La Playa Cooperative Is Partnering with the Screenland 5K!

We’re excited to share some wonderful news—La Playa Cooperative Nursery School will be participating in the Screenland 5K as an official charity partner! This beloved community event brings together thousands of runners, walkers, families, and local organizations, and we’re thrilled to represent La Playa this year.

As a charity partner, La Playa Cooperative will be featured on the Screenland 5K fundraising page, allowing participants to donate directly to our school during race registration and to create fundraising teams in support of our cooperative preschool. Every dollar raised helps strengthen our school and enrich our children’s learning environment.

Run, Walk, or Fundraise

There are several ways our families, alumni, and friends can participate:

• Run or walk the Screenland 5K in support of La Playa
• Donate or fundraise for La Playa through the official race site

How to Sign Up

La Playa, friends, and family have access to a 20% discount:
Register at www.Screenland5K.com with coupon code: 26VALOR

During registration, you’ll be able to:

• Select La Playa Cooperative Nursery School as your charity
• Join La Playa fundraising team
• Donate directly during registration or share your fundraising page with friends and family

Why This Matters

Participating in the Screenland 5K is more than just a race—it’s a chance to come together as a community, promote healthy habits, and raise funds to support our cooperative model of early childhood education. We’re also excited to share La Playa’s mission with the broader Culver City community as part of this meaningful local event.

More information will be coming soon—mark your calendars and start spreading the word! We can’t wait to see our La Playa community at the starting line and cheering each other on.

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Teaching emotional intelligence, communication, and problem-solving through connection

At La Playa Cooperative, conflict isn’t viewed as a disruption to learning—it is learning. When young children experience disagreements, frustration, or big feelings, they are building foundational skills they will use for the rest of their lives: emotional regulation, empathy, communication, and flexible problem-solving.

Our conflict-resolution approach is rooted in three evidence-based frameworks: Emotion Coaching, Respectful Parenting / Co-Regulation, and Collaborative Problem Solving. Together, these practices create a supportive, predictable, and emotionally safe environment where children learn how to navigate conflict, rather than simply being told what to do.

Emotion Coaching: Teaching Emotional Intelligence

At La Playa, we acknowledge that emotions are not “good” or “bad”—they are information. When a child is upset, our teachers slow down and help them understand what they are experiencing.

Our process:

• Validate the child’s emotional experience (“You’re feeling really frustrated.”)
• Allow the full expression of feelings without rushing or shutting emotions down
• Name the emotion to build emotional literacy
• Co-regulate—the teacher stays present and calm until the child’s body returns to regulation
• Problem-solve after the child is calm, never during emotional overwhelm

This helps children learn that their feelings are valid and manageable, while modeling healthy coping skills they can use independently over time.

Co-Regulation & Respectful Parenting Philosophy

We believe that children deserve the same respect, patience, and consideration as adults—even when their bodies are full of big feelings.

In practice, this looks like:

• Welcoming all feelings (“It’s okay to feel mad. I’m here with you.”)
• Holding clear, consistent limits on behavior (“I won’t let you hit. You can tell me you’re angry with your words.”)
• Staying close, grounded, and calm so children borrow our regulation
• Avoiding minimizing language, such as “You’re fine,” “It’s not a big deal,” or “Calm down”

This approach communicates to the child: “Your emotions do not overwhelm me. You are safe.”

When children feel seen and secure, their nervous systems settle and their ability to problem-solve increases naturally.

Collaborative Problem Solving: Working Together, Not Imposing Solutions

Once everyone is calm, we invite children to work together on finding a solution that respects both perspectives. This empowers children and reduces the need for adult-imposed rules.

We follow three simple steps:

1. Pause. Everyone takes a moment so bodies and minds are ready to listen.
2. Hear both sides.
   “What happened for you?”
   “How were you feeling?”
3. Work together on a solution.
   We gently guide the process but let children generate ideas whenever possible.

Solutions children create themselves are far more likely to “stick” and help them build empathy, flexibility, and problem-solving confidence.

What This Looks Like in the Classroom

Picture two children wanting the same shovel.

Instead of an adult stepping in with, “Take turns, you’re next,” our teachers support a short process:

1. Acknowledge feelings:
   “You both really want the shovel. That’s hard.”
2. Hold limits:
   “I won’t let you grab it from each other.”
3. Co-regulate:
   The teacher stays with any child who needs help calming.
4. Invite collaboration:
   “What’s a solution that works for both of you?”
   – Maybe one child uses the shovel while the other fills buckets
   – Maybe they set a timer
   – Maybe they dig together

Children learn they can solve problems respectfully—and that adults are there to help, not to control.

Why This Matters

Our goal is not obedience.
Our goal is emotional resilience, mutual respect, and lifelong social-emotional skills.

By consistently using Emotion Coaching, Co-Regulation, and Collaborative Problem Solving, we help children develop:

• Strong emotional literacy
• The ability to express needs without harmful behavior
• Empathy for others
• Confidence navigating social challenges
• Trust in themselves and in their community

These are the skills that help children become compassionate classmates, thoughtful family members, and capable problem solvers throughout their lives.

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Exploring Our Classroom Spaces: Where Learning Comes to Life

At La Playa Cooperative, we believe that children learn best when they can explore, create, and engage in meaningful play. Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to support every aspect of a child’s development—social, emotional, cognitive, and physical. Each space in our classroom has a purpose and offers opportunities for discovery, imagination, and growth.

