The Early Childhood Center at Temple Shaaray Tefila is committed to creating the finest early childhood experience for your child.  We feel that the Early Childhood Center at Temple Shaaray Tefila is unique among ECC in our area.  Our program affords the child the opportunity for identification with, participation in, and appreciation of their Jewish heritage.  In addition, it provides a warm, loving, positive atmosphere, which allows the greatest opportunity for creativity, self-awareness and self-discovery.

ECC children in front of the Tent of Hope they decorated for refugees in Darfur.

We invite you to look into our busy, happy, noisy, creative classrooms and see your child involved.  Piaget’s theory of “Play is the work of the young child” is the foundation on which learning is based.

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.

Exploring their 'green' project.

Our program recognizes that each child is unique, having his or her own individual personality, learning style and specific needs.  We strive to provide a program that is developmentally appropriate for both the age range of the group as well as the individual child.  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 stage of development and helping them feel successful without pressure.  The curriculum will offer many opportunities to meet the individual needs of the children within a clearly structured, challenging, non-competitive environment.

Summer fun time.

 

Our curriculum reflects our belief that young children learn best through active exploration and interaction with the world around them. Classroom schedules are designed to balance structure and free choice as well as active and quiet times.  They will have opportunities to select many of 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 will be able to 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.  Children will have an opportunity to learn about their rich Jewish heritage through music, stories, and holiday celebrations, as well as weekly Shabbat celebrations.

Marching in their Purim parade.

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.

For more information, please e-mail Beth Kiffel, ECC Director at the Temple, or call her at the TST Youth and Education Center, 666-3188.

To download a registration form please click here.