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.

Teachers plan daily activities based on children’s individual interests, abilities and goals as they observe children’s interests.  The Creative Curriculum© for Preschool system of observation, recording, planning, and evaluating is used throughout the center.  Children are involved in art projects, music and movement activities, dramatic play, building and construction, sensory exploration activities and language and literacy activities throughout the day.  

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 security and consistency for young children.  Within the multi-age environment, each child has an individualized learning plan based on the child’s interests, abilities and needs.