Having three children growing up through DCC from infancy to pre-K, I can definitively say that Developmental Child Care is by far the premier childcare center in all of St. Louis.
Unlike other child care centers that may aim to merely corral and entertain the kids until their parents return, the staff at DCC staff own up to their namesake and develop the children at every stage and age. They engage the kids in every moment, every day. I've passed so many centers where the staff merely sit aside and "watch" the children as the time passes. Not at DCC. Here, the youngest infants hone their motor skills, learn to communicate their needs with sign language, and cultivate social skills through meaningful relationships with both their fellow infants and classroom teachers. All while having fun! You can literally see the difference at home, when your 9-month old suddenly taps his fingertips for "more" food instead of crying, or when he engages another baby with laughter and jabbers, or in the way he curiously turns an object about in his hands. Make no mistake, the infant room staff are skilled and experienced teachers.
And the trend continues through to every room with every corresponding teacher. Toddlers learn to share and care for one another while communicating and expressing their own feelings. They create artwork, have imaginative play that encourages them to think outside the box of their own lives, and explore new things. They learn to have fun both on their own and in groups. They are given choices on how to spend their time and allowed to speak for themselves rather than having their day dictated to them and planned. Their senses are nourished with all kinds of play and exploration---as play and exploration are paramount to this constructivist center. You'll never find your child passing time coloring a rocket ship inside the lines of a book. Instead, they'll draw the rocket themselves, or paint it on a canvas, or straight up make it of cardboard and climb inside. There are no pointless boundaries. They're allowed to make messes---and then learn to clean them up! They're encouraged to try new things and arrive at their own understanding. As such, the teachers work hard to keep this spirit alive. They don't rest on their laurels, but stay in the fray and engage with the kids from open to close.
There is no question that our boys entered Kindergarten with a DCC edge. Forget preschools---keep them at DCC. I could spot a DCC kindergartener with ease. They're curious, friendly, social, smart, and not afraid to try new things and meet new people. We were so worried on the first day of kindergarten---and for nothing. He was more prepared for it than we were!
Thus, the DCC difference is absolutely profound. You'll be kept up to date every step of the way. The staff at DCC truly love and admire their kids and will keep you abreast of every moment with pictures and notes on both their achievements and interests, but also their routines and preferences. They get to know your child as well as you do. Children at DCC look at their staff with genuine love and respect. It's a wonderful thing to behold and be a part of. read more
