About The Children of the World Co-op

Overview

The Children of the World Co-op, Inc. is an international playgroup for children ages one to four with their parents or caregivers. It is housed in the Cathedral of the Incarnation at University Parkway and St. Paul Street, right in the backyard of The Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus. Operating since 1989, the Co-op serves the surrounding neighborhoods by offering hospitality and support to families new to Baltimore, many new to the United States as well. Membership is open to all. (back to top)

Sessions

The Co-op runs year round, Monday through Friday, from 9:30A.M. to 11:30A.M. We can accommodate 25 families each day. Our program gives stay at home parents a wonderful place for their young children to play, and we all know that the work of learning for young children occurs through their play. The Co-op affords isolated parents a place to meet other parents learning the ropes of parenting. This is especially valuable for our international families who have come to a new country, generally knowing no one and having the responsibility of caring for their young children at home without the support of family or friends. For these families we also offer English as a Second Language classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The classes are given during the morning playtime, right in the play space so that parents can bring their children to play while they learn. Our American families seek out this diverse playgroup as they recognize the benefit of multicultural play for their children. (back to top)

Activities

The play space is located in the Undercroft of the Cathedral, and it is large, welcoming and filled with toys and activities appealing to our young members. There are craft activities, a circle time with songs and finger plays, snack time and a small library of books supplied free of charge to the Co-op through our long-standing relationship with the Enoch Pratt Library’s Coblens Collection Program. We play outdoors daily on the Cathedral’s playground, weather permitting, or indoors where we provide riding toys and tricycles. There are also numerous events during the year that bring families together to socialize, including a pumpkin farm trip, potluck dinners and a Thanksgiving feast. We are annual participants in the Charles Village Parade and three-time award winners for our costume entries. In 2003, Baltimore Magazine voted the Co-op Baltimore’s Best Co-op Playgroup! (back to top)

Co-op Participation

In order to maintain the high quality of our program, Co-op members are required to participate in the running of the Co-op in various ways. When families join the Co-op, they take on obligations and responsibilities to support the Co-op through participation in its day-to-day operation, such as putting away the toys, preparing for and cleaning up after snack time, overseeing craft projects, etc. Fundraising is a necessary part of keeping the Co-op going, and all members are required to help plan and participate in fundraising activities. In recent years, these activities have included a Book Fair and International Dinner with a Raffle/Silent Auction. Members are also asked to volunteer their talents and skills. In the past, members have shared cultural traditions through songs, stories and art projects. Our toys and play space are kept clean and in good repair with the help of many hands on occasional Saturday mornings. In addition, a volunteer Board of Directors made up of Co-op members, complemented by an Advisory Board of community professionals, manages this 501(c)(3) nonprofit and supports the limited staff of a Program Director who also serves as the playgroup leader, a part time administrative assistant and our English as a Second Language instructor. This is the kind of participation that keeps the Co-op thriving and that is expected of all of our families, both new and long-time members. (back to top)

© 1989-2010 The Children of the World Co-op, Inc.