About Our School 

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy at Garfield Cooperative Preschool is to encourage the child's growth and self-esteem through preschool activities and direct parent involvement. We foster all aspects of the child's development, including cognitive, social, emotional and physical development with full sensitivity to each child's interests and needs. We work toward achieving these goals through discovery, exploration, and experimentation as well as manipulation of materials, decision-making, small group activities, and large group interaction. Small motor activities, abstract materials and an appropriate balance between child-initiated and adult-directed activities are used to help prepare the children to become successful learners in all aspects of their life. The total environment, including physical setting, teacher, equipment, curriculum and time structure, is carefully designed to communicate a feeling of welcome, acceptance, safety and security to your children.

What is a Cooperative Preschool?

Cooperative preschool programs were developed over 50 years ago and have continued to grow. In a cooperative preschool, parents play a major role in their child’s education. Co-op parents actively participate in their child’s early development by assisting the teacher in the classroom and performing the organizational and administrative tasks of the preschool.

Our Facilities

Our preschool offers a large daylight classroom with a variety of materials, including a children's library, blocks, puzzles, art materials, dress up area, play kitchen, doll houses, sand table and train table. We are located inside the former Marshall Elementary School in Livonia. Our unique location allows our children to gain experience in an elementary school setting. Garfield Co-op is state licensed and abides by all OSHA regulations.

Garfield Cooperative Preschool parents work together with the teachers to:

• Encourage your child's intellectual growth.
• Develop his/her positive self-esteem through self directed and/or teacher directed activities and parent participation.
• Foster all aspects of your child - including cognitive, social, emotional and physical development with sensitivity to your child's individual interests and needs.
• We work toward achieving these goals through discovery, exploration, and experimentation as well as manipulation of materials, decision-making, small group activities, and large group interaction.

Benefits For Children

• Small class-size, ratio of one adult to four children
• Creative, experienced teacher
• Art, music, and science programs
• Large muscle activities
• Listening and language development
• Unique and educational field trips
• Social interaction with peers and adults
• Kindergarten readiness

Benefits For Parents

• Direct observation and participation with your child in his/her first learning experience.
• Shared experiences with your child.
• A network of support with the teachers and other co-op parents.