The Western Oregon University Child Development Center (CDC) serves families with children ages 2 1/2 to 5 . We have been open since 1980, serving the student families of WOU students, staff and the surrounding community. We are located at the northwest corner of Monmouth Avenue and Stadium Drive, right behind Campus Public Safety. Our new home has larger classrooms, more student restrooms, a great lobby to welcome families and a huge, fenced backyard with grass and trees. Our goal is to partner with parents to prepare our young Wolf Pups for Kindergarten and beyond.
For more information regarding enrollment, please email CDC Director Tammy Gardner at gardnert@wou.edu
MISSION
The Western Oregon University Child Development Center creates a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment that fosters the growth and development of each child. We embrace the diverse needs of our children through culturally and developmentally appropriate practices, empowering them to reach their full potential and thrive in a supportive and inclusive setting.
VISION
The Child Development Center at Western Oregon University is dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood education while continuously improving its programs, environments, and educator development.
VALUES
- Compassion: We show compassion and care for every child and family, focusing on nurturing each child’s development and well-being.
- Excellence: We strive for excellence in all aspects of early childhood education by maintaining high standards, embracing best practices, and committing to continuous improvement.
- Partnership: We prioritize a strong sense of community among our children, families, staff, WOU campus, and the surrounding communities, building meaningful connections. We collaborate with families as reflective partners, valuing their insights and working together to support each child’s development and well-being.
- Safety: We are dedicated to providing a healthy, safe, secure environment where all children and staff feel protected and supported.
- Inclusion: We actively embrace families and staff with diverse lifestyles, cultures, worldviews, and socio-economic backgrounds, fostering an environment of equity and inclusion where all voices are heard and valued.
What makes learning at CDC special?
Our curriculum integrates creative play and project-based programing because play is child’s work. Children learn content through investigation and focused intentional teaching. Each day, teachers prepare an interesting and supportive environment with a variety of activity choices which advance children in their development. Studies have shown that learning through creative play does more than stimulate physical, social-emotional, intellectual and creative development. Play is also the primary means by which children explore the world, investigate its properties, and build an understanding about how the world works. Project-based learning is incorporated as a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore their questions about real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying.
Located on WOU’s campus, we have access to a wide range of resources and opportunities to enhance our curriculum: Science, technology, sports, outdoor adventures, Hammersly Library, music, arts and theater. Together with WOU’s faculty and staff, we are able to answer your child’s questions as they arise and explore their interests in depth. With our child development professionals at their sides, children are assured of getting the care and support they need, the creative learning experiences they enjoy, and the intellectually challenging opportunities they deserve. Where else in our community can children have access to all this knowledge at ages 2 1/2 through age 5?
