Yaldaynu Preschool

Established in 1982, Yaldaynu is one of the oldest Jewish preschools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The school’s mission is to provide a warm, nurturing environment for children, which encourages intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. Parents are very involved in this process at Yaldaynu, a child and family-centered neighborhood school, where friendships between families continue long after children have moved on.

The choice of the Hebrew word ילדינו (“our children”) reflects the school’s philosophy: to cultivate a Jewish identity and Jewish values in a relaxed, developmentally appropriate way. Children are introduced to Shabbat and the Jewish holidays, and Israel through art, music, stories, and cooking. They also gain a sense of community and Jewish heritage when the school brings families together to celebrate the holidays.