Frequently Asked Questions
 Where
is Children & Company located?
Children and Company is located at 5355 Phelps Luck Drive in the
Phelps Luck Community Center in Columbia, Maryland. Our telephone
number is 410-992-4644. Messages left on our telephone are checked
regularly. Our Mailing Address is P.O. Box 1364 Columbia, MD 21044
How does the application process work?
The membership process typically begins in the fall when applications
for the following school year become available. For more information,
please see the Membership page.
What is the "priority waiting list"?
Families who are interested in membership may choose to add their
names to the priority waiting list by paying a $20 non-refundable
fee. Families on the priority waiting list are the first to be offered
available spaces remaining in our classes once current students,
siblings, and eligible school alumni have registered. Once our classes
have reached full enrollment, prospective members can choose to
join our regular waiting list and will be notified if space becomes
available. There is no fee involved with the regular waiting list.
Can I stop by and visit the school before applying for membership?
We offer classroom tours and observations only by appointmnt when
there are openings in the school or places available on the waiting
list. Families interested in membership are encouraged to begin
exploring our school by attending one of the open house events scheduled
in December and February. Please see the Membership
page for more information.
Does my son/daughter need to be potty trained to attend?
Children do not need to be potty trained to attend. Diaper changes
or toileting assistance are handled only by the Teachers
How many children are in each class?
The 2-year-old class has a maximum of 12 students. The 3-year-old
class has a maximum of 16 students. The four-year-old class has
a maximum of 17 students. All classes are led by a team of 2 teachers
and the teachers have daily assistance from a co-op member.
What is a typical day at school like?
Each class begins with a free play period when children choose their
own activities, using the resources of our classroom including a
variety of toys, books, puzzles, manipulative play objects such
as playdough, art supplies, and educational games. Each day also
includes a circle time, teacher-planned crafts and activities, snack,
and outdoor time on the playground when weather permits.
Do you serve snacks? What are the policies for responding to
food allergies?
Snack is served in each class every school day. Families have a
rotating responsibility for bringing snack supplies on the days
they are scheduled to co-op. Children & Company has procedures
in place for protecting children with food allergies and other dietary
concerns. Each year, an approved snack list is developed based on
the needs of the students and the snacks brought to school must
conform to this list.
Which school calendar do you follow?
We follow the Howard County Public School Calendar with a few exceptions.
Our school year starts one week later than Howard County schools
and we add makeup days for inclement weather into our school calendar
in advance and use them as needed. Our school year ends after the
first week of June.
How will I learn about my child's progress in school?
Teachers distribute progress reports for each child twice per year.
After the progress reports are distributed, the teachers meet with
each family during regular school hours on special conference days.
 How
is the curriculum developed and who plans the daily activities?
Our dynamic and highly qualified teachers
develop the curriculum and plan classroom activities. Having essentially
accepted the school's philosophy by joining, the members give the
teachers the sole right and responsibility to run the classroom
on a day-to-day basis. We encourage active discussion of the school's
philosophy and activities and comments or suggestions can be brought
to the attention of the teachers, or the chair appointed for each
class.
What if my child has problems adjusting to separation from
me?
For children first coming to preschool, we try to gradually let
the child become familiar with the people and the room. Leaving
should proceed at a pace that the child, Teachers, and parent are
all comfortable with--this will be different for each child. Before
your child comes to school, familiarize him/her with where the school
is (drive by a few times on your way somewhere else), who s/he will
meet, who will take your child to school and back, how long s/he
will stay, and some of the things that are there (blocks, toys,
climbing equipment, sandbox, etc.).
Prior to the first day of school, each new parent and child in
the two-year-old class will attend for a short visit so the child
can become acquainted with the Teachers and the classroom. The two-year-old
class will then be divided in half, and each half will attend an
abbreviated session for their "first day" of class. The
following session will be the first time the children are all together.
At this class, children who are ready to be left may stay by themselves.
What are co-op and setup duties?
Parents in each class have a rotating responsibility for acting
as the co-op and setup person. On your scheduled day, you must arrive
early enough (at least 30 minutes before morning classes and 10
minutes before afternoon classes) to ensure that the classroom is
prepared, paints mixed, art projects set up, etc. The co-op person
stays for the entire class and is responsible for bringing the snack.
The co-op person will spend the majority of his/her time in the
classroom playing with the children and assisting the teachers with
class activities. The setup person assists the co-op person with
the preparation of the classroom and also returns early to the classroom
to help clean or pack up classroom furniture and supplies. The process
of packing up the classroom on Fridays and in the afternoon classes
can require that a parent stay up to 15 minutes beyond the end of
class.
 Can
older or younger siblings attend the school ocassionally? Can I
bring my older/younger child on days when I am the setup or co-op
person?
When you are the co-oping parent, you may not bring other children
to the classroom unless they are younger than 6 months of age. We
have found that this is in the best interest of all parties. As
the co-oping parent you will be freer to address the needs of the
classroom if you do not have to attend to your other child(ren).
We encourage you to coordinate babysitting with other members. When
you are the setup parent, you may bring other children, but you
must be able to perform the duties of setting up and packing up
the classroom.
Do the children go on fieldtrips? Are there special enrichment
activities?
Yes, the 3- and 4-year-old classes participate in monthly field
trips and enrichment activities. More information is available on
the Field Trips page.
What kind of job will I be assigned?
We have a variety of co-op jobs and
try to match jobs to our members' skills and preferences. You can
view the list of co-op jobs and details about job requirements.
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