Early Childhood Center
18 Months to 5 Years
The Early Childhood Center of the Hebrew Academy of Morris County is a developmentally-based program that enriches the lives of children ranging in age from 18 months through pre-kindergarten. Our staff seeks to provide a variety of interactive experiences through which the young child may grow emotionally, socially, cognitively, physically and spiritually.
Ima Ve Ani: The ECC begins with the Ima ve Ani program (Mommy and Me) for 18-month-olds and an adult. The school experience is introduced through activities which are developed to reach our youngest learners, who begin to attach to their facilitator and quickly become an integral part of our ECC family.
Toddlers: Parents may choose from a variety of program options for their two-year-olds, ranging from two mornings to five full days a week. Through play, the toddlers become a class in their first experience away from home. The toddlers’ days are filled with music, art activities, puppetry, puzzles, games, etc., and theme-based instruction helps to enhance the language and social skills of our twos. Our 2s join our 3s and JKs for our Kabbalat Shabbat each week and use our beautiful playground and Gross Motor Room as well.
Three-Year- Olds: Our 3s may choose programs ranging from three mornings to five full days a week. The goals of our this program are to foster a growing sense of independence and to facilitate activities which will enhance language skills, play skills, and social skills. Children will learn to work together to achieve a task while they learn. They explore and investigate, create and discover. Each week, the children enjoy instruction from our physical education and music teachers and visits to our library to hear a story and choose a book to take home.
Junior Kindergarten: Our 4s enjoy special programming in our Junior Kindergarten. Designed to bridge the gap between our preschool and our kindergarten, the JK curriculum is enhanced by hands-on science themes led by our elementary school science professional, expanded Hebrew language experiences, and an integration of the JK classes with each other as well as with our kindergarten. In Junior Kindergarten, the children, as well as the curriculum, are integrated to make the learning process a natural result of play experiences, fostering a strong sense of self esteem and an excitement for taking the risks necessary to learn. Children may choose from half- or full-day programming. Click here for an outline of the junior kindergarten curriculum.
