Westfield Area Y Offers Early Learning Programs

By Westfield Area Y

Are you ready for the new school year? Summer goes by fast and making a decision on where to send your child in September, is a big decision. The Westfield Area Y understands this and is offering complimentary tours all summer at each of the early learning program locations.

For Cranford families only, there is the Y Preschool at the Cranford Community Center located at 220 Walnut Street in Cranford. Y Preschool is composed of “Wee Threes”and “Fun for 4”s.” Wee Threes offers 3 year-old children an environment in which socialization is encouraged through hands-on art projects, games, music, and play. Participants in this program will master various pre-kindergarten skills (color, shape, group play, name recognition, and cooperation). Fun for 4’s is a program for children who are 4-years-old by October 1st. Teachers expand the skills developed in the 3’s class. The program encourages creativity, fine motor and cognitive skills. Children gain confidence and are well prepared to meet all the challenges of kindergarten. The program day includes gym, snack, story, art and center time with dramatic play, table toys, computers and book nook. The Program follows the Creative Curriculum and Handwriting without Tears.

The Robert & Virginia Bauer Family Branch located at 422 East Broad Street in Westfield offers half day preschool and full day kindergarten programs that incorporate “The Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood” into their daily lesson plans. The most important goal is to help the children become enthusiastic learners and encourage them to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts. Creative Curriculum content areas include Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Technology, Healthy Habits and Character Development. Extended times and specialty programs are also available.

The Y’s full-day Kindergarten program at the Bauer Branch and Main Y follows the public school calendar and expands upon the incorporated public school curriculum and interactive experiences with math, literacy, science and social studies in both large and small group lessons. Specials may include gym, music, art, Spanish and/or a 30-minute swim lesson (varies by location).

The Westfield Area Y’s Early Learning Center located at 170 Elm Street (behind the First Baptist Church) offers a full day Early Learning program for parents who are in need of a year-round program from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm for children ages 6 months to 4 years. The program is available two, three, four or five days a week. Aftercare is also available from 6:00 – 6:30 pm for an additional fee.

Finally, the Garwood Family Center Y located at 500 East Street in Garwood offers half day preschool and full day early learning for children ages 2 ½ - 5. The Center includes playgrounds and an indoor activity room!

The Westfield Area Y’s child care education programs at the Early Learning Center and the Bauer Branch are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This accreditation means that the Westfield Area Y has voluntarily undergone a process of internal self-study and has sought external professional review. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Registration is going on now for the 2015-2016 school year. Limited spots are available. For more information about Preschool, Kindergarten and the Early Learning Center in Westfield or Cranford contact Eileen Rooney at (908) 654-8460 or email erooney@westfieldynj.org. For information about the Garwood Family Center Y, contact Shannon McGillis at (908) 301-1616 or email smcgillis@westfieldynj.org.