Business of the Week: Play Care, Chappaqua
While many pre-schools cater to commuter parents who drop their children off at daycare or nursery school in the early morning hours, at Chappaqua’s Play Care you’ll find a less harried atmosphere.
The school, which is located on the grounds of the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua on Orchard Ridge Road, is a place that prides itself on offering a friendly, caring program.
Located in quiet, wooded surroundings, Play Care is an ideal place for little ones to learn, play, grow and feel comfortable and secure. Director Carol Cleary is a reflection of this tranquil environment. Her gentle demeanor guides a staff of 16, which includes teachers, assistants, a music teacher and a creative movement instructor, all of whom are CPR-trained. The school offers a variety of programs for children from two months to five years old.
The school, which is in its 40th year, began as a drop-off service for local parents. That same flexibility is still available today. In fact, Cleary said it sets Play Care apart from many other pre-schools that may have more stringent enrollment policies. For example, children enrolled in the program for two-, three- and four-year-olds can choose specific days or register for occasional attendance. Parents of three- and four-year-olds can enroll in afterschool classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon (the regular classes end at 12:15 p.m.) in addition to or instead of the morning sessions.
There’s also an enrichment program for two-year-olds called “2 by 2,” which meets two Wednesdays a month from 12-2 p.m. It includes lunch plus stories, art and cooking. It is available for children enrolled in Play Care’s toddler and two-year-old programs.
Licensed by the New York State Office of Children’s Family Services, Play Care provides a flexible balance of structured, age-appropriate activities, academics and supervised play, explained Cleary, a former registered nurse who has been at the school for 23 years. Classes begin at 9:15 a.m., but an early drop-off option between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. is also available.
While academics are integrated into daily lessons for specific age groups, Cleary said “there’s always a creative aspect to every day here at Play Care.” Creative activities include arts and crafts, cooking and science projects. The curriculum also includes creative movement and music.
This fall, Play Care has a new enrichment program for four- and five-year-olds. Titled “Ready 4 More,” the program is an interactive and integrated pre-K enrichment initiative that will help children expand their general knowledge of the world, develop effective communication and inquiry skills and gain confidence as a successful learner, Cleary explained.
Back by popular demand are the “Nature Science” Fridays where children learn about animals, insects, amphibians, trees, plants and habitats, and “Adventure Trip” Mondays that focus on various themes, including space travel, sea life, the weather, recycling, camping and more.
Perhaps one of the most important objectives at Play Care is to provide children with the opportunity to socialize. That’s an important developmental milestone in every child’s life, said Cleary, and one that is important to encourage before formal schooling begins, she added.
Cleary is passionate about her role and feels herself drawn both to the children and to their families.
“There’s nothing quite like being in a kid’s space to make you forget your other worries,” she said.
Play Care attracts families mostly from Chappaqua, Millwood, Mount Kisco, Pleasantville and other surrounding communities. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.playcarepreschool.com.
