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| The mission of the Child Development Center is to cooperate with parents to nurture the development of enthusiasm, confidence and early life skills that are necessary for each child’s success in school and later life. By working together, we can support your affection, encouragement and training so essential for achievement and fulfillment in coming years. |
Our Company |
| The first Child Development Center (CDC) was established in 1975 by the Psychology Department of Western Michigan University. In 1979 the program was established as a non-profit enterprise operating as part of the Foundation for Behavioral Resources of Augusta Michigan. A primary purpose of the Foundation is the advancement of education. The program has grown such that eight CDCs are located in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. Each is operated solely for the benefit of the children and families of these counties. All staff and management live locally. We understand local needs and structure our programs accordingly, with parents in a long-term relationship placing our experience and effective teaching methods at their disposal. |
Our program description |
| Here at CDC we are dedicated to helping your child develop their skills, abilities, and interests to their maximum potential. Our programs are designed to inspire early learning and to encourage each individual child according to their demonstrated potential. We encourage you to maintain close contact with your child’s teacher and the center director to accomplish these goals. We offer full-time and part-time education and care programs for children ages 2 weeks to 12 years of age. Our infants and toddlers learn and play in a safe, nurturing, and educational environment and we provide you with a written record of all developmental milestones. Our school age programs include before and/or after school care with transportation available at most locations. Our programs support the early preparation and enhancement of emotional, social, physical, intellectual, and educational development. It is our philosophy here at the CDC that each child likes to learn because our staff makes learning fun and carefully praises success. • Emotional – We provide an attentive, nurturing, safe environment that will meet the needs of each individual child. We encourage creative expression and exploration through hands on experiences. We praise curiosity and the success that results. • Social – With our learning-center based program, children learn cooperation and creativity. All our centers include art, music, science, and dramatic play. All children receive teachers support, encouragement, and are cultivated to participate in extended activities. • Physical – All small and large motor skills are developed through age appropriate indoor and outdoor activities. We put emphasis on basic movement, motor skills, and a wide variety of games and sports. |
CDC Academy |
| All of our preschool children attend “CDC Academy” where they will learn kindergarten readiness skills with an early childhood educator. Children who attend preschool extend their “fast start” into the elementary grades. Preschool is a great way for your child to develop their confidence in learning, comfort with peers, and exposure to new ideas and experiences. This experience will help translate into successful academic performance and social maturity. Of course, parents naturally want their child to be free to enjoy childhood, to learn without stress to “perform”, and to feel safe and nurtured in an environment away from home. Experts agree that playing belongs in the early childhood classroom as a natural way to learn about the world around them and to stimulate development through hands on experience. Here at CDC we provide the perfect balance between playing and learning in a nurturing, loving environment designed to support the growth of your child in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical ways. |
SPECIAL PROGRAMS |
Zoo-phonics |
| Here at the CDC we utilize the “Zoo-phonics” program to help children learn in their own natural ways of constant motion and making noise. Zoo-phonics is a great way for your child to learn as it uses 26 animals to teach letter shapes and sounds. It also uses “word family” patterns to teach reading and spelling, as children naturally find and remember patterns. Children are ready for learning but it is less effective to teach them through abstract materials and methods. By making the information a part of activities, there is no limit to what your child can learn. By using Zoo-phonics your child is using their eyes, ears, mouth, and body to learn the alphabet and how to read and write. The methodology of Zoo-phonics is one that takes baby animals as they wrestle, jump, roll, yip, etc. in much the same as what we all learn for adulthood. |
Other Special Programs |
| CDC also offers other special programs to meet the needs of all children. • Before and after school programs that include transportation to and from area schools. • Nutritious meals including breakfast and lunch, along with morning and afternoon snacks all prepared in our licensed, inspected, state of the art commissary in the skilled hands of our dieticians. Please remember you are always welcome to drop in to CDC for a visit and to observe our programs. |
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. |