Until now, there's been an admissions waiting list nearly every year that Our Children's Place, Burbank's only parent-co-operative preschool, has been open.

That changed this year when the three-hour-a-day school found itself with some openings.

"I had eight parents give birth this year, though, so we're full up for 2010,"said the school's teacher-director Shaya Akobian, laughing.

The school, founded 11 years ago by four mothers who wanted a good way to prepare their tots for kindergarten, serves children as young as 2 years old to nine months, up to the age of 5.

Parents participate directly, The parent must work as a teacher's assistant the same number of days per month as the child is enrolled per week. For example, if the child attends two days a week, the parent must work at the school two days a month.

"Ours is a play-based learning program," said Akobian. "We allow children to learn through hands-on experience, which gives them the confidence and self-esteem that are so important for them to succeed when they move on to kindergarten."

An allergen-free facility, Our Children's Place is at 3715 W. Pacific Ave. in Burbank. F

or information, call (818) 502-3009 or visit www.ourchildrensplace.org.