Not many preschool programs can boast a 100% recommendation rate, but then again JCYS is not your average preschool provider. Jewish Council for Youth Services’ Kinder Concepts program in Highland Park, Illinois yielded an astounding 100% approval rating from parents last year. But that’s not the only program making parents swoon all over Chicagoland. JCYS has early childhood education programs for children as little as six weeks old until they head off to Kindergarten at five years old. And after that, the programs continue with Kindergarten Enrichment, Before & After School Clubs for elementary students, and summer day camps for all age ranges – including an overnight camp for teens.
With Family Centers in Buffalo Grove, Highland Park and Chicago, JCYS preschool programs lay a foundation for intellectual, social, emotional and physical development through a play-based curriculum and philosophy. In each classroom, children freely choose from different learning centers throughout the day, helping to build confidence and develop their social and problem-solving skills. These centers include development in Language Arts, Science, Dramatic Play, Music, and Small Motor activities.
With this foundation of traditional preschool, families are then able to add on additional programs based on children’s interests and needs. Kinder Concepts is a program specifically for 4-year-olds gearing up for Kindergarten. Focusing on a different subject every day from handwriting to phonics, math to music, parents can choose the day and topic that best works for their needs. Explore N’ More showcases these same options but is developed specifically for 3-year-olds in mind.
The flexibility of JCYS programs continue with Kindergarten Enrichment – a program for children in a half-day Kindergarten program. Through this emergent learning program, students have a voice in the direction of their lesson plans by voting through a democratic show of hands on topics they will study throughout the week. Through this practice, students develop teambuilding and leadership skills that you won’t find in a typical elementary school classroom.
That same concept of free choice extends into the summer program options at JCYS, where campers have nine summer day camps and two overnight camps to choose from based on their specific interests and needs, age-range and location. Urban adventures abound with Big City Day Camp in Chicago while the wilds of nature can be found at Camp Henry Horner in Ingleside. Sports-centric NSDC Sports Camp in Highland Park is perfect for the athlete in the family, or the traditional camp activities of Horner Grove Day Camp may be better suited for the child who wants a little bit of everything. JCYS also offers Camp STAR, a summer treatment program and summer camp for children with ADHD; and Camp Red Leaf is an overnight camping program for individuals ages 9 and upward with developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral needs. There truly is something for everyone at JCYS.
With all of these options and more, spaces do fill up fast. Early bird and multi-sibling discounts are available until January 16, 2015 at jcys.org/register. Use promo code Oaklee’s for discounts exclusive to our readership!
