New class at Beth. Shalom helps parents and amuses toddlers.

Photos by BILL HANSEN

uesday mornings are far
from quiet at the
Congregation Beth
Shalom parent-toddler
class in Oak Park. The eight-week
program, with tots from 18 months
to two and a half years, began this
summer as a way to get a preschool
program started' apt the congrega-
tion's new educational wing.
Along with circle time, when
stories are read - and songs are
sung, teacher Gail Moses sets out
different "centers" that teach the
children different experiences.
The fishing game with brightly-
colored fish teaches colors, while
the flower center teaches about
flowers "and how they drink," she
said. Even parents get to learn —
about how to work more effec-
tively with their offspring.
Although the classes are open
to non-Jewish children and par-
ents, the class "includes a lot of
Jewish content, because it's very
important for the people who
started the preschool program that
all of their classes include Jewish
content," Moses said. I
—Harry Kirsbaum

7/23
1999
14_D_EtraiLlewish NeWs

Top, left to right:

Program leader
Gail Moses chats
with the class.

Julia Zemmol, 22-
months, offers Moses
a taste o yogurt.

Debbie Salinger
of Huntington Woods
works with 21-month-
old Eli Falk.

At left, Bally
Smith. -Helman, 2,
of Huntington Woods,
works up ci head
of static on the
toddler slide.