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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.

JCYS Lutz Family Center's Purim Carnival was a magical affair! 🏰✨ Our little kings, queens, princes, princesses, firefighters, police officers, ladybugs, and butterflies brought the spirit of Purim to life. We celebrated with games, face painting, music, and dance! The gym was transformed into the land of Shushan, where imaginations soared with castle building, adventurous walks on narrow bridges, fun rounds of golf, strikes in bowling, and endless play and laughter with friends.#jcyslearningadventures #playbasedlearning ... See MoreSee Less
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🎉 JCYS Wicker Park hosted an incredible Purim Party last Thursday! Jonathan Shmidt Chapman from The K'ilu Company led an unforgettable interactive theatrical storytelling of the Megillah upstairs. 📜✨ Meanwhile, our downstairs classrooms buzzed with creativity as we made Hamentashen, crafted royal crowns, and put together mischloach manot bags. #jcyslearningadventures #learningthroughplay ... See MoreSee Less
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JCYS Iris & Steven Podolsky Family Center's Room 7 has been working hard on Purim Play prep, and it's been a whirlwind of skill-building! 🎭 Choosing roles boosts empathy, crafting the Castle of Shushan and costumes sparks creativity, and collaborating on the play enhances teamwork and communication. 🏰✨ As they gear up to perform the Purim Schpiel for the entire school, our young stars are not just performing—they're showcasing creativity, collaboration, and empathy in action. #jcyslearningadventures #playbasedlearning ... See MoreSee Less
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