Early Childhood Center
The Early Childhood Center at Temple Shaaray Tefila is committed to creating the finest early childhood experience for your child while giving them an introduction to Jewish life. We provide a warm, loving and positive atmosphere, which fosters an environment for creativity, self-awareness and self-discovery.
We invite you to look into our busy, happy, noisy, creative classrooms and see your child involved. For more information, please e-mail ECC Director Beth Kiffel or call her at (914) 666-3188.
A Jewish Approach to Early Education
Our philosophy is to provide a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment that will promote the social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth of the young child. At the same time, we provide the opportunity for identification with, participation in, and appreciation of their Jewish heritage.
Recognizing that children grow in predictable stages, we treat each child as an individual, working from the level each child has attained and moving forward one step at a time. We teach a love of learning by allowing children to experience their own stages of development and helping them feel successful without pressure. Our curriculum offers opportunities to meet the individual needs of each child within a clearly structured, challenging, non-competitive environment.
Curriculum
The ECC curriculum reflects our belief that young children learn best through active exploration and interaction with the world around them. Classroom schedules balance structure and free choice as well as active and quiet times. Children have opportunities to select their own activities from a variety of learning areas, such as blocks, dramatic play, manipulative materials, books, games, and puzzles. Art, science, and math are integrated through working with paint, clay, sand, water and music. The children explore their outdoor environment and seasonal changes through nature walks on our beautiful grounds. Language skills are promoted by listening to stories and poems, communicating with others throughout the day, and participating in dramatic play. Social skills such as cooperating, helping, negotiating and sharing are encouraged throughout all aspects of the program.
Based on the theory that children learn through play, classroom routines encourage active involvement, meaningful experimentation and reinforcement through repetition. Schedules are designed which balance structure and free choice, as well as active and quiet games.
Meanwhile, children have an opportunity to learn about their Jewish heritage through music, stories, and holiday celebrations, as well as weekly Shabbat celebrations. Our rabbis and other members of the Temple staff are actively involved in the ECC, providing a sound foundation for the religious school experience.
ECC Parenting Center
The Early Childhood Center engages young children in a fun and stimulating environment. But what about their parents? At Temple Shaaray Tefila, we believe learning is a lifelong journey. That’s why we created the Parenting Center, which gives parents of young children a place to share their joys and challenges, and make new friends in an environment that is welcoming for family members of all ages.
Parent Center programs include:
PARKBENCH (A MOMMY AND ME CLASS): walkers-22 months
Join us for an enjoyable weekly group experience for you and your toddler. A licensed social worker will guide the parents through meaningful discussion, while a teacher will engage the children through art, music, snack, story and circle time.
MUSIC TOGETHER: Birth-5 years
Interested in nurturing the musical growth of your child? Experience Music Together and find out how important—and how much fun—your role can be! Each class includes songs, rhythmic rhymes, movement and instrument play. To register, please contact Suzanne Bedford Lawson, director at 845-628-0898 or www.bedfordartsmusic.com.
THE PARENT CHAT: A Parenting Discussion Group Because Kids Don’t Come With Instructions
Join early childhood expert, author and Today show contributor Aleta Koman, M. Ed for a monthly discussion group. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to learn positive parenting skills to ease stress and increase the joy. Discussion topics will include discipline, potty training, sibling rivalry and the importance of play.
Extended Day Program
Pre-school age children are full of curiosity, wonder, and energy. Our extended day program provides opportunities for them to explore many enrichment activities such as puppetry, literacy, yoga, soccer, and music. Before starting these activities, children enjoy supervised social interaction in our “lunch bunch” program. ECC extended day activities are available for children aged 2, 3, and 4.
