Impactful programs grounded in data, research, and relationships.
Together with parents, educators, and community partners, we are catalyzing a network of change agents to bring quality early learning to every child.
VOCEL-led Play Classes
VOCEL’s child parent play classes are a free, weekly, play-space where children ages 0-4 years and their parents or caregivers learn, play and grow together using fun brain-building activities!
You choose from one of our in-person cohorts held at schools throughout Chicago or a virtual cohort that will be entirely online.
Leveraging the latest research in early learning and adult capabilities, the child-parent play classes are intentionally designed for both young children and their parents/caregivers. VOCEL believes that young children can build a foundation for future academic learning by ensuring that their parents/caregivers have the knowledge, social capital, and support to help their children succeed.
Enrollment opens soon for Fall 2026!
(September 14 - December 11, 2026)
Community-led Play Classes
Motivated by high demand for group-based early learning and family support, these classes are led by parent leaders, rather than by VOCEL staff. We develop knowledgeable, passionate advocates for developmentally appropriate early childhood practices within the communities we seek to serve. At the same time, we're able to deliver high-quality programming to families at a lower cost than our traditional model.
By training members of the community to deliver the VOCEL’s play-based curriculum, VOCEL reaches more families and builds capacity within the school community and neighborhood communities for sustained impact, year after year.