Chabad Torah Tots is not just a childcare or preschool option for your 2-5 year old. Well, it is, but it’s far more than that. With a real focus on curriculum that boosts both a child’s development and their Jewish knowledge, it offers something far beyond babysitting. This is a small preschool that enables children to develop, grow, and celebrate their Judaism through every day learning and holiday celebrations. The rich international environment and strong supports for family help us succeed in our efforts to raise healthy, happy and loving Jewish kids.
When my twins come home, they are singing, dancing, and covered in the leftovers of fantastic art projects. That’s because Chabad Torah Tots offers music & movement classes, drama and lots of arts and crafts to boost their experiential learning. The classrooms and facilities are purpose-built for small kids, and the toys, learning stations and kid-sized furniture all serve to enable good learning. They are knee-deep in positive interactions which help them learn and grow.
On Fridays, my boys rush to school. They cannot wait to make their own challah and participate in the weekly Shabbat party…and they follow it up with funny songs about “I’ve got that Shabbes feeling down in my toes” and “Challah in the oven, gonna watch it RISE!” Every year, each kid gets to be a Shabbat Ema or Aba, lighting candles or doing Kiddush in front of their classmates. In our house, our twins demand that we all dress up on a day when one kid is the Shabbes Aba; we are all celebrating together. Both three year olds grin with pride when their mommy is a special guest for the occasion.
Every week, the kids get their own puppet show, complete with a curriculum that teaches life lessons. One week, they learn about how to find help with safe adults and the next, they might talk about how to treat each other with care and respect. The puppets offer an age-appropriate way to teach important skills and Jewish values.
In many ways, Chabad Torah Tots meets the needs of the Jewish community in Winnipeg. The preschoolers are a diverse and interesting population, including both local Winnipeg Jewish families and newcomers from all over the world. Everyone comes from a different perspective and families are warm and open to sharing their traditions with new friends.
That open and positive energy comes directly from the preschool director, Mrs. Adina Altein, and her amazing staff. The teachers work as a team and they bring all of their talents to the classroom. Singing, dancing, hugs and comforting are all part of making preschoolers happy, and every staff member excels in that effort. A particular strength at Chabad Torah Tots is its multi-lingual environment. Several of the staff members speak other languages and it is common to hear a teacher switch quickly from Hebrew or Russian to English or Yiddish in rapid succession. Every kid starts school at a different place, and newcomers to Winnipeg know their kid will be understood and loved, no matter what his home language.
In every way, this preschool works to support families, their needs and their concerns. For instance, the school offers a healthy hot kosher lunch and snack option which absolutely transformed my evenings. I stopped spending lots of time packing endless containers of toddler-friendly snacks and let the school take over. What a relief! Also, every family has its own concerns about kids’ development, health and well-being. The staff at Chabad Torah Tots is open to both formal and informal dialogue as it concerns your children. They support our kids’ learning while guiding us gently towards more maturity and growth.
Chabad Torah Tots is full of the kind of love, care, learning, and support that makes for successful kids. All the learning and experiential play are fabulous, but I can’t leave out the most important part. At Chabad Torah Tots, your kid will be well cared-for, safe and loved. Who could ask for anything more?
Joanne Seiff is the author of two books and the mom of twin preschoolers. She’s been able to return to her work life as a freelance writer and educator because her kids are safe and happy at Chabad Torah Tots.