Early Childhood
Infants - Kindergarten
At AJA, we believe the early years are sacred, a time when children build the way they see themselves, other people, learning, and the world. We are inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and guided by Jewish life and values, seeing every child as capable, curious, and created בצלם אלוקים (in the image of God).
Belonging and the Whole Child
Children learn best when they feel safe, seen, and known. In our Early Childhood Department, every child enters a community where they matter. We build trust first, because secure relationships are the foundation for curiosity, empathy, and learning. We nurture the whole child socially, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. With our Social-Emotional Learning approach and on-staff Speech and Language Pathologist, children learn to express themselves, resolve conflict, and build healthy relationships for life. Belonging is not an accessory to learning—it is what makes learning possible.
How Children Learn Here
Children construct knowledge through relationships, inquiry, and play. Our environments invite investigation and allow ideas to deepen over time. Teachers observe, listen, and respond to the questions and curiosities that emerge in the classroom. Projects grow naturally from what children notice, wonder about, and return to. Through these explorations, children build language, reasoning, collaboration, and problem-solving in authentic ways.
Documentation makes learning visible. Teachers collect photographs, transcripts, and artifacts to help children revisit and refine their ideas, showing families how children think, connect, and grow.
Jewish Life as Daily Life
Judaism is not a subject—it is the rhythm, language, and lens of daily life. Children experience tefilah, brachot, Shabbat, parsha, and chagim through song, story, art, and community practice. Jewish values are expressed in the way we speak, celebrate, notice wonder, and practice gratitude.
Weekly Torah Time and communal Kabbalat Shabbat gather children to celebrate as Am Yisrael. Identity is not postponed—it is formed through joyful experience and memory.
Hebrew as a Living Language
Hebrew is woven into classroom life through natural exposure and interaction. Beginning as early as our toddler rooms, children hear and use Hebrew in songs, greetings, stories, and play with native-speaking teachers. Because Hebrew is lived, not isolated, children develop confidence and joyful ease with the language while building connection to Israel’s culture, music, and traditions.
Specials
Beyond classroom learning, children enjoy specials that support physical, creative, and emotional growth. Yoga, music, gardening, art, PE, and outdoor play let them express themselves, build coordination, and experience joy through movement and creativity. These are not extras—they are essential pieces of a well-rounded early childhood education.
Readiness Without Rush
We prepare children for future academic success without sacrificing the integrity of early childhood. Literacy, math, critical thinking, and collaboration emerge through purposeful play and guided instruction. Developmentally appropriate tools like Learning Without Tears, Fundations, Tang Math, and Hebrew literacy are layered within a play-based environment. Readiness at AJA is not about making childhood shorter—it’s about building the internal architecture for lifelong success.
A Journey From Infancy Through Kindergarten
Children move through a continuum of growth that honors each stage. Infants are nurtured in sensory-rich environments where trust and exploration begin. Toddlers discover independence, language, and community through routines and joyful play. Threes deepen inquiry and self-expression through the Atelier, dramatic play, and Torah experiences. Pre-K adds early literacy, numeracy, and SEL tools within the same play-based framework. Kindergarten bridges early childhood and Lower School, strengthening independence and foundational skills while preserving the belief that children learn best through inquiry and purposeful play. Portfolios follow children through the years, documenting who they are becoming.
Conclusion and Invitation
At AJA, we honor childhood as holy work. We trust children as thinkers and creators. We weave Jewish life and Hebrew into their everyday world, cultivate belonging so learning can take root, and prepare children for lives of curiosity, confidence, and connection to their people and tradition.
The best way to understand our Early Childhood experience is to step inside it. Visit, observe our classrooms, and see how children live and learn at AJA. Our admissions team is ready to welcome you and help you explore whether our community is the right home for your family.