resolution too. Even the games they play become more elaborate and imaginative over the course of the year. It’s a fabulous window into your child’s development.

This great opportunity to be involved in your child’s school life will never again present itself. Soon after entering elementary school, a parent in the classroom becomes an embarrassment more than something a child looks forward to eagerly. So enjoy this time as long as you can!

Written by Jennifer Marr