PLAYfully Learning, the Jewish Montessori preschool that opened its doors in September 2024, is already exceeding Director Rivkah Dreskin’s expectations. She opened the preschool in her Bogota home; it is a mixed-age Montessori, geared this year to children ages 2-4.

To make the space cozy and kid-friendly, Dreskin removed all of the furniture from the main level of her home to create a toddler-friendly classroom, featuring gross motor and fine motor areas, including a book nook, dress-up corner and climbing structure.

Dreskin explained how she chose the school’s name: “I wanted a name that would convey this was more than simply playing with some toys. That this is play that is ‘full’ in the sense that it is both fun and purposeful; play that is full of learning. For example, when we were learning about weather in the fall, we created a wind tunnel with a clear tube and a small fan. The children were absolutely delighted, placing the tissue paper ‘leaves’ in the wind tunnel and watching them fly up into the air and fall to the floor. But it was also a demonstration of something we were learning about in the classroom and observing in our yard time: that in the fall, the wind blows the leaves off the trees and they fall to the ground.”

She also explained her choice of Montessori: “I have worked with children professionally for 20 years in various capacities. As an early childhood educator, I was always drawn to Montessori. It really connects with who children are at this age. They are full of wonder at the world around them, and they are eager to learn so they can more fully participate in it. For example, learning to button a sweater, putting on or removing shoes, or measuring and pouring while baking is fun for kids. They often naturally choose learning as play when given the opportunity.

“Also, Montessori education is a natural fit with Jewish education,” Dreskin continued. “Many of our traditions include tasks that young children can participate in. For example, while preparing food for a holiday, the children learn skills like cutting with a wood knife that give them confidence and independence. As educators, it gives us the opportunity to discuss the meaning of the food and how it relates to the holiday. And most importantly, children start to see themselves as active participants in celebrating the holiday, including helping set the table and serve food at our class shabbat parties. Each Friday, we make challah, and the children experience such pride when their challah is served that evening at the family Shabbat table.”

Dreskin hired an assistant teacher who speaks Hebrew fluently. “She speaks Hebrew to the children throughout the day,” Dreskin said. “With the children who are fluent she speaks Hebrew exclusively; with the English speaking children it is a mix. I have noticed that some of the English-speaking children are starting to pick up on more complex words and phrases that are used with the Hebrew-speaking children. That’s in addition to the topics we are working on with the entire class, such as counting, body parts and colors.”

The children learn Hebrew songs and also daven daily in circle time in an interactive manner. Dreskin noted: “Hebrew is integrated into the day as they play. For example, if they are counting out 10 jumps when taking turns on the trampoline, the teacher will count in Hebrew. Or if the students are coloring, she will name the colors in Hebrew. There are many times throughout the day that Hebrew is naturally integrated into the activity.”

Because PLAYfully Learning is a Montessori school, there is an emphasis on outdoor play in all types of weather. The school supply list includes a raincoat, rain pants and rain boots (or waterproof shoes), and these items are all used when appropriate. “We go outside unless the weather is truly inclement because being outside is so important for the children,” Dreskin said.

The spacious, fully fenced-in backyard has a slide that was created from a man-made hill. “I designed the hill and slide myself,” Dreskin said. “I shoveled 28,000 pounds of dirt to make our hill with the slide. That’s not a typo; I calculated out what that many cubic yards of dirt weighs. We also have a mud kitchen which I designed, which is very popular among the kids. We have a balance beam that I created from a tree that fell in a storm. In the spring, the hill will be landscaped as a sensory garden. It will have edible plants with unique scents and textures.”

PLAYfully Learning parent Laurie shared: “We love the intimate class size and personalized attention. They dress for the weather and go outside everyday where their imaginations run wild. They are learning so much and don’t even realize it! My child is thriving at PLAYfully.”

PLAYfully Learning launched with six students and two teachers. For the spring semester, the school will increase to 12 students with three teachers, an amazing teacher-student ratio. In order to accommodate the increased student body, the older children will spend part of their day in a new upstairs classroom that is currently being designed. Some PLAYfully features, such as the school-prepared, healthy, allergen-sensitive snacks and daily notes home about each child’s experiences will continue.

PLAYfully Learning parent Alexandra Rosenberg said, “This is the perfect preschool for my son! From the Montessori approach, to the creative activities, to the integration of Judaics and Hebrew, to the whole-food snacks served each morning, every element of the program is thoughtful and nurturing. We couldn’t imagine a better start to our son’s educational journey.”

PLAYfully Learning parent Mia Liebowitz added: “My daughter looks forward to school every single day. She is always telling me about things she has learned and is excited to share projects. PLAYfully Learning has been such an amazing experience for both my daughter and us as a family.”

What else is being planned at PLAYfully Learning? Dreskin shared: “We also will be offering PLAYfully summer camp for ages 2-4, featuring water fun, crafts, STEM, sports and ‘camping’; PLAYfully after-school classes for ages 4-11; occasional mommy and me classes; PLAYfully Designed (playroom design services); and Events by PLAYfully (family-friendly activities for corporate events).”

To learn more about PLAYfully Learning, check them out on Facebook and Instagram. They can be reached at [email protected].