Welcome To The Southwood Center Day Care in Columbia, IL

At our Columbia IL child care location we offer a selection of infant rooms, allowing us flexibility to care for babies throughout smaller developmental age ranges. Our infant program ranges from ages 6 weeks to 15 months. Our environment has been created to offer everyday opportunities for our babies to optimize the immense amount of learning that is happening in their little brains. It is important for your child to develop a relationship with our teachers. Our teachers work each day to learn about your child and how they respond to the world. They accomplish this through getting to know your child’s temperament, what they need emotionally and how they learn the most comfortably.

Our schedule in the infant room is flexible and will mirror the child’s own schedule at home as much as possible. We encourage our parents to communicate with our teachers on a daily basis.

The brain development in these children is astounding. Studies reveal that infants spend 60% of their energy every day on brain development, hence the massive amount of sleeping!  There are no words to describe how important that makes each and every one of our interactions with them. Your child will be met by warm caretakers that make them feel safe. Each day they will participate in activities that are age appropriate and encourage brain development, physical activity, and social emotional skills.

We look forward to sharing all of these exciting milestones alongside you each and every day in our infant program!

These sweet little toddlers have just done an immense amount of growing in the first fifteen months, and they are not ready to stop! Everything that happens in a child’s life is meaningful and this age is no different!

During this stage, social/emotional growth and development is a focus. Children begin to assert independence while also making strides in early language development, allowing them to become more able to say how they feel.

Teachers in this age group understand that toddlers have not yet mastered the “rules”. They are learning names of familiar people and objects and how they all work together in their surroundings. It is important for teachers to be able to identify the needs of this age group; which will have a direct impact on the reduction of negative behavior, such as biting. Verbal communication develops at very different rates for toddlers. Introducing sign language early and helping children understand how to communicate without words is important and it adds to the comfort of your child’s day. We begin reinforcing this communication right away!

Our two year olds are so busy! We offer a comfortable, inviting environment to ensure that children feel welcomed and safe while exploring all of their new exciting opportunities for learning. At this age, children begin to play with one another rather than playing next to one another. We work diligently to provide positive learning experiences among children, while also navigating their unique personalities as they interact. Children are always trying to decide how they fit into their world. They are even more independent than they were in their previous class. Teachers will help them express their feelings and wishes; learn how to coordinate and use their large and small muscles for even more complex tasks; and learn many different skills to prepare for preschool. They are provided daily opportunities to explore their imaginations through dramatic play and process art and are encouraged to be creative along the way!

We offer two Columbia IL preschool classrooms and our program fully aligns with standards set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education. 

Children First believes that a solid educational foundation should include cognitive, physical & social-emotional development. With this foundation, children are set up for success for their upcoming education. Children will have a variety of opportunities throughout the day to exercise both their brains and their bodies in all of the necessary areas to strengthen and prepare them for the coming years in school.

Typically, children have an opportunity to engage in activities which promote social interaction and life skills. Examples include, self-serve lunch, leadership roles within the classroom and special daily jobs. Additionally, the children will spend time during the day in centers where they have the chance to explore all areas of learning.

Our school-age program is focused on keeping our children busy while they are with us. For our after school program, children are provided a relaxed environment after a long day at school. They are offered snacks and an opportunity to play outside. There is time available for children to complete homework. During the summer, all of our school age care takes place at our Waterloo Covington location that is designed specifically for a dynamic “summer camp-like” experience for children 5 to 12 years old.