Play. explore. learn.
A Community Learning Through Play
Our warm, inclusive environment supports your child’s growth from day one, fostering their unique qualities and setting the stage for a bright future.
Empowering Young Minds at Watchung Co-Op Preschool
Welcome to Watchung Cooperative Preschool, a nonprofit community learning through play, connecting parents, teachers and children since 1967. Our hands-on, play-based educational programs provide a nurturing environment for children two-and-a-half to five years old. Our philosophy emphasizes the social and emotional well-being of our students and fosters their love of learning while nurturing each child’s individual learning style.
The beginning of preschool marks a milestone in both the parents and child’s life. The Co-op affords children the opportunity to venture out of the home into a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.
Director of School & Lead Teacher of DPK
Our Classes
Creative Play
Guided by an experienced early childhood teacher, children aged 2.5 to 3 have the opportunity to play with a variety of age-appropriate materials, participate in a peer group, discover new activities, test new ideas, and practice new concepts such as social interaction and using language to communicate with peers.
Discovery Pre-K
Discovery Pre-K is a mixed-age class, offering a full, five-day program for children ages 3 to 5 years old. Younger children learn from their older peers and aspire to master the skills demonstrated by the older children. Older children get opportunities to lead and teach their younger counterparts while simultaneously reinforcing their own abilities.
Why Choose Us
All-Season Outdoor Play
Nature's playground invites children to explore and connect with the world around them.
Play-based Learning
Our play-based curriculum sparks creativity and problem-solving, empowering young minds to thrive.
Family Inolvement
Parents actively participate in their child's education, fostering a stronger connection between home and school.
Weekly Enrichment
Music Together, MaestroTales, and Yoga add a touch of magic to everyday learning.
Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.
-Diane Ackerman
Parent Testimonials
Watchung Co-op was a magical first school experience for my son. The teachers are gentle, kind, and imaginative. My son is now in first grade and still talks about how much fun he had at the Co-op. … As a food allergy parent, the school was beyond accommodating and made me feel safe sending my son to school at a young age.
My kids still talk about school and how much they enjoyed it. It was such a blessing to be involved with my kids' first school experience and for them to have such amazing and patient teachers.
Participating in family jobs, along with volunteering in the classroom, means shaping the school and securing its future. It allows us to forge even stronger bonds within the school community and, maybe most importantly, to show our children the commitment we have to them and each other.
The teachers are loving and fun, but also educators that can tease out issues that might show themselves later on. I’m so grateful to the co-op for the solid foundation of love, fun, and education they gave us all.