Child Care Center-NAEYC

   COLUMBUS - The Ohio State University Child Care Center was recently granted accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This prestigious recognition has been achieved by only 7% of early childhood programs nationwide. Located at 725 Ackerman Road, the center and serves over 360 children ranging in age from 6 weeks through 11 years.

"The entire center, staff, and parents are celebrating this achievement," said Becky Wilkins, program director. "Accreditation acknowledges the staff's professionalism and the quality of childcare they provide children and families."

To celebrate the accreditation, the Ohio State Child Care Center will hold an Open House on Friday, December 15, from 4:30-6 p.m.. Parents, children and the media are welcome.

NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they meet national standards of excellence. Child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and before and after school programs are eligible to seek NAEYC accreditation. Approximately 15,000 programs are engaged in seeking accreditation.

Programs seeking accreditation undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators and classroom observations. They receive an on-site visit, conducted by early childhood professionals especially trained by NAEYC, to validate the self-study results. A team of national experts who grant or defer accreditation, independently reviews all of the information. When awarded, accreditation is valid for three years.

"The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience," said Barbara Willer, spokesperson for NAEYC. "The process carefully considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, and physical environment. The greatest emphasis is on the relationship between children and staff, and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally."

According to Willer, research supports the value of accreditation for children. Children's language and social skills especially benefit from the better quality found in NAEYC-accredited programs. "These are critical areas for children's success in school as well as in life," said Willer.

NAEYC accreditation began in 1985, with the first program accredited in 1986. NAEYC is the nation's oldest and largest organization of early childhood professionals dedicated to improvement of quality early childhood education. NAEYC established accreditation in response to the growing number of American children spending large amounts of time in group settings away from home, and the uneven and often inadequate consumer protection afforded by state licensing of child care facilities.

The Ohio State Child Care Center is affiliated with the Office of Human Resources. University students, staff, or faculty are eligible for childcare services. The center is open from 6 a.m. to midnight to meet the needs of evening students and second shift employees. The Ohio State University Child Care Center will now proudly display the NAEYC torch - the sign of NAEYC accreditation.

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