The Children’s Learning Center, despite its fortress-like outside appearance, has a welcoming lobby with the sweet smell of milk and cereal that often accompanies children.
A short walk to the back of the building leads to an expansive outdoors activity area that could only be a small child’s fantasy.Although the center could be classified as a day care, it is actually much more. The Children’s Learning Center is very sanitation conscious and has a consistent environment with a majority of the staff having worked there at least 10 years. The building is secure, with a keypad entry and cameras in every room, except the bathrooms. Parents are welcome to inquire about their child’s well-being, which can be reviewed on the tapes.
“We have really started being more family-centered, with a family room up front,” Lisa Rhoades, director of the Children’s Learning Center, said. “We want to start a lending library where parents can come and check out books with their children.”Parents are invited to spend time with their children and drop in for visits, as made evident by the recent Parent Breakfast.
It’s called the Learning Center, because the daycare focuses on academic programs that will prepare toddlers for pre-school, and pre-schoolers for public school.
“We’re not about watching TV,” Rhoades said. “We believe while children are here, they need to be actively engaging their little minds.”
The staff does this by starting with children at a very young age, so even their four and five-month-olds participate in baby yoga.
Eventually, as the children grow, they are introduced to language arts, math, and science through interactive projects. The children conduct small-scale science experiments like growing plants. They also participate in music time, pretend and dramatic play, art, and in educational games on the computers.
“We don’t do worksheets at all,” Rhoades said. “It’s a very hands-on base, but the children think they’re playing. They’re like little sponges, and they’re able to retain it.”Before pre-schoolers move on to kindergarten, they will know their letters and numbers and be able to write their own names.
Some advanced children have even progressed to the point of reading before they leave the program.
“They are more socially and academically prepared for public school,” Rhoades said. “They have a higher confidence level and a good outlook about school; they have an advantage.”
Although children may fear the dreaded nap, they get the experience of a good program that nurtures both family and child during his or her early years of development.