Blog
How We Celebrated Mental Health Month Together
At JCC Early Childhood, we believe in the power of supporting children’s mental wellness, especially during these pivotal early learning years. May was Mental Health Awareness Month and a time when we focused on nurturing big feelings and providing tools to help children thrive. As mom to four, I’ve had my share of big feelings. […] Learn More ›
Inspiring Education, at Home and Abroad
Do we ever really stop learning? I took some time off last week and took my good friend to one of my favorite places in Colorado. While I have been there many times, we did things on this trip that were firsts for me, too. On breaks in between morning walks and mountain hikes, my […] Learn More ›
Life-Long Learning Grows
Learning through the philosophies of Sheva and Reggio Emilia. As our youngest learners take their first steps into lifelong learning and Jewish community at JCC Chicago, they are guided by two educational philosophies that are as alike as they are distinctive: the Reggio Emilia Approach® and the JCC Association’s Sheva Early Learning Framework. The Reggio […] Learn More ›
Why Social-Emotional Competence is Key in Early Childhood Education
At JCC Chicago, we are committed to meeting the unique needs of the children in our programs and ensuring that every child has the resources they need to be successful. As educators, we know that social-emotional competence is one of the most important predictors of children’s academic performance in elementary school. But what is social-emotional […] Learn More ›
Social Emotional Spotlight – Sam’s Tips: Backseat Fighting
“She’s kicking my chair!” “She’s looking at me!” This is not pleasant to listen to and you can only do so much from the front seat. We often get into a cycle of yelling, repeating “stop,” bribery, threatening, or a host of other strategies that aren’t particularly effective. One strategy I’ve found to be the […] Learn More ›
Social Emotional Spotlight–Sam’s Tips: Model By Example
Lately I’ve noticed an uptick in the sassy tone my 3 year old speaks to me. Of course, this is age appropriate in many ways, but I also know that my tone plays a role in this too. When we are running late or I’ve asked her multiple times to do something, my tone instinctively […] Learn More ›