Chew on This: Strategies for Responding to your Child’s Biting
Getting a call from your child’s teacher, only to learn that they have bitten one of their peers or have been bitten by someone, can be alarming for parents. Not knowing how to react or what to do can often leave you feeling helpless. It is important to understand that biting is a normal developmental […] Learn More ›
Our Second Home, Our Community, Our Family
Three years ago, I was a “first time parent” sending my son to daycare and I experienced a plethora of emotions. I had a million questions and thoughts running through my head. Will the daycare center love him? Will the teachers understand what he wants and needs? Do they know that he must sleep with […] Learn More ›
No Need To Fear, The J Is Here
It was March 16, 2020. I got an email from the Florence G. Heller JCC: “School will be closed for the next 3 weeks.” Panic set in. Two full-time working parents with two adorable, BUSY kids and no family in town – how would we survive the next 3 weeks without the J? Florence G. […] Learn More ›
Becoming Miss Barnett
Teachers have always had a great impact on me, but there is one teacher in particular who has had the most profound influence on my life. That teacher is Mrs. Barnett, a preschool teacher from JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Am Shalom – and she just happens to also be my mom. I grew up getting […] Learn More ›
The J is Here for You!
As we get ready for and settle into a most unusual school year, the J is here for you and your family. We’re continually ideating and adapting our program models to serve our families. Whether you need supervised support for your child’s remote learning, safe pod space for your kids to zoom into their classrooms, […] Learn More ›
JUST.NOT.NORMAL.
This is such a surreal experience, isn’t it? As a member of JCC Chicago’s Early Childhood Social Services team, one of my primary roles is to support parents with brand new babies, toddlers and preschoolers through the various challenges that arise in family life. Last week in my JNew to Two (Or More) virtual moms’ […] Learn More ›