First Presbyterian Church Early Years Center

04/09/2025

The confirmation class needs your help! -

As part of their service project of helping the unhoused, the confirmation class will be making Blessing Bags that can be given out to those who are in need. Click on the link to the sign up genius below if you would like to donate some of the items needed for the Blessing Bags. Our goal is to make...

06/06/2024

I cannot put into words just how special today was. A huge thanks to everyone who put together this going away celebration and to each of you who came to be in community all together one last time.

Your support, appreciation and love has meant the world to me and my family - and please know - it’s been one of the huge joys of my life to know and love your kiddos. I’m gratefully humbled by that honor.

This isn’t goodbye, of course - just see you later - but please know: I thank you. So very much. ❤️ - Ms. Leigh

06/04/2024

The preparation for EYC Summer Camp is in FULL swing! Thanks to our incredible staff for bringing their A Game to the week! Everyone is committed to creating a beautiful camp for the kids!

Huge thanks to the Engelbrecht Family for bringing us lunch today! We loved it! ❤️

06/03/2024

As we look back and reflect on our end of the year, we have to give a HUGE shout out to our Butterfly Class of 2024 who graduated this year and after Summer Camp, will be moving forward on their learning journeys throughout the STL area.

This Butterfly Class is a truly close-knit, loving group of friends who embody the ideals of what it is to be community. We have learned so much from them!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate these special human beings! And Butterflies: “we can’t wait to see what happens next! We love you so much.” 🦋❤️🦋

05/24/2024

How did we close out our 2023-2024 Academic Year? Exactly how we started it: Together in Community and Play!

Our last day was a tiny glimpse into our future summer fun: the pools and sprinklers were out, the sandbox became a mud pool, the artists were painting everything in sight, many kids took a quiet soak in the pools, and there were slide antics a-plenty.

We had TWO yummy treats (ice cream sandwiches/popsicles and Ruffles) sitting together before we left for the year - and we rinsed off in the waterfall!

Mostly, we just shared lots of memory-making moments together - and laughed a lot too. It was one for the books.

Thank you so much, our dear EYC families, for choosing our program and working with us to create such a special community. We have cherished every moment with you and your beautiful children! Happy Summer to each of You! We hope it brings you LOTS of time to Play!!! 💜

05/23/2024

The “waterfall” is back up and running in the playground! Make sure to wear swim clothes for our last day under your PJ’s!!! It’s time to have a LOT of Summer fun! ❤️🙌🏽❤️

05/23/2024

A few reminders for our LAST DAY tomorrow! I cannot believe it’s already here!

05/15/2024

One of the best reasons to have a garden in our program are all of the delicious herbs the kiddos learn about and work with! Today, the Busy Bees picked lavender, rosemary, mint and basil from our potted plants in the garden beds and brought them inside to combine with their Playdough!

It smelled WONDERFUL in the room today and we heard a lot of “smells good!” and “pretty!” as they played! 🌿

05/13/2024

As we start our countdown towards the end of the 2023-2024 Academic Year, we are observing so many of the skills we’ve learned through play having incredible and meaningful impacts on life skills!

For every child who is figuring out how to tie, put on, thread and Velcro their shoes now, there has been a bounty of fine motor skills challenged and supported through play this entire year!

In squeezing glue, finger-painting, climbing trees and pincer gripping droppers, the EYC children are strengthening their hands and hand-eye coordination for reading and writing, but also for life skills like dressing themselves! Isnt that fantastic?

To learn more about how play supports fine motor development and skills, check this out:https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/pubs/preschoolers-at-play-chap-15.pdf

We have loved working with you and your children this year to develop all of these skills! 💜

05/10/2024

We want to take a moment to send a huge THANK YOU to every single one of you who contributed towards making our Teacher Appreciation Week so special!

From breakfast to goodie bags to ice cream to feasts - all topped off with massages!!! - it was a week of thoughtful care that we will remember forever.

Huge thanks to our incredible Parent Board for organizing everything and for taking time out of their schedules to make this week happen on campus! We so appreciate you!

Thank you, Everyone!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! ❤️

05/08/2024

You may have seen the news that St. Louis may be experiencing some severe weather this afternoon. As always, your child's safety is our priority.

Should there be active tornado sirens at dismissal, the entire program will be following our protocol and seeking safety within the building. We will not be able to answer doors at that time until all sirens have ceased. Even if this puts us after normal dismissal time, please do not pickup with active sirens.

There is also potential, should the system not slide north, for hail, flooding, etc. Should you experience that sort of extreme weather on your way to us, please do not worry. Take your time and get to campus safely. A skeleton crew staff will be here to care for the children until you can arrive safely.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please text or email Leigh separately. Thanks so much all!

04/30/2024

"Before we ever put a pencil in a child’s hands, those hands should dig, climb, press, pull, squish, twist and pinch in a wide array of environments and with a variety of materials." - Amanda Morgan

We are so fortunate that we live in a time where more and more families, educators, pediatricians, OTs and more are understanding the necessity and role that play has in a child’s life. Take a look at all the ways our EYC kiddos spent their Monday working with their hands and strengthening all of those fine motor skills through what many see as everyday play! For us, it’s learning through play!

Read each caption for more. 💜