Presbyterian Parent Cooperative Preschool

TBT….more pics from messy/water day 2026!

Ever since the bikes returned from the “repair man” the children have found endless joy in riding bikes both alone and together. Little do they know they are developing muscles needed for writing and more!

Play is a priority at the PPCP!

A few pics from the last couple weeks of school showing creative exploration @ the PPCP in honor of National Creativity Day!

Exactly why we love integrating music, rhymes, and song throughout our day at the PPCP!

Before your preschooler ever picks up a book, their brain is already building the foundation for reading through something much more fun than flashcards. When kids clap, sing, and move to a beat, they're training the exact same brain circuits that will later help them decode letters and words. Research shows that children who can keep a steady beat often become stronger readers, not because they're naturally smarter, but because rhythm teaches the brain timing, focus, and how to process speech patterns.

Think of lullabies and nursery rhymes as secret reading prep. Every time your child chants along to a song, they're learning about syllables, pauses, and tone - the building blocks that make reading possible. Music and language share brain circuits, so when kids march to a drumbeat or clap during a rhyme, they're actually training their brains to hear and separate the sounds inside words. This isn't just play time, it's brain-building time that strengthens focus, memory, and attention skills they'll need for classroom learning.

The best part? You can swap those quiet-time worksheets for dance parties and singing games. Studies reveal that rhythm-based activities can boost reading scores more effectively than some phonics-drill-only programs. So turn up the music, grab some wooden spoons for drumsticks, and start marching around the living room. You're not avoiding real learning - you're giving your child the most research-backed reading foundation possible."

Some interesting research!

Your child is young for their grade. You wonder if waiting a year would help. Stanford researchers wondered the same thing.

Their answer was clear.

A large scale study using national data found that delaying kindergarten entry by just one year dramatically reduced inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. The effect size was 73%. That is not a small improvement. That is transformative.

Here is what the researchers found. Older kindergarteners are developmentally more ready to sit still, follow multi step directions, and regulate impulse control. They are not better children. Their brains are just further along the natural timeline.

The study compared children who started at age five versus age six. The six year olds consistently showed better behavioral regulation. The gap persisted through elementary school. Delaying kindergarten did not cause academic harm. It gave children a foundation of self control that accelerated everything else.

Here is the hard part. Not every family can wait. Childcare costs. Work schedules. Pressure from relatives. The research does not shame parents who start on time. It simply offers data for those who have the choice.

If you have a summer birthday or a child who seems emotionally young, consider the gift of one more year at home or in play based preschool. You are not holding them back. You are giving their brain time to catch up to the demands of a classroom.

Patience is not permissiveness. Sometimes it is the most strategic intervention available.

A fun event to kick-off a summer full of good books!

Start your summer with a truckload of fun for the whole family! This year's Summer Reading theme is Unearth a Story, and the fun starts with our Kick-Off event featuring the biggest and coolest vehicles in town!

Date: May 29
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: San Marcos Public Library

Rev up your morning with:
• Big vehicles of all shapes and sizes
• Hands‑on exploration of trucks from City of San Marcos Public Works, Fire Department, Police Department, San Marcos Electric Utility & more
• A morning of outdoor excitement for kids and families
• Pick up reading logs
• Enjoy crafts!

PLUS — don’t forget to grab your Summer Reading Log! Track your reading all summer long for the chance to win fantastic prizes.
Adventure starts at your library… with Big Rigs!

For more information, visit our event calendar at https://sanmarcostx.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=305724