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Stay & Play
Parent-Child Class
Looking for an opportunity to bond with your wild one in a supportive parenting space that values community? You are in the right place. As of Spring 2025, Play Matters Preschool has shifted its focus to support forest families in a new way by launching a parent-child class. This is an outdoor nature-based play group with a sprinkling of Waldorf magic. This offering acts as a natural bridge for parents who have stayed home & are soon to enter the next phase- to send their child to our drop-off nature play sessions at our preschool. This class is also reccomended for 1st time or postpartum parents looking to build community.
What is Stay & Play?
Get in touch with your inner child. Our Parent-Child Stay & Play class is designed to nourish your child’s sense of wonder while connecting you both to nature. This class is suitable for ages 1-6yr. The duration of your play session will last 3 hours from 9:00-12:00. Both you and your child will enjoy a magical morning of connection, simple invitations to play, process art, sensory opportunities, group gathering & story. NOTE: a child under 1 year can join for FREE with a paid older sibling.
Our Stay & Play Rhythm:
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Organic arrival (no rush) 9:00-10:00: families arrive, wash hands, hang belongings & begin play.
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Child led free play: parents are encouraged to “join their world instead”. Leave out the parent agendas & let them take the lead. Ask often about their process vs desired outcome.
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9:45: soft invitations to play are set out: all “structured enrichment” is always optional as we want the child to be empowered to decide.
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11:20: optional snack (brought from home) & story gathering
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11:40: parent-teacher tidy up-parents help rinse art & mud kitchen & gather sensory items to soak in bins.
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12:00: Forest family farewell.
Get Involved:
Get involved: We have recently added a little free library! You are welcome to take & bring books freely. Attached to that will be a rock garden full of worry rocks. You do NOT need to replace these rocks as u take them. What a fun way to connect with your child if you wanted to bring a rock that they decorated. We also welcome our forest families to bring natural loose parts for potion & mud kitchen play: flower petals, herbs, leafs, acorns, pine cones and whatever else your child may find in nature that they want to share. Extra loose parts or materials can be added to our loose parts library.