Most of us know Glen Echo Park as the place to see children’s plays and puppet shows, go for a spin on the carousel, and enjoy arts, cultural, and nature programs. But dd you know the park also plays host to a collaborative early childhood learning program?
Playgroup in the Park is a two-year program for children ages six months to two and a half years old. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach of child driven exploration, the program is propelled by the belief that children come to Playgroup with their own ideas, while still needing support from adults, peers, and their environment to safely explore those hypotheses. Parents take an active role in their child’s experience in Playgroup, forming a partnership of learning while being supported by the faculty in the classroom. Faculty have created a high quality environment for this learning to take place. Items in the classroom, children’s art studio, tea room and outdoor classroom are chosen with intention and purpose.
This summer, Playgroup in the Park at Glen Echo Park will be offering a 10-week summer session for children who are six months to two and a half years old with their parents from June 8 – August 14. Participants can register for all 10 weeks or choose a five-week session that fits with their summer plans (June 8 – July 10 or July 13 – August 14). Summer classes meet Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, plus Friday outings from 9:30-11:30am that take place at a different location around the Washington-Metro area each week.
Summer Playgroup in the Park activities will include creative fun in the Candy Corner art studio; outdoor classroom with sensory activities; outdoor water play, spray painting, bubbles, sand, lots of mud; the Friday outings tailored for the season; and more! The next Parent Information Session is Saturday, May 16 at 3pm. If you’d like to attend, RSVP to Sarah at admissions@pgip.org.
And if your child doesn’t fall into the age group, there are other PGiP programs for both older children and infants:
*Little Echoes is a Reggio-inspired drop-off program with a preschool approach in a beautiful national park setting for children three to five years old. PGiP’s amazing faculty collaborates with the children, faculty, expert advisors, and parents to create individualized learning plans that take each child from where they are, at their own pace. The program weaves together art, music, socialization, early literacy, math, and more to support each child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and motor development while forming a community of learners and close friends. There are two and four half-day options, plus Friday Outings.
*PGiP is also currently forming a group for parents with new infants. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet other new parents and play with your baby in our inspiring classroom.
*Saturday Art Explorers Family Studio, for ages 10 and under, is a weekly drop-in program. Just pop in to do some art in Glen Echo Park’s historic Candy Corner building. Art activities change each Saturday. Fee is $10/child.
For more information about all of the programs, visit the Playgroup in the Park website at www.pgip.org.
GIVEAWAY: I have 10 tickets for Saturday Art Explorers up for grabs. For a chance to win one of them, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite spring activity with your child(ren). To be eligible to win, you must also like KidFriendly DC on Facebook. The giveaway will run through this weekend, then the winners will be drawn at random and notified shortly thereafter. Good luck!
