Oceanside (6 weeks to 5 years)
15 Neil Court, Oceanside, NY 11572 | 516-766-4341
Merrick/Bellmore (2 to 5 years)
at Congregation Beth Ohr, 2655 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, NY 11566 | 516-379-9386
Long Beach (18 months to 5 years)
310 National Blvd, Long Beach, NY 11561 |516-431-2929
Friedberg JCC at Magnolia (infant and toddler care)
650 Magnolia Blvd, Long Beach, NY 11561 | 516-986-2106
Lynbrook (6 weeks to 5 years)
at Temple Am Echad
One Saperstein Plaza, Lynbrook, NY 11563 | 516-599-7950
The Friedberg Jewish Community Center is proud of our Early Childhood Centers’ high quality programming and excellent staff. Our programs, serving children birth to 5 years old and their families, are licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Each of our four Early Childhood Centers is designed to facilitate the growth of children physically, socially and cognitively. Our Judaic and secular holiday and enrichment programs add an extra dimension to your child’s preschool experience.
As leaders in the Early Childhood community, our year-round programs embrace developmentally appropriate practices and utilize differentiated teaching styles within our curriculum.
We understand that each child has an individual learning style as well as a personal timetable for development. In our child centered classrooms, individual interests are identified, and activities are planned that give each child an opportunity for exploration and self-direction. Our children acquire social competence and the skills they need to succeed as lifelong learners.
Welcome CATCH!
The JCC welcomes CATCH to its lineup in Early Childhood. CATCH is a national campaign, offering a coordinated approach to child health. The goal is to incorporate active learning into all thematic units. Activity cards provide warm up, movement and cool-down suggestions that are engaging, fun and meaningful. CATCH is cutting edge and a wonderful step towards bringing total wellness to our youngest members.
Preschool Fun Provides Solid Foundation for Excellence!
Our Early Childhood programs are based on well-researched theory and proven results regarding how children learn and develop. These include:
Enrichment programs are offered at all of our sites.
Infants (6 weeks–18 months)
Oceanside, Magnolia and Lynbrook Locations Only
By connecting with warm, caring adults at the start of life, children begin to develop the ability to connect with others throughout their lives. Here at the JCC, your baby will enjoy warm, human contact with caregivers who not only ensure the children’s safety and comfort, but also foster infants’ physical, sensory, social, emotional and intellectual development.
Your child’s learning evolves through relationships and responsive care through direct, hands-on experiences and developmentally appropriate activities with people, objects, events and ideas.
Infants and toddlers are encouraged to discover the world around them by exploring and playing. Developmental goals provide the framework for planning individualized experiences that support each child’s development. There are six primary goals that guide our interactions with infants and toddlers:
Toddlers (18 months-2 years)
As your infant grows into a toddler, development of language and future literacy skills are greatly enhanced through daily activities and thematic units. Social skills will develop through interaction with friends, learning to take turns, sharing, laughter, participation and above all having fun.
Our two-year olds have great fun in this beginning school experience. For many of them, this is also a first time separation. Our experienced staff will gently guide your child to a place of trust and security. Another important goal of our program is language development. Children are encouraged to express themselves through language as a means of communication. Your child will have varied opportunities to further develop, expand and strengthen fine and gross motor skills. Our two-year olds develop social skills by interacting with both peers and adults.
Our three-year olds are introduced to a broad academic curriculum in our language and literature rich classrooms through play and small group instruction. Early math concepts are presented throughout the day, providing your child with a foundation of readiness skills. Small and gross motor development, expansion of social skills, science, music, computers and art will also be part of your three year old’s experience.
When your child is four, it is time to embark on a yearlong learning adventure as they prepare for Kindergarten. Progressively challenging language and math experiences, as well as science, social studies, and computers, will round out your child’s Pre-Kindergarten experience. Phonemic awareness and letter recognition are emphasized. Children will also further develop their fine and gross motor skills as they refine social skills and develop a clearer sense of community and responsibility.
Early morning and late afternoon care are available for all children enrolled at an additional cost.
At our Early Childhood camps, we strive to incorporate our school year philosophy into a vital, active and most important – fun summer program for children!
Our camp programs are unique because Early Childhood is all we do. Our experienced early childhood specialists do not take “big camp” programs and water them down to accommodate young children. They take the camp experience and keep it age appropriate.
Utilizing the basics of our play-based literacy curriculum model, children have fun-filled, activity-packed days.
Creative expression is encouraged through our theme weeks. Our early childhood “extra- specialists” coordinate to bring these themes to life through literature, art, science, cooking, movement and other activities.
Outdoor play is an essential component to a full summer experience. Every day, our campers have the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a variety of ways. Science and nature are explored in our green areas, gross motor skills are strengthened on the playground. Outdoor sensory tables, bubbles and sprinklers lend themselves to discovery through water play.
“Extra Specialists” are part of our program as well. Soccer, Yoga, Basketball, Art and Dance are taught by experienced early childhood teachers, coaches and professionals. Campers also receive Red Cross Swim Instruction as well as an opportunity to play in our pool! Shabbat is celebrated every Friday as campers come together and honor traditions through art, music and food.
This summer, trust the specialists in Early Childhood Education and give your child an experience where they will blossom and grow!
The Friedberg JCC Early Childhood Summer Experience – it’s what we do!
