Early Childhood Classes

Home | About | Classes | Locations | Camp | Multimedia | Sign Up | bjeecc.org | Contact

Parent/Toddler Curriculum

Our parent/toddler program is designed to:

• Engage the child in a variety of large muscle physical activities: jumping, climbing, marching, and dancing.
• Engage the child in play with small objects for the development of small motor control as well as for perceptual and cognitive growth.
• Integrate Judaic values and experiences throughout the program.

These classes offer the curious and eager toddler an opportunity to explore a multitude of media in a classroom specifically designed and equipped for this age group. Each week, activities focus on a new concept or theme. A beginning circle time with songs, finger play, and musical activities will set the pace for the class session before the children individually experience the play media. The children, with the encouragement of their parents/caregivers, will have the opportunity to develop problem solving skills and building techniques with different sized building blocks and other appropriate manipulatives. Engaging in dramatic play in our creative home corner, the children can express themselves in a comfortable social atmosphere. Toddlers will also explore various art media each week. Class sessions end together, once again at the rug, with an upbeat rhythm and physical movement activity.

Parent /Toddler Classes

FIRST STEPS (15 months) The FIRST STEPS program is an active program for children who will be 15 months old by September 1st. It is a once a week class involving the toddler and parent/caregiver in a Judaic environment.

NEW STEPS (18 months) The NEW STEPS program is for children who will be 18 months old by September 1st. This one day a week class is designed for the toddler and parent/caregiver to discover their world together in a Judaic environment.

Preschool Curriculum

We carefully plan our programs to reflect the changing developmental stages of children in each age group. We realize that a child’s needs expand and progress as they mature, and we make certain that these needs are met.
Our programs are designed to:<

• Provide sound developmentally appropriate methods for the all important separation process.
• Promote each child’s optimum emotional, social, and cognitive growth.
• Provide readiness building skills for future learning.
• Integrate Judaic values and experiences throughout the program.

Preschool Classes

MY OWN STEPS (2 Year Olds) offers two year olds a gradual movement into the world of independence within the preschool setting. With the emotional support of parents/caregivers, the two year olds are encouraged to explore this new environment and learn about group living. The children’s increasing comfort level will help prepare them for a healthy, successful separation during the first semester. The appropriate steps in social development will be supported, while all of the Jewish holidays will be celebrated during the course of the year using songs, stories, art activities, rhythm and movement.

MORE STEPS (2 ½ Year Olds) emphasizes social development and an introduction to all of the Jewish holiday celebrations. Separation is carefully planned so that it can be implemented in an optimum manner for the individual child. Circle times expose the young child to songs, felt-board stories, rhythm, and movement as part of a group.

KADIMA (3 Year Olds) is an in-depth, engaging, well-balanced program, which blends social and cognitive, creative and structured, and individual and group activities. These are all integrated with the full celebration of Shabbat and the Jewish holidays. Social development is highlighted, with an emphasis on problem solving as a means to social competency. Family highlights include an evening family Chanukah party, a pretend trip to Israel, and a family Shabbat dinner celebrated with a complete kit of Shabbat ritual objects made by each child.

BONIM (4 Year Olds) Throughout their daily BONIM program, the four/five year old children delve deeper into the exploration of themselves, their classroom community, and the larger Jewish community of which they are a part. There is an emphasis on more extensive group projects involving the children in meaningful cognitive and social learning. The Jewish social values of tzedakah and mitzvot are introduced and integrated into early literacy and pre-math programs. Family highlights include a Hebrew Name Reaffirmation program, an evening family Tu B’shvat Seudah and a Passover mini-seder developed just for this age child.