Our Early Childhood program is centered around developmentally appropriate activities that encourage the social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional development of each child. The philosophy behind our curriculum is that children learn best by doing and playing. We believe that true learning requires active thinking and experimenting to find out how things work and to learn first hand about the world in which we live. Our center based classrooms include a library, Montessori manipulatives, dramatic play, sensory, art, music, and blocks. These provide hands-on opportunities for children to learn through play.

One-Year-Old Class

Once children have learned to walk and are developmentally ready, they transition from the infant class to the one-year-old class where they are given the opportunity to participate in many new learning activities. This transition includes moving from a crib to a cot for nap time, learning to sit in a chair at a table to eat and participate in activities such as painting and play-doh, and learning to follow 1 to 3 step directions.

In this class, we focus on giving each student the love and attention they need during this critical growth period of their life. Each student is nurtured, and their individual needs are met.

The children in this class develop their creativity and sensory skills throughout the year with different activities such as painting and play dough. They learn the basis of rhythm through a daily music & movement time. They also spend a large portion of their day outdoors or in a large play area where they get to move around, explore their environment and develop their gross motor skills.

Two-Year-Old Class

In the two-year-old class, students learn mathematical concepts through exploration in the block center, develop their vocabulary and communication skills in the dramatic play center, strengthen their fine motor skills in the puzzle center and sensory center, and establish pre-reading skills in the literacy center. Children also learn through exploration in the science/sensory center and express their creativity in the art center.

Students have the opportunity to learn in both Hebrew and English in two circle times during their day. Circle Time includes songs, a story, and other developmentally appropriate activities designed to provide the foundation for reading.

During a daily Judaic time, students learn the Hebrew alphabet, sing Jewish songs, learn about Mitzvahs, and participate in festivities in preparation for Jewish holidays.

Sample Day
8:15-8:30             Arrival
8:30-8:45             Breakfast/diaper changes
8:45-9:00             Morning greeting circle
9:00-10:00           Outdoor/gross motor play
10:00-10:15        Snack/diaper changes  
10:15-11:15        Centers/Art and Sensory activities
11:15-11:30        Davening/Hebrew Music
11:30-12:00         Lunch/diaper check/prepare for nap
12:00-2:15           Nap
2:15-2:35             Snack
2:35-2:55             Diaper check/Free Play
3:00-3:30             Gross Motor/enrichment class (art, yoga, music)
3:30-4:00             Free Play/Diaper check
4:00-6:00             Extended Day