Early Childhood Care and Education

Creating a better future, one child at a time.

Early Childhood Center

Welcome to the David and Martha Cooper Family Enrichment Center (FEC), the early childhood center at the Albuquerque JCC. Browse our pages to get an introduction to our unique program.

We think you'll like our low child:teacher ratios, playgrounds with covered patios adjacent to each classroom, continuity of care for infants and toddlers, summer swim lessons, year-round calendar and high standards. We provide full time and part week schedules, as well as a mornings only option. Please call to schedule a visit and see the classrooms in action.

The 6,000+ square foot facility holds five classrooms, a full kitchen, and a multi-purpose play room. Outside, there is a padded rubber composite playground with both sand and water play areas and separate playgrounds for infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.

For more information and enrollment call Janet Stewart, JCC Early Childhood Director, at 505-348-4491.

We look forward to meeting you!

The Family Enrichment Center closes at 5:30 pm on Fridays for Shabbat.

Infant/Toddler Program (8 weeks – 3 years 0ld)

For children aged 8 weeks through 3 years old. Monday through Friday, full day and half day schedules.

  • Low child to teacher ratios
  • Infants' individual rhythms and schedules respected
  • Family members welcome anytime
  • Teacher and child relationships continued for 2 years
  • Child-centered program using individual developmental milestones to plan curriculum
  • Teachers with extra training in infant and toddler development
  • Year-round program, children enter their new rooms each year in mid-August.
  • Toddler gym time at the JCC
  • Water playtime for toddlers in wading pool (Summer)
  • Introduction to Jewish Holidays and culture
  • Nutritious snacks provided for ages 12 months and up
  • Music/story-time/arts and crafts for infants and toddlers
Early Childhood Center

Infant/Teeny Toddler Class (Pink Room)

Maximum class size is 15 children with 3 full-time teachers and one part-time teacher (ratio 5:1).

Toddler and Twos Class (Blue Room)

Maximum group size is 8 children with 2 full-time teachers and 1 part-time teacher (ratio 4:1). There are two groups in this room.

Twos and Young Threes (Yellow Room)

Maximum class size is 16 with 3 full-time teachers (ratio 5.3:1).

Preschool Program (3 years – 5 years old)

For children aged 3 years through 5 years. Monday through Friday, full day and half day schedules.

Early Childhood Center
  • Low child to teacher ratios
  • Degreed lead teachers
  • Child-centered play-based curriculum
  • Multi-cultural curriculum includes visual arts, music, dance, cooking
  • Gym time in JCC Cohen Gymnasium with a physical education instructor
  • Swimming in the Max & Ruth Pollack Aquatic Complex (Summer)

Threes and Young Fours (Green Room)

Maximum class size is 18 children with 2 full-time and 1 part-time teachers (ratio 6:1).

Fours and Young Fives (Purple Room)

Maximum class size is 18 children with 2 full-time and 2 part-time teachers (ratio 6:1).

The Family Enrichment Center closes at 5:30 pm on Fridays for Shabbat.

Do you have an older child?

Visit The Solomon Schechter Day School of Albuquerque web site for more information about this Jewish School located on the Jewish Community Campus.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is that children thrive in the context of secure relationships and by using play to learn about the world. The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in our understanding of what constitutes quality early education and care. The JCC Family Enrichment Center uses valid scientific studies to inform our practices and relies on widely accepted standards of quality such as those detailed in the publications of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Zero to Three, the ERIC Clearing House and the Frank Porter Graham Institute.

We honor families as a child's primary teachers and welcome family members' visits anytime. We strive to hire and retain teachers who are dedicated to early childhood as a profession so that children and families can have stable and supportive relationships, including continuity of care for infants and toddlers.

Jewish studies are introduced using the Jewish holidays, including Shabbat celebrations, and by incorporating Jewish themes and values throughout the year. Other cultural studies are included with an emphasis on teaching tolerance and mutual respect.

The JCC Family Enrichment Center is a program that:

  • Recognizes and supports families as the child's primary teachers;
  • Emphasizes the importance of relationships as key to the child's development;
  • Works to provide children with the strong emotional foundation necessary for later academic success;
  • Respects the individuality of each child;
  • Develops each child's capacity for curiosity, self-control and self-confidence, empathy, and the desire to learn and communicate;
  • Provides opportunities for family involvement;
  • Uses a play-based, child-centered, developmentally appropriate approach to learning.

At the JCC David and Martha Cooper Family Enrichment Center we are committed to creating a positive experience for the young children and families we serve. We are proud of our center and encourage you to stop by and visit.

For more information and enrollment call Janet Stewart, JCC Early Childhood Director at (505) 348-4491.