Overview of Creative Kids Co-operative

Creative Kids Co-Operative is just that—a co-operative. Families work together to create a supportive, enriching environment for our children. When you join our co-op, you are not just enrolling your child in classes; you are joining a community where each family helps make the co-op run smoothly and successfully.

Co-op at a Glance

  • When: Friday mornings, September–April
  • Schedule: 8:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Who: Preschool (3 years old and potty trained) through 8th grade.
  • Focus: Enrichment and social connection (not core academics)
  • Parent Role: Teaching, assisting, and shared responsibilities

Our Schedule

We meet weekly on Fridays and follow a two-semester schedule:

  • Fall Semester: Begins the Friday after Labor Day and runs for 13 weeks
  • Spring Semester: Begins in early January and runs for 13 weeks
  • Breaks: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter

Typical Friday Morning:

  • 8:45–9:00 a.m. Announcements for parents and students
  • 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Classes
  • 12:00 p.m. Dismissal

What Children Do at Co-op

Creative Kids Co-Operative focuses on enrichment, allowing families to handle core academics (the “3 R’s”) at home. Co-op provides opportunities for creativity, exploration, and community.

Kindergarten and Older Students:

  • Art, music, and PE each year
  • Age-appropriate science, social studies, and elective classes that enhance your homeschool with creative projects, labs, and group activities
  • 3–4 classes per semester
  • Classes vary year to year and are not intended to be comprehensive

Preschool Program:

  • Preschoolers remain with the same teacher throughout the morning
  • 3-year-olds: A new, fun theme each Friday
  • 4-year-olds: A different letter focus each Friday
Some examples of classes we’ve offered are … 
  • Kindergarten: Cooking, Sign Language, Community Helpers
  • 1st grade: Chess, Knex & Legos, Invertebrates
  • 2nd grade: World Cultures, Rocks & Fossils, Sewing
  • 3rd grade: Historical Projects, STEM, Logic games and puzzles
  • 4th grade: Woods Wisdom, Human Body, Strategy Games
  • 5th grade: Kitchen Science, Leather Crafts, Stop Motion
  • Middle School: Building & STEM, Newspaper, Mini Economy, Forensic Science, Shakespeare, Public Speaking

Every two years, our co-op comes together to produce a musical performance, giving students a memorable, collaborative experience.

Parent Responsibilities

Because we are a co-operative, each family plays an active role.

Teaching & Assisting:

  • One parent from each family teaches 1–2 classes, ideally in an area of interest
  • Parents also assist in 1–2 classes
  • Teaching needs vary depending on the number of families enrolled
  • Curriculum or resource guidance is provided for most classes
  • Teaching is typically scheduled in either the fall or spring semester

If you are not teaching during a particular semester, you will likely be scheduled to help in the nursery on a few Fridays.

Cleaning & Shared Roles

  • Each family participates in end-of-day cleaning for about four weeks during the year
  • Cleaning takes approximately one hour after co-op ends
  • Childcare is provided by one parent on the cleaning team

In addition, parents share other responsibilities such as:

  • Scheduling field trips
  • Managing supplies
  • Overseeing fundraisers

We work hard to keep the workload as equal as possible for every family.

Nursery Care

  • Nursery care is available for children under 3 years old while a parent is teaching

Fathers at Co-op

Traditionally, mothers have filled most co-op roles, but we warmly welcome fathers who are available on Friday mornings. We strive to place dads in roles that best match their talents and interests. Please let us know if a father plans to teach or assist.

Is This Co-op a Good Fit?

Creative Kids Co-Operative may be a great fit for your family if you:

  • Value community and shared responsibility
  • Are comfortable teaching or assisting in a classroom setting
  • Teach core academics at home
  • Want your children to experience enrichment, creativity, and social connection
  • Agree with our Statement of Faith and Code of Conduct

This page offers an overview of our co-op. If you have questions, need clarification, or want to know whether Creative Kids Co-Operative is right for your family, please feel free to ask. We are always happy to share more about our wonderful co-op!

Leave a comment