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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.

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.

🚀 Last Thursday, JCYS Wicker Park's Pre-K class, the Rockets, explored the value of community by building a neighborhood using materials found in their classroom. 🏡✨ Each Rocket used chairs to create an enclosed space for themselves and lined them up “like a real street.” Because of the limited space each "house" provided, the children had to be selective about the materials they brought inside. Being intentional about their choices helped the Rockets plan ahead and inspired conversation and collaboration, so each child's creation reflected their own means of expression. #playbasedlearning #jcyslearningadventures ... See MoreSee Less
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2 weeks ago

🌟 Celebrating School Social Work Week! 🌈 A huge shoutout to our Child and Family Development Specialists, Jamie Decker and Robin Sowl—your dedication to nurturing and supporting families and children does not go unnoticed. Thank you for being the guiding light in building stronger, healthier communities. Your hard work and compassion make a world of difference every day! ... See MoreSee Less
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⏳ Time is running out to purchase your tickets for Samba with the Stars! Get your tickets before sales close on Friday, March 15th at jcys.org/samba. Emceed by musical comedian T.J. Shanoff with a performance by Samba1 Brazilian Dance Group, you won't want to miss out on this evening of celebration! ... See MoreSee Less
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