Promoting early learning and parenting skills

WJCS Early Childhood Centers provide high quality education based on the Pyramid Model for children under 5 together with their parents and caregivers. Early Childhood Centers help to ensure Westchester County’s most vulnerable children and families, isolated by poverty, language and literacy barriers, are set on the path toward school and life success. Through a variety of centers and virtual programming, caregivers and children participate together in engaging and educational activities that support parents as their children’s first and most important teacher. We invite you to explore our programs:

The Infant-Toddler Learning Center at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women in Yonkers is an environmental learning experience that fosters healthy relationships between parents and their young children (0-4 years old). It is designed to offer parents knowledge, strategies, and skills that support healthy lifestyle choices.

Parents learn to recognize and validate their child’s emotions, establish nurturing parenting routines, learn about child development, and foster positive self-esteem for themselves and their children.

The Center uses play, art, music, reading, and fine and gross motor activities to support parent-child interaction and learning. Staff design curriculums, interact with families, model nurturing interactions, and lead discussions appropriate to the interests and needs of the families.

ITLC runs Mondays through Thursdays from 10:30 to 12:30 October through July. The center is one of several programs located at the Mary J. Blige Center for Women. The program meets at Van Cortland Park during the summer months.

Contact Tamara Robinson, Yonkers Coordinator, at 914-595-0041 x3329; [email protected]

A four-morning-a-week playgroup that serves parents, caregivers and their children from birth to 5 years old. This extension of the Infant Toddler Learning Center supports early learning, social emotional skills and summer fun. The Program runs at Van Cortlandt Park and includes weekly story times at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, weekly field trips in the community and regular visits to the sprinklers in the Park. Adventures in Yonkers runs Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 12:30 for seven weeks starting at the end of June.

Contact Tamara Robinson, Yonkers Coordinator, at 914-965-9140 x3329; [email protected].

The Parent-Child Center (PCC) in New Rochelle is a free drop-in play group for parents and their young children (0-4 years old) housed at the Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle, Mascaro Club House at 79 Seventh Street. This free early learning program is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 pm, October through May.

Contact Rivka Gorin, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Centers and Virtual Programs, at 914-949-7699 x2426; [email protected].

New in October 2022, WJCS Early Childhood Programs opened a Parent Child Center in Tarrytown modelled on the New Rochelle PCC. Parents and children participate together in this center-based program housed at the Community Opportunity Center of Tarrytown at 105 Wildey Street. The Tarrytown PCC is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00 from October to May.

Contact Rivka Gorin, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Centers and Virtual Programs, at 914-949-7699 x2426; [email protected].

Summer Fun at Hartley Park is a two-morning-a-week playgroup that serves parents, caregivers and their children from birth to 5 years old. The program supports summer fun and learning and builds community engagement. The Program is run in collaboration with the City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Department and the Mount Vernon Public Library at Hartley Park in Mount Vernon, at the corner of Gramatan Avenue and Oakley Avenue on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00 for seven weeks starting in June.

Contact Janet Paseltiner, Mount Vernon Coordinator, at 914-949 7699 x2479; [email protected].

Adventures in Yonkers

New Rochelle Parent Child Center (PCC)

Tarrytown Parent Child Center (PCC)

Summer Fun at Hartley Park