At Li’l Cottonwood Playgroup in Rossmoor, preschoolers and their families are making friends that last a lifetime. The parent co-op playgroup helps to prepare 3 and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through sensory, auditory and visual activities.
At Li’l Cottonwood Playgroup in Rossmoor, preschoolers and their families are making friends that last a lifetime. The parent co-op playgroup helps to prepare 3 and 4-year-olds for kindergarten through sensory, auditory and visual activities.
“The kids love a variety of activities that they are introduced to here,” said Co-Op President Angela Bantle. “They learn through play.”
Alumni Alison Maitlen, whose mother was co-op president when she attended with her siblings, is a testament to lifelong friendships coming out of the playgroup. She has remained friends with a former playmate all the way through preschool to college where they both attended UCLA together. “The friendships made here last through high school and beyond,” said Maitlen, whose youngest child now attends. “It’s also a unique opportunity for parents to be a part of their child’s first educational experience.”
“We’ve had several alumni return here with their own children,” added Bantle. “This playgroup promotes family.” Li’l Cottonwood Playgroup has been in the community since 1959.
The playgroup is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for 3 to 4-year-olds in their Junior Class as well as Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the same time for 4 to 5-year-olds in their Senior Class. The playgroup has open enrollment going on now, and children must be 3-years-old by September of each year. They follow Los Alamitos Unified School District curriculum guidelines, and have one teacher, Vicki Donahue, to a two parent volunteer ratio a day.
Li’l Cottonwood Playgroup hopes to raise $17,500 at their Annual Auction and Chili Cook-off on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m., at the North Seal Beach Community Center, 3333 St. Cloud Drive, Seal Beach, 90740. There will be live and silent auctions, and an opportunity drawing. Last year, they raised $13,000.
This year, auction items include an African safari with full room, board and activities for 6 days/nights (airfare not included), a weekend at Westin Hotel in Pasadena, a dinner and tour on a fire truck in Los Angeles, free pizza for a year, a bowling party, an ice cream parlor trip with the playgroup teacher, and more.
Ticket price for the Annual Auction and Chili Cook-off is $15. Attendees can RSVP by calling 562-430-7761, leaving your name, phone number and number of people who will be attending.