Children's Learning Center supports little one's development before, during and after lockdown
Krista and Kurt knew the Children’s Learning Center (CLC) in Pontiac would be a good fit for their daughter Amelia before they even dropped her off for her first day. Krista, a first-time mom from Rochester Hills who is also an employee of Oakland Family Services, had seen firsthand how the center’s teachers work to nurture children and families.
“I’d only heard good things about the CLC, and having met some of the teachers and some of the staff, I felt like I could trust them,” she said. “They seemed like they really cared about Amelia before they really even met her. I loved having it onsite, so I could be right down the hall.”
Oakland Family Services has CLCs in Pontiac and Walled Lake. Both centers offer 3- and 4-year-old preschool and summer camps for school-age children, and the center in Pontiac also has a toddler room for children age 12 months and up.
When Amelia first came to the CLC in September 2019, she was 15 months old and still getting the hang of walking.
“At her old school, she got left out of things because she was the only kid in the toddler room that couldn’t walk,” Krista said. “At the CLC, that was never a problem. They really matched her ability level. They were really aware of where she was developmentally in all areas. They challenged her in things she was already really good at, and then they gently encouraged her with the walking and all of that, too.”
The center’s toddler room has openings for just seven children, which means each toddler gets the individualized attention that is so important to his or her development.
Right from the start, Krista was impressed by the way that the classroom’s materials and activities were chosen thoughtfully to suit the specific needs and skill levels of each child in the class. She also enjoyed how accessible Amelia’s teachers were in person and via email.
“I felt like I could talk to her teachers,” she said. “They didn’t wait until I picked her up at the end of the day — they let me know right when something happened. I could ask them questions about child development. I could say, ‘Is this normal for a kid her age?’”
Amelia was 21 months old when, in March 2020, the CLCs closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like many other parents, Krista and Kurt began working from home while also balancing caring for Amelia.
While the centers were closed, staff continued to support families by hosting Zoom get-togethers for students; creating videos and handing out books, activities and materials to help students continue learning at home; and providing school meals for families that were counting on them.
Amelia struggled with the sudden change in routine. She would ask questions like, “Where are my friends?” and “Why can’t I see my teachers?”
“They knew Amelia was really upset to be away from school,” Krista said. “The early childhood mental health specialist checked in a few times to ask how she was. It really made me feel like they were thinking about all of us at home.”
Back to school
Both CLCs reopened at limited capacity in summer 2020, but Krista and Kurt continued to work remotely and decided to keep Amelia home for the time being. They weren’t sure when they would be ready to send her back, but finally decided they needed a change in April 2021.
“I contacted the CLC and said, ‘I’ll take whatever days you have in whatever classroom she’s eligible for,’” Krista said.
Though Amelia wasn’t quite 3, the CLC staff remembered where she had been developmentally and placed her in the 3-year-old preschool classroom for the last few months of the school year.
“Being home for a year, even with two parents and one child, both working full time, it was really hard,” Krista said. “It was really challenging for us. There were a lot of times each day when no one could give her one-on-one attention. She struggled with that. She struggled with being bored.”
Krista told Amelia’s teacher, Dayna Larkins, that her biggest priority in sending Amelia back to school was building up her social-emotional skills.
“There were a couple times we saw other kids during the pandemic, and she clearly didn’t know how to approach them,” Krista explained. “She was looking for adult interaction only and didn’t know how to play with other kids.”
Within a few weeks of being back in school, Amelia had made friends and was getting back on track socially.
She was younger than the other kids, but her teachers helped Amelia ease in and catch up to her peers. They worked with her on cooperative play, conflict resolution and using words to express herself.
“She's watched, listened and picked up on what others chose to do, but still enjoyed independent work, such as book reading,” Ms. Dayna said. “She gradually began to relate more directly to other children and participated in one-on-one play. This demonstrated how comfortable she was becoming at school and how well she was forming relationships. These connections provided Amelia with emotional, social and cognitive supports. In addition, it fostered her confidence and her vocal skills alike.”
Krista said sending Amelia back to school, even just for a few months, helped prepare her for a return to preschool in the fall.
“The biggest comfort with the CLC was I know they were watching all the parts of her development,” Krista said. “I know because they would share with me if there was a concern, I know they’re paying attention. They didn’t just take care of her physical needs.”
Oakland Family Services’ Children’s Learning Centers in Pontiac and Walled Lake are now enrolling! Click here to learn more and save your child’s spot.
