JCYS Family Centers foster a love of learning while helping children develop social and emotional skills in a nurturing environment. Located in Chicago (Lincoln Square Ravenswood and Wicker Park), Buffalo Grove, and Highland Park, our play-based curriculum delivers age-appropriate lessons in math, science, and literacy while encouraging creativity and individual expression.

JCYS offers early childhood education (infant care, toddler care, and preschool), summer camps, and specialty programs year-round to serve children ages 6 weeks through 13 years.
About Us

Program Highlights

Academic Foundations

If there’s one thing children are good at, it’s asking “why.” At JCYS, every “why” is an opportunity to practice counting, learn a new letter, or find a country on the map. Children’s natural curiosity and playfulness guide our curriculum. Our teachers encourage children to ask questions and explore their interests while building reading skills, comfort with words, and a foundation in math and science.

Jewish Culture & Engagement

Families of every faith are welcome at JCYS. Children at our family centers learn about Jewish traditions and values through inclusive classroom and family celebrations like enjoying Challah bread every Friday to celebrate Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) or participating in classroom tzedakah (charitable giving) projects.

Physical Development

At JCYS, children run, jump, bounce, climb, dance, and crawl through indoor and outdoor play spaces. Our experienced teachers encourage active play during the school day to build children’s strength, stamina, and gross motor skills.

Social and Emotional Skills

Children at JCYS learn to share with peers, manage conflict, solve problems independently, and take on age-appropriate challenges. Through group play and classroom activities, children make friends and build social-emotional skills for success inside and outside of the classroom.

Buffalo Grove

Highland Park

Lincoln Square

Wicker Park

JCYS North Suburban Day Camp

Big City Day Camp

JCYS

3 days ago

JCYS
Pre-K children at JCYS Buffalo Grove dove into a fall-themed sensory bin last week. Using tongs, they practiced grasping small items and carefully placing them in numbered cups. This hands-on activity enhanced their fine motor skills, which are essential for writing, and introduced key math concepts like counting and sorting. By engaging in playful exploration, they continued to develop problem-solving abilities, hand-eye coordination, and a deeper understanding of numbers—all while having some fall fun! 🍁🍂 #JCYSBuffaloGrove #jcyslearningadventures #fallfun #finemotorskills #mathskills ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

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JCYS Buffalo Grove was thrilled to host police officers from the Village of Buffalo Grove for a visit and tour of our school a couple of weeks ago! 🚓👮‍♂️ Thanks so much for stopping by!#JCYSBuffaloGrove #communitypartnerships #CommunityEngagementLast week, Buffalo Grove Police officers were invited by the Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) for a visit and tour of their Buffalo Grove facility. Thanks for having our officers for a visit! •#vbgil #vbgpd #BuffaloGrove #CommunityEngagement ... See MoreSee Less

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JCYS

2 weeks ago

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At JCYS Highland Park, the Owls class enjoyed the beautiful weather with a fun nature walk, collecting sticks, flowers, and pebbles. 🌸🌿 They mixed dirt and water to create "mud pies," sparking their creativity and imagination. Some worked individually, while others teamed up to make their pies extra special!This playful mud activity helped the children develop sensory, fine motor, communication, and problem-solving skills— all while connecting with the natural world around them! 🍂🍰 #JCYSHighlandPark #creativeexploration #learningthroughnature #jcyslearningadventures ... See MoreSee Less

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