With the opening of PLAYfully, a new preschool and playspace, Montessori learning in a Jewish environment has arrived in Bergen County. “We are excited to bring Montessori education to the Jewish community of Bergen County. We find the hands-on learning style of Montessori fits seamlessly with Jewish learning,” said Rivkah Dreskin, the founder and director of PLAYfully.
“The preschool’s themed units nurture a toddler’s natural desire to dig deep and learn through hands-on exploration. In each unit children are taught to see the Hashem in the world through the lens of science, math and literacy. From learning about bees and the process of making honey (Rosh Hashanah), to building a child-size Magna-Tile sukkah; to learning about the night sky (stars for Parshat Lech Lecha), units are explored through a variety of activities that both support core preschool concepts and Jewish learning,” Dreskin continued.
The preschool’s Montessori philosophy nurtures children’s natural desire to develop independence. When setting the table for a Shabbos party, serving snacks or dressing themselves for winter outside play, children gain confidence and lifelong skills. A dual English and Ivrit classroom reflects the school’s philosophy of providing young children with opportunities to experience language, concepts and materials even before they are ready to fully learn them. These early experiences give children a foundation to build future learning on.
“It’s like the frame of a house,” said Dreskin, referencing Charles A. Nelson of The Nelson Lab at Harvard Medical School. “You are constructing the framework upon which everything else will develop.”
PLAYfully occupies the first floor of a home that has been completely converted to accommodate its needs as a school. The space features a thoughtfully designed play area and classroom to encourage exploration, independence and an understanding of core concepts through hands-on learning. An outdoor nature playscape features a mud kitchen, vegetable garden and natural climbing elements.
PLAYfully’s play space offers after-school and weekend classes, giving elementary school-age children the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects including art, music, (kosher) cooking and STEM. An upcoming class will explore the art of creating batik fabric.
PLAYfully offers a variety of schedules to accommodate young children transitioning to school and their families. The school’s three-day-a-week preschool program (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) just opened this fall and is already waitlisted. A new two-day program (Tuesday/Thursday) is being added in the spring to allow more families to join the school. The school also offers a two-day plus program; Tuesday/Thursday plus alternating Fridays and Monday/Wednesday plus alternating Fridays.
For more information, contact [email protected] or follow on Instagram @ playfullygrowing.
