Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Every semester, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Children's Center offers childcare to students, faculty/staff and community members with a curriculum intended to promote the development of well-rounded children. The Children's Center teachers and staff provide an environment that is considerate of each child's individual abilities and potential. Their goal is to instill an "inner sense of success" through opportunities to "make choices and learn from the consequences in a supportive setting." The overriding priority for the teachers and staff is to "ensure that children are prepared socially, emotionally and academically for their future educational experiences."

The Children's Center consists of three classrooms, playgrounds, a commons area, a kitchen and some office space. Aaron Higgins is the lead teacher for the Blue Room, which accommodates 2- to 21/2-year-olds. He came to the Children's Center with 12 years of experience in early childhood education, a Bachelor of Arts in film and video studies from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a Master of Arts in elementary education from the University of Michigan-Flint. "The Blue Room is a nurturing environment scaled to a 2-year-old's size and abilities. Opportunities for independence and mastery in self-care tasks such as eating, dressing and toileting are provided. Each child is respected as an individual with a limitless capacity to develop and learn," explained Higgins.

Julie Soja is the lead teacher in the Green Room, which accommodates 21/2- to 31/2-year-olds. She graduated from UWP with a degree in early childhood education. "In the Green Room you will find a playful classroom environment which encourages learning through hands-on activities. There are several centers designed to give children the opportunity to learn and grow, including art, dramatic play, sensory, fine/large motor skills, and a library. The Green Room supports children in exploration and challenges them to learn while making friends, developing social skills and self-confidence," explained Soja.

Tracy Kite is the lead teacher for the Red Room, which accommodates 31/2- to 5-year-olds. She's been teaching at the Children's Center since 2000 with a degree in early childhood education from UWP. "The Red Room is a place for preschool age children to learn and grow through play. I use extensive dramatic play themes that incorporate all aspects of development. The children are exposed to many early literacy skills. Children are encouraged to be independent and responsible for their own actions. The Red Room is a place where we are all 'friends' and love and respect is shown to everyone who enters," Kite explained.

Besides lead teachers, all the classrooms are regularly staffed with early education students who work in the Children's Center to gain teaching experience in fulfillment of graduation requirements. Many other students observe in the classrooms as part of class assignments.

In addition to meeting the assessment criteria of UW-Platteville and state of Wisconsin licensing requirements, the Children's Center maintains accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The NAEYC upholds 10 program standards as requirements for accreditation. According to its website, these standards "are grounded in six explicit values: the uniqueness of childhood as a developmental phase; the essential contribution to optimal child learning and development of reciprocal, respectful relationships with children and their families; the distinctive opportunity from birth through kindergarten to support children's intellectual, language and social-emotional development; the essential role of partnerships with families and communities; the significance of a strong program infrastructure in providing high-quality care and education; and the importance of the quality of children's lives in the present, not only as preparation for the future." The Children's Center collects parent feedback every semester to ensure it is meeting the needs of the children and their families.

Amy Crooks, director of the Children's Center, said, "The combined educational backgrounds of our staff feeds into a solid program here at the center. This and our programming are what sets us apart from other daycare facilities."

Anyone interested in learning more about the Children's Center may contact Crooks at (608) 342-1260 or burbacha@uwplatt.edu, or visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/childrenc/. Anyone interested in learning more about the NAEYC accreditation may visit http://www.naeyc.org

Contact: Amy Crooks, director, UWP Children's Center, (608) 342-1260,burbacha@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: April Schmidt, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,schmidap@uwplatt.edu