Early Childhood Education at the Mandel JCC's Palm Beach Gardens Preschool
Where Curiosity and Confidence Grow, and a Love of Learning Begins
Our early childhood education programs are thoughtfully designed to meet children where they are developmentally while encouraging them to explore, create, problem-solve, and grow. Through a balance of academic readiness, social-emotional development, creativity, and Jewish values, we help children build the foundation for success both in school and in life.
Our approach combines research-based early childhood education with caring teachers, engaging classrooms, age-appropriate activities, and meaningful family partnerships.
What Makes Our Preschool Different
- State-of-the-art school located on the beautiful, secure 16-acre Mandel JCC campus
- Full-day programs for children aged three months through four years old
- Child-centered curriculum designed around children's interests and developmental milestones
- Experienced early childhood educators who foster strong relationships with every child
- Hands-on learning experiences that encourage creativity, exploration, and critical thinking
- Purposefully designed classrooms that inspire curiosity and independent learning
- Age-appropriate enrichment programs in art, music, movement, science, and outdoor exploration
- A warm, inclusive community where Jewish values and traditions are naturally woven into daily life
- Strong partnerships with families to support each child's individual growth both inside and outside the classroom
- SPANISH SPORTS PLACEHOLDER
See What Makes the Mandel JCC’s Palm Beach Gardens Preschool Feel Like Home
Our Philosophy: Children Learn Best Through Wonder, Exploration & Play
Using the Teaching Strategies Gold Curriculum as our educational framework, children build confidence through child-led inquiry and purposeful environments while developing the skills they'll use throughout their educational journey.
Our classrooms are intentionally designed to spark curiosity and encourage meaningful exploration. Teachers carefully observe each child's interests and developmental needs, creating engaging learning experiences that support cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development.
- Hands-on learning
- Science discovery and exploration
- Problem solving
- Early literacy and language development
- Creative art and music
- Outdoor play
- Fine and gross motor skill development
- Social-emotional learning (SEL)
- Cooperative learning
Building Skills for School and For Life
Our educational approach helps children strengthen essential executive functioning and social-emotional skills through purposeful play, classroom routines, hands-on learning, and relationships with teachers and peers.
Children develop:
- Focus and self-control
- Creativity
- Confidence when facing new challenges
- Communication
- Perspective-taking and empathy
- Self-directed learning through free play
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
Our Early Childhood Programs
Program Hours and Age Placement
Before-school care is available from 7:45–9:00 am, and after-school care is available from 3:00–6:00 pm for eligible programs.
Infant Room
Teachers follow each baby’s individual needs and developmental pace, creating meaningful opportunities for tummy time, reaching, grasping, movement, sound exploration, and early communication. These everyday experiences help infants develop important physical, cognitive, social, and language skills.
Babies develop:
- Early language and communication skills
- Fine and gross motor development
- Confidence through responsive, predictable routines
- Sensory awareness
- Social connections and trust
Toddler Program
Through hands-on activities, music, movement, stories, sensory play, and age-appropriate classroom experiences, toddlers strengthen coordination, communication, curiosity, and early problem-solving skills. Teachers also help children begin expressing their needs, participating in routines, and developing confidence as part of a classroom community.
Toddlers develop:
- Emerging language and vocabulary
- Balance, coordination, and fine-motor skills
- Independence through age-appropriate routines
- Early problem-solving skills
- Social awareness and classroom participation
- Curiosity through sensory and hands-on exploration
Two-Year-Old Program
Through stories, songs, art, manipulatives, movement, and hands-on exploration, children strengthen their growing language, fine motor, social-emotional, and early thinking skills. Teachers encourage children to try new things while providing the consistency and support they need to feel confident at school.
Two-year-olds develop:
- Trust and confidence in a classroom environment
- Fine motor strength and early pencil-grip skills
- Vocabulary and sentence development
- Social-emotional awareness and empathy
- Early math concepts, including counting, sorting, and patterns
- Pre-reading skills through books, songs, and rhyming games
Three-Year-Old Program
Purposeful play and teacher-guided exploration give children opportunities to ask questions, make connections, solve problems, and express their ideas. As their coordination and communication skills grow, children become increasingly confident participating in classroom routines and collaborative experiences.
Three-year-olds develop:
- Independence and classroom responsibility
- Coordination, balance, and fine motor control
- Expanded language and the ability to follow multi-step directions
- Early math and spatial-awareness skills
- Emotional awareness, empathy, and self-esteem
- Early literacy through rhymes, stories, and letter recognition
- Pattern recognition and problem solving
VPK Program
Through multisensory, hands-on learning, children investigate questions, work on extended projects, collaborate with classmates, and develop solutions to increasingly complex problems. Literacy and numeracy are integrated naturally into the school day, allowing children to develop academic skills through meaningful experiences rather than memorization alone.
