Child Development Center

The Alabama A&M University Child Development Center (CDC) established in 1947 serves as a Laboratory Center, in the Family and Consumer Sciences.  The program serves children ages two to four years old. The Center serves children of diverse backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic levels and is a valuable resource for faculty, staff, students, and the community. The Center also supports, the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service.

 

About this program

Alabama A&M University Child Development Center philosophy is based on the belief that children are capable and inquisitive learners; thereby providing various learning opportunities in and outside the classroom. To support the mission, Houghton-Mifflin Curriculum is used to provide young learners with every opportunity to build foundations to help children develop a lifelong love of learning. The objectives of the AAMU Child Development Center are to:

• Stimulate a love for learning.
• Instill self-esteem, self-worth, and self-respect.
• Create a warm, welcoming, and nurturing environment that inspires and motivates children to reach their full potential.
• Teach the importance of character, commitment to the family, commitment to the community, respect for the individual, and celebrating our differences.

Curriculum

The Houghton-Mifflin Curriculum consists of such learning areas as language arts, mathematics, art, music and movement, and science. Every attempt is made to provide the proper match between the abilities of the child with the materials and concepts that are introduced. There is a balance between structured and unstructured activities with large blocks of time allotted for child-selected free-play in centers. Activities include but are not limited to painting, drawing, role-playing, clay modeling, block building, puzzles and other fine motor manipulative, and computer.

Speech and hearing screenings are available at no cost to children attending the Child Development Center.  Screening will be done by the Alabama A&M Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic upon request.

 

Mode of Operation

The Child Development Center provides year-round services, with observed holidays and breaks as specified in the Parent Handbook.  The Center is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Tuition and fees

There is a $150.00 non-refundable fee due when applying for Fall and Spring semester enrollment.  If the child attends the summer program, there will be a $150.00 non–refundable registration fee for summer registration fee assessed for summer activities.

Tuition fees/payments will be submitted online via Brightwheel. Tuition should be paid on Monday of each week in advance of services. Tuition rates are as follows: Toddler class $110; Preschool class $95.00; and Pre-K class $85.00.