CHAI TOTS OFFERS AREA’S ONLY JEWISH DAYCARE CENTER

Chai Tots Early Childhood Center (www.ChaiTots.com), under the auspices of The Jewish Discovery Center, has emerged as a pioneer in the area of Jewish education. The only Jewish Montessori School in Ohio and the first Jewish preschool in Mason, Chai Tots is now blazing a new trail by offering Jewish daycare. Discovering a need for quality Jewish daycare, Chai Tots provides the only Jewish daycare in southwest Ohio open all day, 5 days a week.

“Members of the Jewish community indicated the need for quality Jewish daycare, so parents can feel comfortable at work, knowing their young child is beginning his/her life in a safe, loving, Jewish environment,” said ‘Morah’ Rochel Kalmanson, the Montessori trained director of the innovative Early Childhood Center and the proud mother of 6 children. “Parents are looking for flexible hours and a choice of days to have their child in daycare. As a community organization, we are attuned to their concerns and immediately responded to fill the need.”

The Daycare Center is open all day, Monday – Friday, at the Jewish Discovery Center’s newly constructed state-of-the-art licensed facility, conveniently located across from Cedar Village in Mason. The new facility boasts large spacious Early Childhood classrooms bathed in natural sunlight, an enclosed spacious playground, an indoor gym and state-of-the-art security, including password protected webcams so parents can login and view their child from home or work. The center accommodates individual schedules and parents can choose the hours and days they would like their child to attend.

Additionally, Chai Tots offers a convenient “Drop Off Program” every weekday. Parents can drop in any time 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, and leave their child(ren) ages 18 months – 6 years old for as long as necessary, while they run errands, exercise or just have some down time.

Focusing on academic excellence, Chai Tots caters to parents seeking a professional Jewish based daycare or preschool for their children. Along with its innovative Montessori class for ages 3 - 6 years old, Chai Tots offers a unique blend of the Montessori method and traditional Jewish education teaching children the culture and traditions of Judaism, while developing their creativity skills and promoting independence. “It is a place where children love to learn and learn to love,” said Kalmanson.

“We feel blessed to have a community center locally which cares about our needs as a family and offers convenient quality care for our son,” said Marla Murphy, a social worker in child services, whose 18-month-old son Jake attends daycare through late afternoon. “The teachers are fabulous and Jake is being educated and taken care of in a safe, loving environment.”

The daycare curriculum also incorporates many expanded enrichment activities such as music and movement, child yoga, intergenerational activities, Challah baking and Shabbat parties.  Extra-curricular activities, hosted by The Chai Tots Early Childhood Center, include such exciting programs as the Kids Kraft Club, a pre-holiday craft club for your child; J.A.P., Jewish Art & Programming; Mesibot Shabbat, Shabbat parties on the weekends; Turn Friday Night into Shabbat, hosting a warm and inviting Shabbat celebration; POPS - Parents of Preschoolers - Club; Tiny Tots and Private Tutoring.

Laura Rossey, a former public school teacher, has a 2 year-old daughter enrolled in the center, along with her 4 year-old son. She said the daycare and the many extra-curricular activities hosted by Chai Tots, “meets the social, emotional and cognitive needs of both my children. It is a great feeling to take our children to school and feel we are dropping them off to members of our own family,” she added.

With their high teacher to student ratio, Chai Tots staff are attuned to each child’s emotional and educational needs.  As recently commented by a parent, “[Chai Tots] teachers delight in the children, enjoy each child’s individual personality, and work tirelessly to provide the children with the greatest gift of all, a love for learning.”

The Chai Tots Early Childhood Center is a Montessori school of living Judaism, according to Kalmanson. Although the parents have diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations, she said they all share the desire to raise intelligent, well-rounded children with solid Jewish identities.

Their website (www.ChaiTots.com) contains detailed descriptions along with the slogan “Chai Tots: Creating a better world one child at a time!” Call 531.DISCOVER.