VPK students develop:
- Independence, responsibility, and emotional regulation
- Number sense, measuring, and pattern recognition
- Fine motor control for drawing letters, shapes, words, and names
- Cooperative play and peer negotiation
- Early reading, writing, and comprehension skills
- Observation, critical thinking, and problem solving
- Confidence and readiness for kindergarten
A Love of Learning Beyond the Classroom
Through a thoughtful balance of hands-on instruction, active play, and creative exploration, children can try new activities, strengthen emerging skills, and discover interests they may continue to enjoy for years to come.
Enrichment opportunities may include:
- Art and creative expression
- Dance and movement
- Science discovery
- Dramatic play
- Sports and active play
- Music
- Outdoor exploration
- Sensory, hands-on activities
- Early STEM concepts
Preschool enrichment classes are available to eligible students from 3:00–3:45 pm. Children enrolled in aftercare can transition directly to their after-school program following class.
CONNECT WITH US
Our Families Are Our Partners
Joining our Early Childhood Learning Center also means becoming part of a community that can grow with your family for years to come. From preschool and enrichment programs to camp, youth activities, arts and culture, and family events, the Mandel JCC offers opportunities to connect, celebrate, and stay involved through every stage of childhood. And for some families, that relationship continues into adulthood and the next generation, when our former students return with children of their own!
Together, we are proud to celebrate milestones, navigate new stages, and help every child feel known, supported, and confident.
Enroll Your Child at the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center Today
FAQs About Our Palm Beach Gardens Preschool and Daycare
The Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center welcomes children from 3 months old through Pre-K. Our age-appropriate programs include Infant, Toddler, Two-Year-Old, Three-Year-Old, and VPK classrooms, with experiences designed around each stage of early childhood development.
Yes. Families of all backgrounds are welcome at our Early Childhood Learning Center. Jewish values, traditions, holidays, and celebrations are thoughtfully incorporated into our school community while creating an inclusive environment where every child and family can feel a sense of belonging.
Our educators use the Teaching Strategies Gold Curriculum framework alongside child-centered experiences shaped by children’s interests, abilities, and developmental needs. Through purposeful play, hands-on exploration, classroom projects, and strong relationships, the curriculum supports cognitive, social-emotional, physical, language, and early academic development.
Kindergarten readiness is about more than recognizing letters and numbers. Children develop early literacy, math, communication, independence, executive functioning, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills through engaging, age-appropriate experiences. Our teachers help children become confident, capable learners who can follow routines, express their ideas, collaborate with others, adapt to new situations, and approach challenges with curiosity.
Class sizes and teacher-to-child ratios vary by age group. Our classrooms are structured to help teachers build strong relationships with each child while providing responsive care, meaningful interaction, and developmentally appropriate support.
For current class sizes and teacher-to-child ratios in your child’s program, please contact our Early Childhood Learning Center team.
Enrollment availability varies by age group, program, and time of year. Some classrooms may have limited availability or a waitlist due to demand.
Families are encouraged to inquire early, schedule a tour, and speak with our team about current openings, upcoming enrollment periods, and the waitlist process.
Potty-training expectations vary by age group and classroom. Our educators understand that children reach this developmental milestone at different times and work in partnership with families to support consistent routines.
Please contact our team for the specific potty-training requirements for your child’s program.
Program hours vary by age group:
- Infant Program, ages 3–11 months: 7:45 am–6:00 pm
- Toddler Program, ages 12–23 months: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Two-Year-Old Program: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Three-Year-Old Program: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- VPK Program: 9:00 am–3:00 pm
- Before-school care: 7:45–9:00 am
- After-school care: 3:00–6:00 pm
Availability and eligibility for extended care may vary by program. Contact our team to discuss the schedule that best fits your family.
Tuition varies based on your child's age, program, and schedule. We offer a variety of early childhood education options to meet the needs of growing families, including Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and VPK programs. For the most current tuition rates, registration fees, and payment information, please contact our admissions team or request our tuition guide. We'll be happy to walk you through your options and help you find the program that's the best fit for your family.
The best way to decide is to experience the school in person. During a campus tour, you can explore the classrooms, meet members of our team, learn more about the curriculum, and ask questions about your child’s age group, schedule, and individual needs.
You’ll also have an opportunity to see how our nurturing environment, hands-on approach, enrichment opportunities, and wider Mandel JCC community support children and families.
We invite you to visit the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center and experience our preschool community firsthand. Schedule a tour to meet our team, explore the campus, learn about current availability, and discover which program is right for your child.
Schedule a Tour →
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