Our Philosophy & Curriculum
We view the young child as an intelligent, capable learner. Our early school, is a center for young learners to come together. Children explore ideas and build relationships through art, music, movement and dialogue. We support children's ability to thrive in a social setting, while having the confidence to express their own thinking. Creating a trusting, beautiful and fun environment, filled with many voices and common goals, is what all members of the Playgroup community help to do.
Teachers work alongside children, co-building a unique curriculum and environment with every new group of children. Academics are integrated in developmentally appropriate ways. Emphasis is placed on creative problem solving, constant practice and exposure to Arts, Literature, Science and constructive collaboration. Throughout the day there is a balance of open play with children from all ages to age-specific structured small group time. Educators use tools of documentation, such as note taking, photos, and video, to reveal children's thought process and extend lines of inquiry/exploration. This documentation is seen throughout the school and used as a tool for school-home connections.
From community walks to smoothie-making, healthy living is part of our learning value system. Specialists in Sports, Food, and Music provide afternoon enrichment activities centered on movement, mind-body awareness and, of course, fun. These extracurriculars are rotated throughout the school year and are made possible through our parent community fundraising efforts.
We view the young child as an intelligent, capable learner. Our early school, is a center for young learners to come together. Children explore ideas and build relationships through art, music, movement and dialogue. We support children's ability to thrive in a social setting, while having the confidence to express their own thinking. Creating a trusting, beautiful and fun environment, filled with many voices and common goals, is what all members of the Playgroup community help to do.
Teachers work alongside children, co-building a unique curriculum and environment with every new group of children. Academics are integrated in developmentally appropriate ways. Emphasis is placed on creative problem solving, constant practice and exposure to Arts, Literature, Science and constructive collaboration. Throughout the day there is a balance of open play with children from all ages to age-specific structured small group time. Educators use tools of documentation, such as note taking, photos, and video, to reveal children's thought process and extend lines of inquiry/exploration. This documentation is seen throughout the school and used as a tool for school-home connections.
From community walks to smoothie-making, healthy living is part of our learning value system. Specialists in Sports, Food, and Music provide afternoon enrichment activities centered on movement, mind-body awareness and, of course, fun. These extracurriculars are rotated throughout the school year and are made possible through our parent community fundraising efforts.
History
Playgroup was founded in 1970 by a group of neighbors who needed affordable child care. Playgroup quickly developed a reputation for excellence under the direction of founder Ruth Beaglehole. Playgroup was incorporated as the Echo Park Silverlake People's Child Care Center, a non-profit community organization, in 1974. Playgroup was a pioneer in the use of anti-bias curriculum and has been a vocal advocate for children and families throughout its history.
Kit Kollenberg Scholarship Fund
Kit Kollenberg was born in 1941 and raised in Chicago. She attended preschool at the Laboratory School run by the University of Chicago, from which she later also received a BA and MA. On graduating, she worked as a pre-school teacher at the Lab School. In 1969, she was recruited by the Center for Early Education in Los Angeles to be the first director of a new daycare program. The Center was, then as now, a very expensive institution, catering to the children of the rich and famous. Ruth Beaglehole was also hired by the Center (as she tells it, because the people doing the hiring thought parents would like her accent). Both Kit and Ruth were unhappy that high quality child care was not available to the work people in their own neighborhood in Echo Park. With help from Kit and others, Ruth started the Echo Park Silverlake People's Childcare Center (at first, just "The Playgroup"). Kit then quit her fairly high paying job at the Center for Early Education to work as a barely-paid teacher at Playgroup. She continued to work at Playgroup for many years. With her husband Gary Blasi and sons Michael and Jeremy, her family lived just down the block from Playgroup on Lake Shore Avenue. Kit later joined UCLA Childcare Service as an organizer and resource for community day care resources. She co-authored a very well received book, The Working Parents Handbook. Kit died on March 31, 2016, after a valiant 20 year fight against breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Her family and friends established a fund at The Playgroup in her memory to help make it possible for lower income families to benefit from the wonderful resource Playgroup remains, more than 47 years after Kit helped create it. -Gary Blasi
If you would like to make a donation to the Kit Kollenberg Scholarship Fund, you can send your monetary donation directly to Echo Park Silverlake Peoples Child Care Center (Playgroup).
For more information about Playgroup's early days please visit:
https://youtu.be/zdXgVw_AbQE
Playgroup was founded in 1970 by a group of neighbors who needed affordable child care. Playgroup quickly developed a reputation for excellence under the direction of founder Ruth Beaglehole. Playgroup was incorporated as the Echo Park Silverlake People's Child Care Center, a non-profit community organization, in 1974. Playgroup was a pioneer in the use of anti-bias curriculum and has been a vocal advocate for children and families throughout its history.
Kit Kollenberg Scholarship Fund
Kit Kollenberg was born in 1941 and raised in Chicago. She attended preschool at the Laboratory School run by the University of Chicago, from which she later also received a BA and MA. On graduating, she worked as a pre-school teacher at the Lab School. In 1969, she was recruited by the Center for Early Education in Los Angeles to be the first director of a new daycare program. The Center was, then as now, a very expensive institution, catering to the children of the rich and famous. Ruth Beaglehole was also hired by the Center (as she tells it, because the people doing the hiring thought parents would like her accent). Both Kit and Ruth were unhappy that high quality child care was not available to the work people in their own neighborhood in Echo Park. With help from Kit and others, Ruth started the Echo Park Silverlake People's Childcare Center (at first, just "The Playgroup"). Kit then quit her fairly high paying job at the Center for Early Education to work as a barely-paid teacher at Playgroup. She continued to work at Playgroup for many years. With her husband Gary Blasi and sons Michael and Jeremy, her family lived just down the block from Playgroup on Lake Shore Avenue. Kit later joined UCLA Childcare Service as an organizer and resource for community day care resources. She co-authored a very well received book, The Working Parents Handbook. Kit died on March 31, 2016, after a valiant 20 year fight against breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Her family and friends established a fund at The Playgroup in her memory to help make it possible for lower income families to benefit from the wonderful resource Playgroup remains, more than 47 years after Kit helped create it. -Gary Blasi
If you would like to make a donation to the Kit Kollenberg Scholarship Fund, you can send your monetary donation directly to Echo Park Silverlake Peoples Child Care Center (Playgroup).
For more information about Playgroup's early days please visit:
https://youtu.be/zdXgVw_AbQE
