Early Childhood Programs

Program Goals

The goals of Larchmont Temple Nursery School are to provide a developmentally appropriate, hands-on environment for every child. The children are afforded opportunities to explore, experiment and create through play and educationally and developmentally appropriate activities.

The teachers’ goals are to encourage socialization, independence, self- confidence, and individual and group success in a nurturing environment.

Program Description

Children learn best through play, and our indoor and outdoor times encourage this form of education. Through play, children can re-enact experiences, role play, express ideas, develop vocabulary, process information, learn how to socialize with adults and their peers, and widen their view of their community and the world surrounding them.

As part of our program we include exploration of the world in which we live. Some of our avenues of discovery include: science, math, language development, literature, art, music, cooking and dramatic play. Topics of interest and social interactions become platforms for lessons and discussion. There are also times when children are encouraged to work/play independently, helping to build self-help skills, and gain confidence and independence.

Interwoven into our program is a basic introduction to Judaism. As part of the Jewish experience children observe Shabbat and celebrate Jewish holidays. They visit the sanctuary, meet with the clergy, and learn prayers and songs to share with their families. Additionally, the entire Nursery School participates in an annual Mitvah Project, a program that is developed by the children, in conjunction with their teachers, to raise money for children and families in need. This helps expose children to Tikkun Olam, healing of the world, as an integral part of their first learning experiences.

We believe that child development happens best in a supportive, safe and nurturing environment. We provide that for every child.

Toddler Time

(Children who turn one by September 15th)

Toddler Time is designed for children and their parents or caregivers to participate in a play program together. The children have the experience of playing with each other in a school atmosphere. There is a specific routine to the morning, which includes free play, snack, story and music time. Our goal is to provide a positive first school experience at Larchmont Temple Nursery School.

Younger Two's
(Children who turn two between September 1st & December 31st)

Two’s
(Children who turn two by August 31st)

The goals of the two’s programs are to provide an opportunity for peer socialization in a group setting. The children learn to interact with each other in a supportive and nurturing environment. Both programs lay a foundation for a smooth transition into a five-day a week three’s program the following year. These programs provide a happy learning environment that fosters confidence, independence and exploration.

For many two-year-olds, this is their first time in a classroom with their peers. They learn to connect with others through play and example (modeling). We encourage the children to develop language and communication skills needed for them to feel confident and comfortable. The relationships that they build with their teachers and peers aid with the process of separating from their parent or caregiver, give the children newfound independence and help to expand the childrens’ social circles.

The two’s program provides many varied and enjoyable experiences. During story time books are selected that have themes that are familiar to the children. By looking at visual images and listening to the words, their scope of knowledge broadens. Creative, process oriented projects are introduced on a regular basis. Specialists, who are educators, visit the classroom on a regular basis. A music teacher comes on a weekly basis and a Nature Specialist comes once monthly.

Three's and Four's

(Children who turn Three by December 31st & Four by December 31st)

The goals of the three and four year old programs are to allow children to learn through experience and interaction. We encourage children to ask questions, experiment with new materials, hypothesize and solve problems, and learn social skills. We help support them as they gain confidence and abilities needed to ultimately transition smoothly into a kindergarten setting.

With the guidance of skilled teachers, the children are exposed to projects and activities that help to pique curiosity about the community and world around them and maintain their enthusiasm for learning.

Each day contains free play, structured activities and gross motor play.

Children are able to participate in food preparation, art projects, experimental sensory material, block building, dress-up and imaginative play, writing centers, reading, puzzles and manipulatives. Exposure to literature, science and mathematical concepts are incorporated into the curriculum on a regular basis. A variety of books are read to the children and through this, language and ideas are generated, resulting in rich discussions. Experiments and mathematics provide platforms for the children to observe found objects, hypothesize, predict, sort and count.

As with the Two’s programs, Specialists visit the 3’s and 4’s classrooms on a regular basis. Music is weekly and Nature is monthly.

The children spend time on the playground daily. Playground equipment encourages young children to challenge themselves, build strength and gain coordination while climbing, sliding and balancing. Our play area is spacious, open and safe.

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Cradle Roll And Tot Shabbat

Cradle Role and Tot Shabbat are Temple programs that welcome Nursery School, Kindergarten, First Graders and their parents to join in prayer, song, story, special birthday blessings, Shabbat snacks and shared family experi-ences, as well as discover the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of Jewish family living and Shabbat. “It takes a congregation to raise a child.” Cradle Roll meets three times throughout the year. Tot Shabbat will take place the third Saturday of every month from 9:00 AM—10:00 AM.

Cradle Roll was created to enable young families to become involved with the Larchmont Temple Nursery School community via a series of “kid-friendly” programs centered around select Jewish holidays.

Each Cradle Roll begins with an interactive thirty-minute “Family Shabbat” service led by Rabbi Mara Nathan, which includes prayer, song, story telling and special birthday blessings. Rabbi Nathan incorporates the featured holiday into this service and shares with us the story of the holiday and special traditions and rituals that make the holiday meaningful and relevant to families today.

Following the service, the fun moves downstairs to classrooms for holiday related art projects and food. Depending upon the nature of the holiday, special activities may also be included. For example, for Sukkot families will help to decorate the Larchmont Temple Sukkah and for Purim, children will be encouraged to dress up and march in a parade. The ultimate goal of these programs is to enrich and educate families and encourage a sense of Jewish community in a warm and welcoming environment

NURSERY SCHOOL -3RD** GRADE FAMILIES ARE WELCOME
Join Rabbi Nathan for a morning full of prayer, song, story telling,
special birthday blessings, Shabbos Snacks, and Kiddush.

Cradle Roll begins at 9:00am in the Sanctuary and is followed by Arts & Crafts activities in classrooms 1 & 2 until 10:30 am. Please join us!

(Shabbatot that include Cradle Roll will go from 9:00-10:45am )
*Family Shabbat was formerly called “Tot Shabbat”
** Family Shabbat is now appropriate for older children as well.

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Cradle Roll is a program sponsored by Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) for members of our Temple and Nursery School Community who are age 6 and under. We sponsor holiday celebrations that include education, worship, arts and crafts and food