Please see the Classes & Registration ​section for the schedules open right now -- classes vary by enrollment period. 
  • General
  • Philosophy
  • A Typical Day
  • Our Spaces
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As part of a co-op program, parents are the students at Little Hands and attend classes with their children (six months to four years).​​

During class, parents divide their time between observation, discussion and supervision, while their babies, toddlers and young preschoolers play, learn and explore stations throughout the school. Children are free to move from one activity to another, indoor or outside, as their curiosity inspires them. The children meet as a group twice during the class, first for snack time and later for music and circle time.
Little Hands is committed to educating parents and encouraging them to get involved in their children’s education. Both are crucial to a child’s success. Parents are the students at Little Hands and attend classes with their children. Through observation, teacher-led group discussion, and classroom supervision, parents explore child development and gain confidence in their parenting role.
Play – what we call ‘floortime,’ which is getting on the floor and being imaginative with your children – that is what teaches your child to be creative. It teaches them to think."
​- Stanley Greenspan
At Little Hands, we believe that:
  • Children learn best through play and exploration. We believe that children should be free to touch, see and do, discover through sensory experiences, get messy, try new things, and show the adults in their world the magic they see in simple things.
  • We also believe that all parents not only deserve the support and friendship of a parenting community, but that they thrive when part of one.
  • We feel that each person -- parent and child -- is unique and learns in his/her own way and at his/her own pace and that understanding and respecting these differences is key to creating a safe, open and nurturing environment.
This is a typical daily schedule at Little Hands.  As each class and teacher is unique, there may be some variations. 
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(And, the young 3's class is a half-hour longer, so the schedule will differ somewhat.)

For class schedules, please see the Classes & Registration section.
Class:  
​A.M.  | Family
Activity
9:15  |  5:15
​​Arrival
  • Sign-in and get nametags.
  • Pick up observation form OR put on apron and go to station.
9:55  | 5:45
  • ​Let children know hand-washing time is near.
  • Prepare tables for snack time
  • Observation or Supervision parent help Food/Snack parent bring in snack.**
10:00  | 5:50
  • ​Hand-washing: bring all children from stations for hand-washing
  • Do not leave children unsupervised.
  • Make sure gates/doors are closed.
10:05  | 5:55
​Snack time
  • Supervising parents take break & listen to announcements
  • Observation parents supervise children
10:15  | 6:25
  • Supervising parents resume station supervision.
  • Observation parents take a break
10:25 | 6:25
​Discussion for Observation parents
10:55  | 6:55
  • Supervising parents put toys away at stations
  • Bring all children in for music.
  • Do not leave children unsupervised
11:00  | 7:00
Circle Time
11:15  | 7:15
Good-bye at gate
  • Pick up artwork, handouts, etc.
  • Clean-up: Parents clean and set up for next class
Our toys and weekly activities are specifically selected for their little hands and growing minds. Click below to see photos of our spaces and kids at play.
BACK SPACE
Our Two's Class, Three's Class and our mixed-age Evening Class are all held in the back space, which has been providing play opportunities to parents and kids since we started at this location in 1978 (with major upgrades along the way). ​​
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Features include:
  • Brand new climber with tower, bridge, and double slide​ (part of a huge exterior facelift in 2016)
  • Water wall, natural water features, and grassy hill
  • Art area
  • Large sandbox and mud kitchen
  • Loft
  • Wheel and tricycle area
  • Gravel play 
  • Music area
  • Manipulatives area
  • Large dramatic play area including indoor kitchen
  • Vehicle area, including train table
  • Reading corner
  • ... and much more!

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FRONT SPACE
In 2008, Little Hands expanded so that we could run classes in two spaces at the same time and the Front Space is for our younger classes. There is a grassy front yard with play equipment, and classroom space in the small house which creates a perfect cozy play environment.
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Features include:
  • Natural wood climber with slide
  • Grassy lawn
  • Sandbox
  • Outdoor play kitchen
  • Water wall
  • Dramatic play area including indoor kitchen
  • Manipulatives area
  • Ball pool
  • Musical instruments
  • Reading corner
  • Train table
  • ... and much more!



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Questions? Read the FAQs.
> Continue to: Why Little Hands