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December 25, 2009
Learning through play
January registration for the Simkin Centre.
ELIZABETH NIDER
According to Susan Hoppenfeld, director of the Karen and Gary Simkin Family Child Development Centre in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, "When children are listened to, their interests and potential for learning are heightened."
The Simkin Centre, which has been operating for nearly 25 years, runs 12 different licensed child-care/school programs, with some 175 children participating. It uses an education system inspired by schools in Reggio Amilia, Italy, which considers children to be creative, competent and capable beings.
"Instead of pre-planned programs, the teachers respond to the needs and abilities of children and then construct the curriculum based on this," explained Hoppenfeld. "Children are citizens in their own classrooms and we have become researchers with them."
This philosophy promotes self-esteem and empowers children, and it has become a fundamental part of the new Early Learning Framework of the B.C. Ministry of Education.
Hoppenfeld previously worked at the Vancouver Art Gallery for 15 years and when she came to the Simkin Centre, she found, "It was a place incredibly well established; a solid foundation focusing on emotional growth in children, facilitating problem solving and positive language."
Hoppenfeld said the Shalom Alef Preschool is the centre's most unique program because it is a licensed program for two-year-olds, the teachers are licensed early childhood educators and the nature of the program itself is quite exceptional. Children learn through play twice a week for an hour and a half at a time. "The program is about sensory learning: they learn through interaction with materials, like Play-doh, sand, glue, water, sand, blocks and dress-up," she explained.
"We also know that when children are pretending – when they are in this imaginary world – they're able to take risks, try new ideas and problem solve in ways that they don't typically do when they are called upon or asked. Opportunities for pretend play are really valued here."
The Shabbat Shalom program can either supplement the two days a week, or can be attended as one-day only. The emphasis on Fridays is about celebrating Shabbat, understanding Shabbat, learning the songs and prayers, eating challah and lighting candles.
All of the programs at the Simkin Centre encompass the teaching of Jewish traditions and values, and the significant questions that each holiday brings up are discussed, at an age-appropriate level.
"At the same time, we are not a religious centre," said Hoppenfeld, "so we welcome families from all backgrounds. We are all about supporting families and building community."
For the first time, the Shalom Bet program has, this year, combined three- and four-year-olds. Hoppenfeld explained that it's artificial to divide children up by age when they are this young and the benefits to both age groups of being combined are significant. This set-up allows older children to take on a leadership role and there is a dynamic learning environment, where younger children are challenged by being with older ones, said Hoppenfeld.
One of the positive aspects about being located inside the community centre is that the children have access to the art gallery, and often will create their own art projects in response to what they see in the gallery; the Jewish museum is also in the centre and children can view and later discuss the cultural objects displayed there; and there is also the library, gym, dance studio and swimming pool. Swimming, yoga, sport ball and dance lessons are enrichment lessons for which children can be registered.
The Simkin Centre is presently working on an initiative that will hopefully result in the building of a new playground, inspired by both the Jewish heritage and the Pacific Northwest. The playground plans are based mostly on the children's opinions. "It's a way of working that honors children's potential and tells them that their ideas are valuable," said Hoppenfeld, adding that this approach is used daily.
In time, Hoppenfeld hopes to change the way parents compare preschools to day care. She noticed that the general opinion of preschool is that it's a place of learning, whereas day cares are for child care, but at the Simkin Centre, they are one and the same. "If you walked in, in the morning, you wouldn't know if it was a day care or preschool because they have same curriculum," she said. "It's hard to break out of this perception, because the name carries so much weight."
Priority registration for the Simkin Centre preschool begins Jan. 11, 2010. All registration information is on the website (jccgv.com/children/infants.htm), as well as all the necessary forms.
Elizabeth Nider is a freelance writer living in Richmond.
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