Dear Editor:

Our four-year-old has been attending Magic Years Cooperative Nursery School here in Manchester since September of last year. As “veterans” of the school we know that this is generally about the time when the parents handling p.r. duties –in this case, the two of us- type up a quick piece for the Cricket about the kids’ various activities to date: taking trips to Russell Orchards and the Wenham Museum, touring the fire station, getting a visit from a beekeeper, and more.

With this particular letter, though, we thought we might try to offer a different look at the Magic Years experience. As a cooperative, the school calls on each family to lend classroom support to the teachers, Rachel Shwartz and Ann Ranger* – usually about once a month, depending on enrollment. Often, friends in different child care situations will express surprise at the commitment a coop involves, correctly assuming that it must get difficult to manage at times. Still, we feel it’s very much a privilege to have such an intimate opportunity to watch our son learn, play, and grow in this environment. It’s like having a door opened to offer a sweeping view of his “big kid” life beyond our home (without, happily, having to feel like over-involved parents pushing that door open uninvited). We’ve also valued and enjoyed being able to get to know our friends’ and neighbors’ children so well. Interacting with them at the school has added a very unique element to the kinds of connections we might generally make with them through, say, playground time or playdates. This really has been an unexpected bonus.

There’s no question that being part of a coop like Magic Years takes work –but looking at the benefits to be had, it’s hardly a chore. For us, the school’s name really has fit the experience.