Pre-School Play Yard at Centro San Jose

Catholic Charities/Centro San Jose is proud to be part of the United Way’s Success by 6 Initiative, as research clearly shows that young children who were healthy and had high quality early childhood experiences, and whose families were supported in their child-rearing, would have a strong start to becoming successful adults.

Due to the support of the United Way, Catholic Charities/Centro San Jose was able to implement a new program called Preschool Play Yard. While open to all city families with young children, the program targets Fair Haven families with young children who are not enrolled in a formal preschool program. Using the Let’s Talk curriculum by The Agenda For Children, Preschool Play Yard provides a variety of structured activities for young children and their parents/caregivers with an emphasis on building young children’s literacy skills as well as their fine and gross motor skills in a fun, stimulating and social environment.

One of the parents who participates in program has stated that her three year old daughter Jane (not her real name) has enjoyed the program so much she is constantly asking “what day do we have class?” Although this parent does not speak English, Jane has already begun speaking English due to the support of her older siblings. Jane loves the “story time” component of Preschool Play Yard; she asks our Family Specialist what book they are going to read each day and sits right next to the story teller! Jane’s mother says while she used to give her a hard time when she wanted to read her a story at home, Jane now looks forward to reading at home. Jane’s mother has also benefitted from Preschool Play Yard. One session provided parents with activities to help get their children interested in story time. Jane’s mother is now using these activities such as asking questions about each scene in the book we are reading and asking the children to make predictions of what will happen next.