Environment

The University of Michigan Northwood Community Child Development Center is proud to celebrate internationally diverse families from the Northwood Community Apartments, University students, staff, faculty and families from the surrounding local communities. The program is designed to promote the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, language, literacy and creative development of each child in the program. Children are encouraged to learn English as a second language, or to practice their primary language skills while making friends in the classroom.

The Multi-Age Classroom is designed to foster the acceptance of differing abilities and ages. It allows the children to experience leadership and nurturing skills and creates a real-life community where children grow together at their own rate and ability level. Children remain in the same classroom with the same teachers from year to year to create a sense of security and consistency. Within the multi-age environment, each child has an individualized learning plan based on the child’s interests, abilities and needs.