

Erev Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Thankgiving
Thankgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Years Eve
New Years Day
—Loris Malaguzzi
The Early Childhood Center, as part of the Shames JCC on the Hudson, is located in the heart of the Rivertowns in Tarrytown, NY. This year we will be serving children ages three and four. Our deeply engaged staff works closely with families to stimulate and nurture children as they make the transition from home to Center. Our parent committees and family involvement create a strong sense of community and our ECC has always been a responsive and flexible place, open to new innovations in early childhood education and the always-changing needs of families.
Our mission is to:
We believe that children find meaning and joy through their play. Our strong commitment to this essential truth can be witnessed in our rich, developmentally appropriate play-based curriculum. Through play, children construct their understanding of the world and acquire the physical, intellectual, and social skills that will be the foundation of their successes throughout their lives.
The work we do in our ECC is inspired by the progressive tradition of Reggio Emilia. We do not view children as empty vessels waiting to be filled with adult-given knowledge, but as constructors of their own learning and experiences in school. The teacher’s role in this environment is to guide and facilitate, observe and document, support, and inspire.
Our philosophy for children’s programming is deeply influenced by the work of John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Lev Vygotsky and is characterized by a deep engagement with the child at every level. Classroom schedules, space, mesmerizing materials, and the quality of a child’s relationships are carefully considered and intentional. Our learning spaces are designed to create a sense of wonder, inquiry, and human connection. We believe that the environment can act as an additional teacher.
—Rachel Carson
A school program is as much about creating community with parents as it is about excellent education for children.
We want your child’s and your family’s experience in our Early Childhood Center to be warm and wonderful. This website cannot possibly convey the atmosphere in our programs. Please contact us to hear more about our programs and meet our wonderful staff first-hand.
At the Shames JCC Early Childhood Center, our experienced educators are dedicated to: