El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative

Play, Learn and Grow at ECPC

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Fun with shaving cream art

It was fun with shaving cream in the art area during the AM program recently, with the kids making marbled paper one day and “cloud jars” another.

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For the marbled paper, the participating parent smeared shaving cream on a tray and smoothed it. Then the kids dripped food coloring around and swirled it through with sticks.

 

 

 

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When they were satisfied, the parent helped them put pieces of paper over the color-filled cream …

 

 

 

 

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and then scraped off the shaving cream, leaving behind marbled paper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cloud jars were clear glass jars filled with water and topped with shaving cream. Then the kids put food coloring in with droppers, creating swirling clouds under the water. Lots of fun and messy hands ensued!

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Igloo and magical forest welcome kids back to school

When ECPC kids returned to school after winter break, they found a surprise waiting for them. An igloo made of milk jugs and a forest of recycled Christmas trees transformed our front-yard sandbox into a wonderland of the imagination.

At a time when midyear doldrums threaten and children have to readjust to school after vacation, changes to the school environment can reignite their excitement and spark new play to entice them back into the routine. (And participating parents might say it helps re-engerize us, too!)

Parents collected rinsed-out gallon milk jugs for months ahead of time — many of them from Peet’s (thanks!) — and families brought in their Christmas trees after the new year. Before school resumed, volunteer parents gathered to prepare the scene. They built the milk jug igloo using hot glue guns (no kids allowed for this one!) and “planted” the trees in the sand.

Check out a video of the building of the igloo and — best of all — the kids’ reaction to it.

  • Also: Prospective families are invited to explore the igloo and forest at our open house, 10:00-12:00 on Sat., Jan. 24 at 7200 Moeser Lane in El Cerrito. This fun event lets parents and children experience the play-based approach and fun environment at ECPC, which has operated as a Bay Area cooperative preschool since 1940.

Thank you to all the volunteers and jug/tree donors who made our winter wonderland happen! The igloo and forest will eventually come down, but don’t worry — just like Frosty the Snowman, this ECPC tradition will be back again next year (and as long as we have wonderful member families who keep our school the most magical place around…if that sounds like someone you know, they can apply today)!