Our preschool has operated as a parent cooperative since 1940. While a professional teaching staff runs the program, member families own the school and are responsible for the administration and maintenance. This helps keep tuition low and allows parents to become fully active in their child’s education. It also serves to build a strong sense of community among the families in the school. Our goal at ECPC is to provide a happy, safe, and supportive environment that contributes to the development of the whole child. Each child is a unique individual, with different physical, social, emotional, and intellectual skills. We believe children learn best through self-directed play, and we provide a variety of experiences to suit the varied needs of growing children. The teachers and participators at ECPC support our children as they learn to be part of a larger peer group and greater school community. At the heart of our work with children is our belief in supporting children’s emotional and social development. We accomplish this through extensive work with children on solving problems, first with adult support and eventually with children negotiating and problem-solving independently. We model, guide, and offer compassionate assistance to children as they learn to work through their conflicts. We encourage listening and self-expression, and we help children practice the important skill of self-regulation.