Spring Break
'Quality means cost' at UA child care centers
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
"Most of the children belong to faculty and staff because the cost is so expensive," said Misty Gittings, a 28-year-old student with a 2-year-old son at the Infant Development Center.
"I don't have any other friends that?use UA child care," she said.
The cost of the Nursery School is $800 a semester, and the fee for full-time care at the Infant Development Center is $200 a week, Baldwin said.
Baldwin said quality means cost, and Gittings agreed.
"I think the IDC is the best," she said. "I wouldn't take my son anywhere else. Everyone there is so caring and great."?
Both programs have curriculums based on the needs of the different ages of children.
The three main goals of UA child care are to provide observation ?opportunities and practical experience for students, research opportunities for faculty and students and developmentally appropriate and enriched experiences for the children, according to the child care Web site.
"Materials and activities are planned to give children the opportunities to experience learning using all their senses," Baldwin said. "Infants will observe their surroundings, work on moving their bodies, bond with educators, paint and manipulate toys. Infants may also play musical instruments, listen to music or play outside in ?sand and water."
The toddlers do some of the same things as the infants, but their activities are expanded to meet their needs. Toddlers often play with puzzles, participate in dramatic plays, use play dough, participate in group singing and reading times and have lots of outdoor play.
The ?preschoolers also engage in self-selected play times. They may choose from the sensory table, the science center, the music center, art, ?blocks, puzzles, dramatic play, reading, computer, woodworking or outdoor playground activities.
The Nursery School children engage in a project approach to learning.
"We have cracked open a coconut, made fruit pies, observed trees in the summer and fall, eaten paw-paws, visited the construction site on Duncan Street, watched ?different birds eat from our bird feeder, mailed letters to parents, experimented with properties of water and made ?thank-you cards and get-well cards," Baldwin said. "Every day is a day for discovery and learning."
"I don't have any other friends that?use UA child care," she said.
The cost of the Nursery School is $800 a semester, and the fee for full-time care at the Infant Development Center is $200 a week, Baldwin said.
Baldwin said quality means cost, and Gittings agreed.
"I think the IDC is the best," she said. "I wouldn't take my son anywhere else. Everyone there is so caring and great."?
Both programs have curriculums based on the needs of the different ages of children.
The three main goals of UA child care are to provide observation ?opportunities and practical experience for students, research opportunities for faculty and students and developmentally appropriate and enriched experiences for the children, according to the child care Web site.
"Materials and activities are planned to give children the opportunities to experience learning using all their senses," Baldwin said. "Infants will observe their surroundings, work on moving their bodies, bond with educators, paint and manipulate toys. Infants may also play musical instruments, listen to music or play outside in ?sand and water."
The toddlers do some of the same things as the infants, but their activities are expanded to meet their needs. Toddlers often play with puzzles, participate in dramatic plays, use play dough, participate in group singing and reading times and have lots of outdoor play.
The ?preschoolers also engage in self-selected play times. They may choose from the sensory table, the science center, the music center, art, ?blocks, puzzles, dramatic play, reading, computer, woodworking or outdoor playground activities.
The Nursery School children engage in a project approach to learning.
"We have cracked open a coconut, made fruit pies, observed trees in the summer and fall, eaten paw-paws, visited the construction site on Duncan Street, watched ?different birds eat from our bird feeder, mailed letters to parents, experimented with properties of water and made ?thank-you cards and get-well cards," Baldwin said. "Every day is a day for discovery and learning."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Debbie Irvin
posted 3/28/08 @ 8:54 AM CST
The Infant Development Center has a wonderful reputation, unfortunately it seems to be rarely available to the college student with a baby. Campus faculty gets priority when it comes to enrollment. (Continued…)
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posted 2/09/09 @ 8:54 AM CST
Students majoring in child care or education can gain experience through both programs. It is an obvious fact.
Alex
posted 2/09/09 @ 3:24 PM CST
800 per semester seems expensive, but over the course of 14 weeks, thats ~57 dollars weekly. Thats average to low end cost, relatively.
And of course, a college student with a child has the option of listing themselves as independent, opening up a wide array of federal support services. (Continued…)
Wilma Todhunter
posted 3/02/09 @ 6:34 AM CST
Good and interesting article, thanks!
Janet Capper
posted 3/07/09 @ 8:31 AM CST
A think this new storie have some mistakes.
tomfeinberg
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posted 3/31/09 @ 10:58 AM CST
Nice photo!
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posted 5/06/09 @ 9:49 AM CST
People want to offer what is best for their children, but as we call can see, that costs money and not all parents can afford. What about the children with parent's that can't afford? Should they receive less than others? Such a beatiful world we live in. (Continued…)
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