Welcome to the Early Childhood Development Center
The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) is a ‘living laboratory’ where adults, as well as children, come to learn. We believe that we learn from the children just as much as they are learning from us. The program is designed to promote the development of the total individual by enhancing children’s skills through play.
Special Statement Regarding COVID-19
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the ECDC has taken every preventative measure recommended by the CDC to keep our school clean and disinfected. ECDC is open with limited capacity for the Fall 2021 semester. Check back for updates as we get closer to the Winter Semester. For more university updates, please visit the COVID-19 website or the University’s Public Affairs Key Issues COVID-19 website for additional information.
Our Philosophy
The staff of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) is committed to providing a high-quality program for young children and their families. The program is nationally accredited through NAEYC and is designed to promote the development of the total individual by helping each child to develop skills in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive areas. This is accomplished by providing a balanced program that includes both teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, quiet as well as active experiences, and the recognition that learning occurs in both formal and informal settings, especially through play.
Young children are integrally connected to their homes and families, and it is understood that families are and should be the principal influence in their children’s lives. The ECDC seeks to be appropriately responsive to families. Parents, teachers, and staff work together toward the goal of nurturing children in an environment where all are respected for their individual differences and provided with the building blocks for a lifelong love of learning.
The Early Childhood Development Center’s philosophy is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach and is based on the knowledge that young children learn through active exploration of their environment. This occurs optimally when their physical needs are met and they feel emotionally secure. Instilling in children a sense of security and trust will be of utmost importance. Staff will create classroom learning environments appropriate to the developmental needs of the various age groups and will provide for the needs of individual children.
The ECDC is a ‘living laboratory’ where adults, as well as children, come to learn. We believe that we learn from the children just as much as they are learning from us. Teachers are co-collaborators with children. Teachers are guiding, mentoring, and modeling, but also observing, reflecting, and hypothesizing. Teachers are researchers, studying the changes that individual children have as they grow, as well as the changes in the group and between group members. Our teachers are curious, interested, and enthusiastic about how children learn, and how children show us what they know. We understand that much of what children show us about their learning and understanding of the world is not through verbal communication.
Research & Observation
Interested in observing what we do at the ECDC for a class exercise or individual assignment? You’ll need one of these forms in order to get started. Observations take place between 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. or between 3 – 5:30 p.m. For individual observations, no appointment is necessary.
Class Observation Request Form (for use by a professor/instructor for an entire class)
Individual Observation Consent Form