Located in our CCB1 Building
Child Care — 6 week to 5 year olds
7:30 am – 5:30 pm Monday – Friday
Extended hours available 7-7:30 am and/or 5:30-6 pm
Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers are each grouped in their own clusters offering a wide variety of stimulating, age-appropriate activities that encourage positive growth and development. Each cluster contains individual classrooms, featuring a low child to adult ratio. Each cluster is supervised by a Cluster Coordinator who works closely with staff, children and parents to create an enriching, cooperative, and nurturing environment.
Infant Cluster
The Infant Program is based on our belief that children bond, build trust, and learn best when they live and play in an environment with consistent and loving adults who embrace and support the growth and temperament of each infant. We have found that we are able to best meet an infant’s needs through providing direct care, sensory experiences, and individualized developmental activities tailored to your infant. Our experienced teaching staff provide the children in their care with the opportunities to enjoy, at their own pace, the wonders of their world.
Infants’ schedules are so varied and each child is different, therefore, we adjust OUR schedule to accommodate the needs of the children in the group. We further appreciate that much of the time during our day is spent meeting the care needs of the infants: feeding, diapering and nap time. We understand that these activities are potentially valuable learning experiences for babies and view them in that manner. Because schedules are varied, caregivers and babies have opportunities to enjoy one-on-one relationships while performing routine care tasks. These are wonderful opportunities for holding, cuddling, talking and singing to the infants.
Each infant is cared for in a warm and affectionate manner. The Infant Program provides many opportunities for language development and sensory exploration. Large and small motor activities are encouraged through indoor and outdoor play. The thoughtfully planned environment includes open spaces and a large variety of toys and equipment. The Infant Program offers children an unhurried schedule, plus an exciting and challenging setting in which they can enjoy developmentally appropriate, safe play experiences.
Infant Program Goals
- Care for babies is individualized; care giving practices are tailored to the personality of each baby.
- Infants are cared for in a warm, attentive way that lets them know they are safe and loved.
- There is a balance of consistency and variety in both care giving practices and the physical environment. Consistency nurtures the safe, primary relationship between baby and caregiver; variety supports the changing needs and personalities of infants in our care.
- Every experience is a learning experience. Infants are cared for in a way that optimizes opportunities for learning and social interaction in daily routine activities.
- Infants are held and nurtured throughout their day at The Children’s Center. Physical contact between the infant and caregiver is a primary component to the program.
- Infants have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from interacting with other infants in a stimulating and safe environment.
- Communication between parents and staff, plus consistency between day care and home care giving practices, promote the best possible care for each infant at The Children’s Center.
Toddler Cluster
Explore, Experiment and Engage… this is the focus of our toddler cluster. Paramount to our toddler program is emphasis on growing language development, social awareness, independence and self help skills. Our teachers work each and every day to facilitate growth in each of these areas. We do this through providing a variety of activities in both small and large groups, a balanced day, and a consistent routine. All of this contributes to supporting our toddlers’ inquisitive and active nature while developing their sense of security.
Included in the toddler’s day are opportunities for creative expression through a variety of art, music, and cognitive experiences. Small and large motor coordination activities are provided both indoors and outdoors and are an integral part of the toddler’s day.
A variety of toys and materials are accessible, which give each child the freedom and opportunity to make decisions and choices for play. Through coaching and adult role modeling, our toddlers develop their understanding of the social world.
Toddler Program Goals
- To provide a loving, caring atmosphere where each child is respected for his/her uniqueness.
- To meet the physical and emotional needs of the child.
- To provide ample opportunities for the development of language, large and small motor skills, positive social interactions, and physical and emotional growth.
- To develop self-help skills such as feeding and dressing so that the child has a feeling of independence and confidence.
- To provide care in small groups so that the child is given the personal attention necessary for his/her development.
- To allow children more freedom of choice and help them feel independent in their environment.
Preschool Cluster
The Preschool cluster is a culmination of our intentionally designed curriculum, preparing children with the readiness skills necessary for social and academic success. Building a strong foundation in these areas supports the preschooler’s natural abilities and curiosity. Our preschool encourages children to be active participants in their play and learning as they are exposed to open ended experiences and inquiry activities.
Our focus for the Pre-School Cluster is to create an environment in which children can learn to respect themselves and others. The positive relationship between staff and child is designed to provide a setting where independence and choices are encouraged and self-esteem is enhanced. A wide variety of activities and experiences are planned to help children learn problem-solving and negotiating skills which empower them to play and learn cooperatively. Our goal is to foster curiosity about the world in which we live and develop an appreciation for learning. Care is given to allow children ample opportunities to express their creativity through art activities, music and movement expression, language skills, cognitive challenges, math and science exploration, and dramatic play. The development of large and small motor coordination is provided through active outdoor as well as indoor play activities.
Preschool Program Goals
- To provide a nurturing, challenging, and inclusive environment with caring adults, where self-concepts are enhanced, independence encouraged, and social skills acquired. Individuality is respected and opportunities for decision making are encouraged.
- To provide large portions of time for the child to spend with peers engaging in a variety of age-appropriate activities.
- To provide the child with opportunities to gain competence in a variety of skills and techniques that increase his/her interest and choices in his/her environment.
- To provide for each child’s physical well-being.
- To provide opportunities to develop large motor skills and coordination through physically active play.
- To develop, in the child, an active curiosity about the world in which he/she lives and an enthusiasm for learning which stimulates exploratory behavior, creativity and an academic foundation.
- To help the child gain self-control in an environment where he/she knows the limits and expectations for behavior.
- To provide an atmosphere, in the classroom, which promotes respect for self, others and the environment.
- To help the child establish a sense of belonging and a sense of community.