Sarah Lawrence College

Preschool & Kindergarten

The Early Childhood Center

At the Early Childhood Center at Sarah Lawrence College, we believe children are the makers of their own meaning.

The Early Childhood Center (ECC) provides a thoughtful, progressive curriculum for children ages 2 through 6 in preschool and kindergarten. Its programs are modeled on the Sarah Lawrence pedagogy, and it provides a setting for observation and research for Sarah Lawrence College students interested in child development and teaching.

Adult and children engaged in activities around a classroom table.

Why choose the Early Childhood Center?

  • High adult-to-child ratio
  • Progressive education led by teachers knowledgeable in child development and early childhood education, assisted by undergraduate and graduate students studying psychology, education, and child development
  • Rich on-campus opportunities for learning and play
  • Preschool and kindergarten options
  • Named Best Preschool in Westchester 2015 by Westchester Magazine and “A Model Preschool” in Child Magazine’s “Best in Children’s Education” issue
  • The ECC is located on the Sarah Lawrence College campus in the City of Yonkers, bordering the Village of Bronxville, just north of New York City.

    The Center is easily accessible to families in neighboring towns, including Eastchester, Mount Vernon, Tuckahoe, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Riverdale, the River Towns, and the Upper West Side.

  • All ECC faculty hold advanced degrees in early childhood education and have been teaching at the ECC for more than a decade. In keeping with our mission as a lab school, all ECC faculty serve as mentor-teachers to Sarah Lawrence undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in child development and education. Learn more about our staff»

  • Our staff includes Sarah Lawrence students who work at the ECC throughout the school year, under the guidance of the director and lead teachers. As participant observers, students blend into the daily life of the classroom, providing valuable assistance.

    Fieldwork for these students is a central feature of undergraduate psychology classes, as well as graduate work in the Art of TeachingChild Development and Dance Movement Therapy master’s programs. 

    Learn more about the ECC as a Laboratory School

  • The ECC includes a staff of professional teachers as well as undergraduate and graduate student assistants and observers, creating a high adult-to-child ratio. 

Junior Kindergarten/Bridge Program

The Early Childhood Center now offers a junior kindergarten/bridge component in addition to our existing 5/6's kindergarten class. Through a blend of play-based and structured learning, the program honors children's natural curiosity and creativity and supports children in transitioning smoothly to a more structured Kindergarten environment. To be eligible for this program, children must turn 5 by December 1.

Teacher at whiteboard with attentive students in a classroom setting.
Large dollhouse in a room with maps on the walls and a chair nearby.
Assorted painted bottle caps arranged in rows on a textured surface.
Bright, colorful craft room with hanging handmade decorations and sunlit windows.
Two budgerigars perched in a cage.
An anatomical model sits among chairs in a classroom.
Bright room with wooden shelves holding toys and plants by the window.
Wooden play structure with artistic cutouts and drawings displayed in a room.
Classroom corner with book display, shelves of supplies, and paper decorations.
Children's artwork displayed on a colorful classroom wall with a paper chain-decoration.
Sunlit room with plants on shelves by large windows, wooden materials on racks, and a clear view outside.
Colorful classroom with art projects, toys, and safety helmets.
Houseplants on a shelf by a window with sun catchers, and wooden toys on lower shelves.
Two green picnic tables with a yellow bucket on one, set in a yard.
Classroom corner with play kitchen, utensils on wall, books, and cushioned seating.
Wooden toy garage with cars and traffic signs.
Brightly lit classroom with play area, toys, and educational materials.
Sunny classroom with child-sized chairs, plants by windows, and art supplies.
Colorful yarn spools on a shelf with a mushroom-shaped object and thread spools in the foreground.
A cluttered kitchen with yellow cabinets and a stove, with natural light coming in.
Display case filled with various natural specimens including shells, bones, and seed pods.
Children's toys scattered on sandy ground with shadows.
A cozy room with wooden children's furniture, a coat rack, and a small armchair.
Playground with slides and climbing structures, surrounded by trees and a wooden fence.
Small playhouse with orange roof in a playground setting.

Children, Childhood, and Education Collaborative

The ECC is part of Sarah Lawrence's Children, Childhood, and Education Collaborative, which brings together faculty expertise, programs, and centers to collectively provide a context and framework for undergraduate and graduate students, education professionals, and parents to train for, engage with, and participate in the fields of early childhood education, elementary education, and child development.

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