American University Child Development Center, DC

The CDC provides high-quality education and care for children 2-1/2 to 6 years of age. Our core mission is to offer a developmentally appropriate educational program for pre-school children, while supporting the family unit within the campus community, as well as the overall educational mission of the university. The CDC provides primary family caregivers within the AU community opportunities to pursue a university education or career; support for their families with a high-quality child care; as well as an educational experience for university students interested in early childhood education and parenting. Since 2009, the CDC has adopted the Creative Curriculum® program, designed and developed by Teaching Strategies, Inc. The Creative Curriculum is a research-based system that offers a comprehensive, evolving set of resources in support of the educational mission of daycare centers and emphasizes the developmental uniqueness of each child. Parents are always welcome at the Center. We encourage their participation and consider them essential partners in CDC activities and program development. The Child Development Center opened on September 25, 1978. What began as a Student Confederation-funded program caring for just nine children from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for eight months of the year, has blossomed to a facility that offers daycare for 30 children from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round. In 1979, the CDC became a department in the Division of Student Life and in 1993 it moved under the supervision of the Office of Human Resources. MISSION The Child Development Center’s mission is to: Offer an engaging and developmentally-appropriate educational program for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 years. Support the family unit through on-campus childcare for the university community of students, faculty and staff. Support the university undergraduate and graduate programs by providing on-campus observation and laboratory supplements to classroom participation. Provide an educational experience for university students interested in early childhood education and parenting. Facilitate continued and increased enrollment of adult students in university graduate, undergraduate, and Continuing Education programs. PHILOSOPHY The American University Child Development Center is dedicated to providing an exemplary early childhood program. We foster cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development and growth in children. The CDC provides a learning environment that is rich in opportunities for active engagement and exploration. It is supportive, safe, and stimulating. The professional staff interacts to nurture each child, build relationships, extend play, and support problem solving. Teachers at the CDC respect and understand each child’s unique needs, abilities, interests, and learning styles. LICENSING American University Child Development Center is licensed by the government of the District of Columbia, Department of the State Superintendent of Education and the Department of Health. Our licenses are renewed through inspection each year. The facility must maintain compliance with sanitation, appropriate supplies and equipment, a fire evacuation plan, first aid training, proper health and medical forms for children and staff, staff qualification and training development, proper/child staff ratios and supervision of children.