THE FREE SCHOOL PRESCHOOL HAS 'GROWN UP!'

We are now reopening Fall 08 as Arts & Ideas Elementary! We hope to include a preschool component in 2009. Please surf on over and give us a shout: staff@aielementary.com

The Free School Preschool Co-op was a parent-run cooperative in northeast Baltimore that offered a safe and open play-centered learning and social setting for children ages 3 - 6.

Younger children were invited with parents and older siblings were considered according to individual circumstances.

All activities were non-coercive and participation was optional.

Children were free to play on our moonbounce and other equipment, take part in story time, music making, open-ended art activities as well as enterprises of their own design.

The Free School Preschool recognized that the biggest educational gift we can give our kids is each other. They are their best teachers, their best challengers, their best adventure partners and their best fellow-citizens. We also agreed that their experience was supported when attendance by all was reliable and consistent.

So, while we made drop-in attendance available, we encouraged full-time membership and attendance. Simply as a courtesy, we encouraged whenever possible for families to call in to the school number if it looked like they were going to be significantly late or absent.

Give Kids More Free Playtime, Docs Urge

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Here's some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime.

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