We encourage the children to share toys, take turns, resolve disputes verbally, and prevent the children from hurting or endangering themselves or each other. Each family is required to work 10 hours per week providing day care. Parents are absolutely required to cover their shifts. Arrangements can be made informally among parents to trade shifts when necessary, but parent shifts must always be covered. Meetings Parent meetings are held once a month, on a weekday evening, and usually last two to three hours.
Child care is provided during the meetings so that both parents can attend.
We make all major decisions at meetings. We also discuss each child in turn at meetings. All families are required to take on an extra-duty assignment, and these assignments are periodically rotated among the membership. Examples of the assignments are New Member Coordinator, Scheduler, Work Study Coordinator, Maintenance Coordinator, Supplier, Treasurer. A cooperative is a self-sustaining organism that needs continual attention and renewal.