Play School Opens with Enrollment of 222 Children

A new kind of school season has just commenced here for 222 Jewish children in ages of six to twelve. While this number is being accommodated at the Jewish Centers’ Association Play School, whose fourth season is now in progress, an additional 171 applicants had to be rejected because of the overflow demand for the school’s service.

Fees up to 10 cents a day are either paid for or waived, according to the economic standing of the child’s parents, and the fee includes the serving of a hot lunch each noon-day, in addition to other refreshments during the day.

Having for its slogans “Enjoy camp life in the city” and “Learn to play and play while learning,” the Play School program is arranged as follows: Each day the children assemble at 9.30 a.m. and are examined by a nurse from the Visiting Nurses’ Association to guarantee the prevention of the spread of contagious diseases. The regular school program includes, in addition to play, arts and crafts activities and other constructive efforts. The children have a rest period following lunch, from 1 to 2, which is again followed by a program of varied activities. Milk and crackers are served from 3.30 to 4.

Every Friday is outing day, with outings arranged to nearby parks, to the Zoo, to creameries, newspaper plants, etc. Boat rides are also arranged, and the children are taken to professional ball games without charge.

Balanced lunches served to the children are under the supervision and careful dietetic and nutritional planning of Mrs. James T. Sheridan, a volunteer worker whose menus prepared at the cost of ten cents a day per child are being used by schools throughout the country. Her menus were officially adopted by the Jewish Welfare Board.

Mrs. Henry Meyers is Play School chairman.

The Play School is affiliated with the Child Study Association of America which 15 years ago opened the first play school in this country in co-operation with the Hudson Guild of New York.