Our philosophy is based upon the developmentally appropriate teaching strategies recommended by the National Association of the Education of Young Children©. The state credentialed teachers strive to provide a warm, nurturing environment that enhances the children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. The program is designed to be both age appropriate and individually appropriate. Our activities and materials are open- ended to encourage each child’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Our teachers emphasize and facilitate the development of positive social skills by providing many opportunities to cooperate, help others, negotiate, empathize, and talk through problems. We respect the uniqueness of each child by promoting the acceptance of differences.

DCP is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Teachers work in partnership with parents to constantly maintain an environment that is safe, healthy, and fun. The group size and ratio of teachers to children is kept small in order to provide the best educational experience. Teachers facilitate the development of self-control by using positive guidance techniques such as modeling, encouraging expected behavior, redirecting, and setting clear limits. Children are provided with many opportunities to develop social skills such as cooperation, helping, negotiating, and talking with another person to solve interpersonal problems. Teachers facilitate the development of these skills at all times. An abundance of language activities are provided. These include listening to and reading stories, dictating stories, seeing classroom charts and labels, seeing names on cubbies and coat hooks and on project work, talking informally with children and adults, and experimenting with writing and drawing. All interactions and activities are designed to develop children’s self-esteem and positive feelings toward peers as well as towards learning.

We offer a Preschool Program, Infant & Toddler Care.