Changes to come to CDC Nov. 1

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Parents and caregivers may notice a few changes at the Child Development Center (CDC) here, as new rates for some and a change in the allotted hours will take effect Nov. 1.

As the rates for children is determined by total family income instead of a service member's rank, for some families, the rate will remain the same and for some the increase is as low as one-two dollars per week, said Fennis Baker-Waters, Chief of the Child Development Center.

"The charges stem from a decision from the Department of Defense (DoD) after the 2011 Caring for People forum found that an increase in the time children were allowed to stay at the CDC would better fit the needs of Airmen," Baker-Waters said. "The fee ranges are determined by DoD."

Children can now stay at the CDC for the entirety of their operating hours, which are from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, as opposed to the ten-hour maximum that was in place before. During these hours, babies from six weeks-old- 5 years old are receiving constant care and monitoring, and children as old as four receive state approved and funded pre-kindergarten instruction.

"We apply the 'learn through play' method with our children here," said Debbie Johnson, a pre-kindergarten teacher at the CDC who has been teaching for more than 16 years. "While the children think they are only playing with toys or drawing for fun, we are working to develop them mentally and physically through activities designed to fit the requirements of what they should know at this age and anything they may need extra help in."
Teachers at the CDC work to develop lesson plans suited towards the children's needs, as opposed to re-using plans from a former class, Johnson said. The "learn through play" technique is also applied to the younger age groups, such as the pre-toddler and toddlers, who range from 1-3 in age.

Parents can be reassured that at the CDC here, their children are being more than "babysat and fed" as the staff works continually to develop children and prepare them for elementary school. The CDC recently received an accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children; a tough feat to accomplish that requires maintaining strict standards of documenting student's development and maintaining a standard of excellence throughout the center.

Airmen interested in enrolling their child in the CDC can contact them directly for more information by calling (919) 722-1199. There are immediate openings in the 1-2 pre-toddler age programs.