Brooklyn Group Tackles Educational Gaps in Early Childhood

by Beatrice

NEW YORK — At the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society’s Weeksville Gardens location, children enjoy a sensory gym designed to enhance their social skills while having fun, similar to a playground experience.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1891, the organization assists working families with children aged 2 to 4 years.

Dr. Ashley Williams, the nonprofit’s executive director, highlighted the organization’s commitment to equal access to early education. “We have a strong occupational therapy program that aims to support the healthy development of our children. Our programming focuses on sensory processing, emotional regulation, social skills, and physical development,” Williams stated.

Occupational Therapy Program Overview

The occupational therapy program is a recent addition aimed at supporting children with developmental delays. Colleen O’Neill, an occupational therapist working across several BKS locations, explained the program’s focus. “Best practice occupational therapy involves providing services in a natural environment. Being within a school setting is beneficial. Our goal is to support children’s roles as students and learners, as well as their need to play,” O’Neill said.

Six of the nonprofit’s seven locations are situated within NYCHA developments, aiming to provide resources to underserved communities.

Christopher Martin Sheikh Bomba is the father of 4-year-old Adonis, who was born during the height of the pandemic. A military veteran raised in Brownsville, he reflected on how COVID-19 exposed existing resource gaps he recognized from his childhood.

“Growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, I felt there weren’t enough programs for communities like Brownsville and Bed-Stuy during those early years. This has led to developmental delays, in my opinion,” he shared.

BKS offers its services free of charge to qualifying families, providing a curriculum that includes activities like yoga, tennis, and violin lessons. With programs that many families could not otherwise afford, providers hope to close the educational gaps that can affect long-term success.

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