VOCEL

We are celebrating an amazing year of partnership with our friends at ! 📚 Right now in our summer FamBam programming, our kiddos and families are reading, playing, and learning alongside some amazing reading buddies. 🐶🐾

Raising bilingual kiddos is a superpower. 🧠✨ As Sit Stay Read shares in their blog, early bilingualism builds flexible brains, deep empathy, and strong focus. All through the power of play! To read the full article visit: https://www.sitstayread.org/blog/bilinguacy/.

Swipe to read some powerful insights from Sit Stay Read’s latest blog post on "bilinguacy," plus photos from our current summer classes! ☀️

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¡Estamos celebrando un año increíble de colaboración con nuestros amiguis de ! 📚 En nuestro programa de verano FamBam, nuestros pequeños de 0 a 4 años y sus familias están leyendo, jugando y aprendiendo junto a unos compañeros de lectura fantásticos. 🐶🐾

Criar niños bilingües es un superpoder. 🧠✨ Como comparte Sit Stay Read en su blog, el bilingüismo a temprana edad desarrolla cerebros flexibles, una profunda empatía y una gran capacidad de enfoque. ¡Todo a través del poder del juego! Para leer el artículo completo vaya aquí: https://www.sitstayread.org/blog/bilinguacy/.

¡Desliza para leer algunas de las valiosas ideas del más reciente artículo de Sit Stay Read sobre el "bilingüismo", además de ver fotos de nuestras clases de verano actuales! ☀️

Reaching more than 7,200 children across Chicago last year, it is clear that VOCEL’s approach to early learning – centering hyperlocal, relationship-driven supports for caregivers and educators – is working. We partner with these everyday changemakers to make brain-building, playful learning a staple in every home and classroom. Because when 90% of brain growth happens before age 5, we can’t afford to miss these early years.

Join VOCEL to celebrate this impact at An Evening for Play – a joyful, playful fundraising dinner where you, your friends, and colleagues can help make transformative early education a reality for kids citywide. Together, we’ll invest in the ecosystem of adults who shape our young children’s futures and fuel Chicago’s next generation of leaders. 🌟

Tickets available now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2026benefitdinnerdonation/event/benefitdinner2026/

From splashing at water bins and exploring sensory stations to sharing restorative self-care moments for adults, VOCEL’s first-ever Community Playdate was a day packed with joy, connection, and PLAY. 🌟

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us! 🎈 We are so incredibly grateful to the families, donors, volunteers, and friends who showed up to celebrate the power of play with us. 🎨🫧📚

A massive shoutout to our amazing community partners and vendors who came out to share resources and activities with our families:
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⭐ Dolores Kohl Education Foundation

Swipe to see some of our favorite moments! 📸✨ What was your little one's favorite station?
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Desde jugar en los trastes de agua y explorar las estaciones sensoriales, hasta compartir momentos de autocuidado para adultos, el primer Community Playdate de VOCEL fue un día lleno de alegría, conexión y JUEGO. 🌟

¡Un agradecimiento GIGANTE a todos los que nos acompañaron! 🎈 Estamos sumamente agradecidos con las familias, donantes y amigos que asistieron para celebrar el poder del juego con nosotros. 🎨🫧📚

¡Un gran reconocimiento a nuestras increíbles conexiones comunitarias y colaboradores que nos acompañaron para compartir recursos y actividades con nuestras familias!

¡Desliza para ver algunos de nuestros momentos favoritos! 📸✨ ¿Cuál fue la estación favorita de tu peque?

July is Disability Pride Month! 🌟 At VOCEL, we believe every child is an emerging leader with unique strengths and a wonderful way of exploring the world. Through play-based learning, we celebrate all the diverse ways our little ones grow and connect.

Swipe to read the meanings behind the Disability Pride Flag, celebrating the full spectrum of visible and invisible disabilities.

Storytime Resource: Want to celebrate diversity at home? See Chicago Public Library’s curated list of Disability Pride Month 2026: Books for Kids here: https://tinyurl.com/4jrzsepw! 📚🌱✨
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¡Julio es el mes del orgullo por la discapacidad! 🌟 En VOCEL, creemos que cada niño y niña es un líder en potencia con fortalezas únicas y una forma maravillosa de explorar el mundo. A través del aprendizaje basado en el juego, celebramos las diversas formas en que nuestros pequeños crecen y se conectan.

Desliza para leer el significado de la Bandera del Orgullo por la Discapacidad, celebrando todo el espectro de discapacidades visibles e invisibles.

Recurso para la hora del cuento: ¿Quieres celebrar la diversidad en casa? ¡Vea la lista de la Biblioteca Pública de Chicago: Mes del Orgullo por la Discapacidad 2026: Libros para Niños aquí: https://tinyurl.com/4jrzsepw! 📚🌱✨

Partnering for preschool builds strong beginnings 🎒✨

Join us virtually on Monday, July 27th from 11am–12pm for our third Family Learning Series: Preparing for Preschool: Navigating School & Family Resources.

Hear directly from the CPS Office of Early Childhood Education about school readiness, helpful CPS resources, and family engagement opportunities. Plus, you'll hear directly from VOCEL staff and parents on real-life tips to help ease this big transition for caregivers, too!

Click the link here to register: https://tinyurl.com/4tb64mcw! 🌱

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Colaborar para el preescolar construye comienzos fuertes 🎒✨

Únase a nosotros virtualmente el lunes 27 de julio de 11:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. para nuestra tercera Serie de Aprendizaje Familiar: Preparación para el pre-kínder: Cómo navegar los recursos escolares y familiares.

