Since 1972, the Rosa Lee Young Childhood Center has served the Rockville Centre community. It is a non-profit organization which is chartered by New York state as a school. It offers programs for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners. It also has after-school care programs for grade school aged children. All programs are also available over the summer. Scholarships and payment assistance are available. It is a member of the United Way Agency.
Under the direction of Robyn Teigman, the Jacob's Ladder pre-school operates at the Central Synagogue of Nassau County on DeMott Avenue. The private school offers programs for children ages two to five.
Its classes provide thematic, hands-on learning experiences and students can celebrate Jewish and national holidays with songs, cooking, crafts and storytelling.
Jacob's Ladder also observes Shabbat every Friday. The Mommy and Me program, offered for children under two years old, sets aside quality, uninterrupted time between a mother and child, while the Playmates programs helps two year olds develop motor skills, independence and socialization experience.
Its program for three year olds fosters language development, while the program for four year olds is aimed at social development.
While They're Little offers the internationally known Music Together program, a music class for children newborn through age five - and the grown-ups who love them. Its classes meet for 45 minutes once a week and in each class the families sing, dance and play with basic musical instruments. Parent involvement is crucial to musical development in young children so in a Music Together class, everyone sings and everyone plays - making for a very fun environment. While They're Little offers Music Together classes in several locations on Long Island. Rockville Centre classes are held at iSchool of Music & Art.
The United Church of Rockville Centre is a United Church of Christ congregation, tracing its roots back to the staunchly Protestant Pilgrims and Congregationalists of the Plymouth Bay Colony of Massachusetts in 1620. In addition to regular Church School for children of all ages, it offers a Sunday Worship service at 10:30 a.m., and a Nursery School during the week. The pastor, the Rev. Peter Dennebaum, conducts baptisms, weddings, funerals and house blessings. The church has an all-volunteer choir. United Church of Rockville Centre supports local, national and international missions such as Habitat for Humanity and God's Love We Deliver.
Head Start is a federally funded program for pre-school aged children to learn and play. Children take part in art, language, math and science-oriented activities. The program also provides social service and occupational therapy services. It meets in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and federal income guidelines determine eligibility.