Last month, The Sylvia Center piloted a new Early Childhood program at Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School in the Crotona neighborhood of the Bronx. Running from June through early August, our educators are visiting the classroom every week to work with three key age groups—2, 3, and 4-year-olds.
This pilot marks an exciting expansion of our curriculum. Responding to growing demand for early childhood programming, we’ve adapted our elementary content to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to the joy of healthy eating. We believe that curiosity around food, flavor, and cooking starts young—and that even our littlest learners can begin to develop confidence, skills, and taste awareness that will serve them for life. Children’s Aid is the perfect partner for this program: while they already offer healthy food education for older students, our program helps fill a gap by reaching the youngest.
Their favorite recipe? Rainbow Wraps—a colorful and kid-friendly way to explore vegetables. Using whole grain wraps, cream cheese or hummus, and a rainbow of veggies, students practice safe knife skills. They also learn what a chef does, and discover the benefits of eating a variety of colorful foods.
We’re thrilled to bring hands-on food education to a new age group—and spark a lifelong love of healthy eating!