Escuche directamente de CPS Office of Early Childhood Education sobre la preparación escolar, recursos útiles de CPS y oportunidades de participación familiar. ¡Además, escuchará al equipo y a las familias de VOCEL compartir consejos prácticos para facilitar esta gran transición para los cuidadores también!

¡Haga clic aquí para registrarse: https://tinyurl.com/4tb64mcw! 🌱

We believe in the power of professional community! Check out what school leaders are saying about our VOCEL Summer Book Studies for School Leaders. 📚

We are using key NAEYC texts (like Powerful Interactions) to ground learning and strengthen the framework for meaningful interactions in classrooms from Preschool to 3rd grade.

We love hearing from our school leaders that our sessions provide an "open space" and a "safe space" to reflect and gather ideas! We know that when school leaders are supported and inspired, teachers and kiddos thrive. 🌟

If you're a school leader looking to deepen your practice through coaching, professional learning, and connection with a network of peers, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Director of Partnerships, Deb Perez, at [email protected].

Did you know that play is a child’s most important job? 🧩 Even elementary school principals are heading "back to class" to learn about the magic of play! We are absolutely thrilled to share that VOCEL is featured in a brand-new article by The 74! 🌟

The article highlights how elementary school principals are taking a crash course in how young children learn best and they looked straight to VOCEL’s professional development programs to challenge that building towers and getting messy IS serious brain business.

🔗 Check out the article here: https://tinyurl.com/4m7tnspt. Let us know: What is your little one's favorite way to play today? 👇

Understanding big emotions builds resilient foundations💡

We are continuing our virtual series for families connected to our VOCEL community to connect with trusted partners in the early learning sector and learn new ways to support your child’s development at home.

Join us virtually on July 20th from 11am-12pm for our second Family Learning Series: Big Feelings: Child Behavior, Emotional Development & Family Relationships.

Hear directly from the Center for Independence and hear practical strategies to respond to big emotions, encourage confidence, and build everyday routines that foster healthy emotional development. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4tb64mcw! 🌱

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Comprendiendo emociones grandes construye bases resilientes💡

Continuamos nuestra serie virtual para que las familias conectadas a nuestra comunidad de VOCEL se conecten con conexiones de aprendizaje temprano y aprendan nuevas formas de apoyar el desarrollo de sus hijos en casa.

Únase a nosotros virtualmente el 20 de julio de 11 a.m. a 12 p.m. para nuestra segunda Serie de Aprendizaje Familiar: Grandes emociones: comportamiento infantil, desarrollo emocional y relaciones familiares.

Escuche directamente del Center for Independence y conozca estrategias prácticas para responder a las emociones intensas, fomentar la confianza y establecer rutinas diarias que promuevan un desarrollo emocional saludable. ¡Regístrese aquí: https://tinyurl.com/4tb64mcw! 🌱

Small moments build big brains!💡

This month, we are hosting a virtual series of offerings for families connected to our VOCEL community to connect with trusted partners in the early learning sector and learn new ways to have brain-building moments with your children at home.

Join us virtually on July 13th from 11 am to 12 pm for our first Family Learning Series: Building Your Child’s Brain Through Everyday Moments. Hear directly from an early intervention specialist and discover early childhood milestones and practical tips to spark healthy brain growth from home. Click the link below to register! 🧠✨

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDxCEBlWOe2nUpxgBWaQQR6Ax-D-LX6aJUyfMu88f9aBpDMg/viewform
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¡Los pequeños momentos construyen grandes cerebros! 💡

Este mes ofreceremos una serie de encuentros virtuales para que las familias de nuestra comunidad de VOCEL conecten con aliados de confianza en el sector del aprendizaje temprano. Descubrirás nuevas formas de crear momentos clave para el desarrollo cerebral de tus hijos desde casa.

Acompáñanos de manera virtual el 13 de julio de 11:00 a. m. a 12:00 p. m. En nuestra primera Serie de Aprendizaje Familiar: Construyendo el cerebro de tu hijo a través de los momentos cotidianos.

Aprenderás directamente de una especialista en intervención temprana, conocerás las etapas del desarrollo infantil y recibirás consejos prácticos para estimular un crecimiento cerebral saludable en el hogar.

¡Haz clic en el enlace de abajo para registrarte! 🧠✨

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDxCEBlWOe2nUpxgBWaQQR6Ax-D-LX6aJUyfMu88f9aBpDMg/viewform

to 2017 at the VOCEL Early Learning Center in Austin! 🎒

We built this preschool program to reimagine early learning through talk and play, and the results were mind-blowing. After just 10 months, 94% of our kiddos met their milestones and graduated pre-K with 1st-grade vocabularies!

We eventually evolved into our Child Parent Academy (VCPA), but our time in Austin proved our mission works: ensuring every child has the foundation to learn, grow, and lead. 🌱✨

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(Jueves de recuerdos) al 2017 en el Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano de VOCEL en Austin! 🎒

Construimos este programa preescolar para reimaginar el aprendizaje temprano a través del habla y el juego, y los resultados fueron asombrosos. Después de solo 10 meses, el 94% de nuestros niños alcanzaron sus metas y se graduaron de pre-K con vocabulario de primer grado!

Eventualmente evolucionamos hacia nuestra Academia de Padres e Hijos (VCPA), pero nuestro tiempo en Austin demostró que nuestra misión funciona: asegurarnos que cada niño tenga la base para aprender, crecer y ser lider. 🌱✨