Dramatic Play: Learning Through Imagination

Our dramatic play area is more than just “play.” Here, children step into real-life roles—parents, grandparents, siblings, or community helpers—and learn about responsibility, empathy, and cooperation. Matching cups to saucers or setting the table may look like simple play, but it’s actually early math in action! Communication, vocabulary, and fine motor skills all grow as children share ideas, use props, and act out stories. This space also provides a comforting, familiar transition from home to school, allowing children to explore their feelings and build confidence.

Block Area: Building Minds and Creativity

Blocks have been a cornerstone of early childhood classrooms for over 150 years, and for good reason! In our block area, children explore size, shape, number, and quantity while experimenting with gravity and simple machines. As they construct buildings, bridges, or imaginative creations, they practice problem-solving, collaboration, and creative thinking. Block play strengthens coordination, encourages teamwork, and fosters an understanding of the world around them.

Art Center: Express Yourself

The art center is a space for open-ended exploration, where children can express themselves freely with paint, clay, markers, and other materials. Here, the process matters more than the product. Children experiment with color, texture, and technique, gaining confidence in their creativity while developing fine motor skills and an understanding of how tools and materials work.

Book Area: Sparking a Love of Reading

Our cozy book nook invites children to fall in love with stories. Daily story time introduces new ideas, enhances listening and language skills, and nurtures imagination. Repeated readings of favorite books help children feel connected to the story, develop attention spans, and build early literacy skills.

Manipulatives: Hands-On Learning

From puzzles to matching and sorting games, our manipulative tables make learning concrete and fun. Children explore shapes, colors, counting, sequencing, and more while developing fine motor skills. This area is especially valuable for introducing mathematical concepts in ways that are engaging and hands-on.

Tactile Table: Creativity Through Touch

Our tactile table, filled with playdough, clay, and other sensory materials, supports both fine motor development and emotional well-being. Pounding, shaping, and molding materials help children strengthen their hands and fingers while providing a calming outlet for emotions and a chance for creative self-expression.

Sand and Water Play: Learning Through Exploration

Messy, noisy, and endlessly fascinating, our sand and water tables encourage children to experiment, observe, and problem-solve. Sifters, funnels, waterwheels, and shovels help develop coordination and practical skills, while cooperative play builds social skills and communication.

Outdoor Play: Moving, Exploring, and Growing

Outdoor play is an essential part of our day. Here, children move freely, ride bikes, dig, and explore. Gross motor activities build strength, coordination, and confidence. Outdoor play also supports social skills, teamwork, and language development, all while letting children have fun and release energy in a healthy way.

At La Playa Cooperative, every corner of our classroom is an opportunity for learning, growth, and discovery. By combining play, creativity, and exploration, we create an environment where children are empowered to be curious, confident, and capable learners.

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From firetrucks and fort-building to parent learning and leadership, this week reminded us just how vibrant and supportive our La Playa community truly is. Thank you to everyone—parents, staff, kids, and local heroes—who helped make it all happen.

—
The La Playa Cooperative Nursery School Team

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Nature & Change

Our classrooms and outdoor spaces have become vibrant hubs of exploration as children engage with the natural world and the changing season. Activities like collage making, leaf rubbings, and seed mosaics invite children to notice textures, colors, and patterns in the world around them. These hands-on projects help develop fine motor skills, spark creativity, and build a deeper appreciation for nature’s rhythms.

We’re also exploring seasonal changes through stories, observations, and conversations. The children have been mixing colors to see how change happens right before their eyes — combining red and yellow to make orange, just like the autumn leaves!

Math is naturally integrated into our play as well, with counting games and market play sparking number awareness, sorting, and problem-solving. Through imaginative shopping and selling, children are also learning about collaboration, turn-taking, and the joy of pretend play.

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Music continues to be a joyful thread in our curriculum, and this month’s Shake, Rattle & Roll theme brings it to life with sound and movement. We’ve been exploring shakers, maracas, and all sorts of instruments that encourage children to notice contrasts in loud and soft sounds, fast and slow tempos, and the fun of making music together.

Children are learning to listen, respond, and express themselves as they revisit favorite songs from September and experiment with new rhythms and movements.

Looking Ahead

As we continue through October, we’re excited to see the children’s confidence, curiosity, and connections grow stronger each day. Thank you to our wonderful families for your ongoing support and engagement in our cooperative community!

Warmly,
The La Playa Teaching Team

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Fall Events to Look Forward To

The fall season is full of hands-on learning and community fun! Here’s a peek at what’s coming up:

Walking Field Trip to visit a Master Gardener & her Chickens

Our children love connecting with nature—and with animals!

A visit from a Dentist
A fun, friendly way to talk about healthy smiles.

Fall Celebration
Music, crafts, and seasonal fun for the whole family.

Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser – November 15, 12–4 PM
Our annual event brings the community together for food, fun, and fundraising. Mark your calendar—you won’t want to miss it!

Special Visit from an Astronaut
That’s right—an astronaut (NASA retiree) will be visiting our school! It’s going to be an out-of-this-world experience for our curious learners.

Visit from Local Firefighters
Always a favorite! The kids love climbing aboard the fire truck and learning about fire safety.

Why La Playa?

At La Playa Cooperative Preschool, children learn through play, exploration, and collaboration. Our co-op model means parents are deeply involved in the classroom and the community, creating a rich, supportive environment for children to grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

We can’t wait to welcome new families and share the magic of La Playa with you.

Tour Our Preschool

If you’re considering enrolling your child, there’s no better way to experience our community than by visiting in person.

Tours are held every Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Click here to schedule your tour
Or email our director directly: director@laplayacooperative.com

We kindly ask that you attend without your child, as licensing and insurance only cover enrolled students. This also gives you a chance to focus on your questions and learn more about our philosophy.

Let’s make this school year the best one yet!

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