Corner Coop

What we wanted for our kids is to let them be kids for as long as possible. We wanted to find a place where they could be able to play and be physically active, where they could be creative, supported by warm and caring adults, and where they could be simply happy. When we learnt about the Corner Co-op Nursery School we did not look any further. We love that kids are able to choose what they want to do at any particular time and teachers simply follow their leads. That way, whether it's train track building, creating an art project or playing games, kids stay focused on one thing they are really interested in. Several stations (like play dough table, painting station) and areas (like block room, reading corner, music or dress-up area), that are always ready for kids to use, allow this to happen. We also love that kids spend a lot of time outdoors. This is fairly easy to happen because of the Co-op's courtyard and the fact that Waldstein Park, together with its playground, sprinkles during warm weather months, and sledding slope during Winter time, is literally a step away. The latter is a huge advantage of the Corner Co-op. Kids don't need to line up and use a walking rope to get outside; most of them simply run :) What also distinguishes the Corner Co-op Nursery School from other childcare centers is the amount of additional events happening. Kids go apple picking, take part in JP Lantern Parade, they have maple sugaring field trip, visit fire station, and learn about Boston animals and their homes in Boston Nature Center. Additionally, there are puppet shows, PJ Parties, pinatas and potlucks. The great thing is that all: current, alumni and prospective families, together with siblings and friends, are always welcome to attend those events. This way, the Corner Co-op Nursery School, through 50 years since its opening, became a part of Brookline's community, and it is great to see how the Co-op values its alumni and how its alumni cherish their time in this unique place. What we didn't know when looking for a preschool, was that we would become a part of the Corner Co-op's family. Coming to Brookline from Europe to raise kids without our "village", we are extremely grateful for finding not only a place where our kids could thrive, but also a place where we as parents could find support and friends for years to come.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Corner Coop. One of the standout features for us has been its flexibility with scheduling. As our daughter has grown more comfortable, we've been able to easily add on days and enroll her in the lunch program. The best part of the Coop is the teachers. They are fully engaged with the kids, always there to play, help manage those big feelings, and tailor activities to each child's interests. We’ve seen no staff turnover in the year our daughter has attended. We appreciate the play-based approach, allowing kids to choose their own activities and follow their passions. The kids spend at least an hour at the playground every day, weather permitting. They also get to play in the splash pad when it's hot and sled in Waldstein Park when it snows. Being a parent cooperative, we love being involved in the school's operations and feeling like true partners in our daughter's education journey. Corner Coop has exceeded our expectations and we're grateful to be a part of such a nurturing and supportive community. Update: Our child attended Corner Co-op from age 2.9 until turning 5, and our positive experience only grew over time. The flexibility, thoughtful teachers, and warm community stayed consistent throughout. The Co-op played such an important role in helping our child grow into a confident, kind, and imaginative kid who is curious, a good friend to others, and ready for kindergarten with strong social skills, emotional awareness, and a love of learning. We’re so grateful for the nurturing foundation it provided, and we’re really looking forward to our younger child joining the Corner Co-op too.

I highly recommend the Corner Co-op for your children. The Co-op provides a safe environment for kids where they can learn different skills through games and be treated with respect and care. The teachers are outstanding. They take care of every kid and make sure that families are involved in the process. In fact, they follow an open-door policy where every parent can go and be with the kids throughout the session. Finally, I'd like to highlight the strong sense of community generated by the Corner Co-op. Through multiple events such as potlucks, puppet shows, and recurrent parent meetings, a network of support is generated across the Co-op's families. In summary, the Co-op has been the best experience we could ever give our kids!

Our kids love the Corner Co-op since the first day when they joined the nursery school. The school makes you feel like you’re part of a bigger family from the beginning. It fosters and supports our kids love of play, sing, build or just running around. The teachers initiate activities to support creative playing, social interactions between the group, or just to have fun. As a family that arrived internationally, as parents, we also felt part of the community from the beginning. Its environment allowed us to develop our first friendships coming from another country. We highly recommend the Corner Co-op Nursery School and are glad to be part of it!

We love Corner Co-Op. I was a bit skeptical initially of their play-based approach but my son really thrives here and has learned so much. The teachers are incredibly compassionate and connect well individually with each child. I also love the community feel of the school- I’ve gotten to know parents/caregivers of my son’s friends and that has been really fun and unique to the Co-Op. highly recommend!