About us
Creative Playtime is a warm, joyful, inclusive preschool where young children play, learn, and grow. We offer half and full day programs for children ages 1.5 to 5 years old and summer camp for children 3 to 5 years old. Our curriculum is developmental and age-appropriate, promoting growth, social skills, language and self-esteem through play and creativity. Our nurturing and caring faculty is experienced, professional and committed to creating a learning environment where children thrive. Learn more about our programs.
Creative Playtime was founded in 1981 as a program of Grace Lutheran Church, reflecting the congregation’s commitment to providing quality, affordable preschool for working families in our community. Our school serves students from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. We are committed to multicultural education and strive to create an environment where all children and families feel welcomed, included, and celebrated for who they are.
Creative Playtime is located in a residential neighborhood on the border of Eastchester and Scarsdale. We have four large, cheerful, air-conditioned classrooms and a safe, fenced outdoor playground.
We are a New York State Licensed school, which means that our facilities are held to the highest safety standards, our teachers undergo regular continuing education and training, and our required student-teacher ratios that guarantee that our students receive plenty of attention.
Our Educational Philosophy
As our name implies, creativity and play are at the heart of our educational philosophy. We believe for young children, play fosters imagination, problem-solving, new ways of thinking, and social growth. Play-based learning helps children thrive intellectually and discover joy in learning that stays with them throughout their lives. At Creative Playtime, children participate in a variety of guided and free play activities throughout each school day.
The first five years of your child’s life are the most formative. During these years, children are constantly learning about themselves and the world around them. They develop intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically through the play experience. We believe that children develop self-confidence and self- esteem when those play experiences are guided and nurtured through patient and loving reinforcement by well-trained teachers. Our goal is for your child to develop a foundation for future success.
Our teachers address the growth of children in the following areas:
Intellectual development:
Children learn as they play; toys and equipment are their tools. The teacher provides the learning environment and stimulates the children’s curiosity. Children are permitted to choose from many options that challenge their mental needs. They are encouraged to develop at their own pace in acquiring new skills.
Social development:
As children play with others, they learn to share and come to understand what society expects of them. They are taught to care for their personal belongings, and to respect others. The group experience provides for friendships and respect of others as unique individuals.
Physical development:
Children develop their gross and fine motor coordination through physical activities, indoors and outdoors. They become aware of their bodies, the space around them and what they can do in that space.
Emotional development:
Children need a happy early childhood experience in a caring environment to develop a positive self-image. As their personality develops, they become aware of feelings about themselves and others, and start to learn to express these emotions in a socially accepted way.
