Child and Parent Development Center (CPDC) is the child care and education center for young children, under the auspices of the Division of Education and Human Sciences at Mississippi University for Women. CPDC operates as a service to MUW and the Columbus Community by providing quality care and educational experiences for young children. Established in 1984, CPDC unites the Child Development Laboratory (1937) and the Center for Infants and Parents (1974) into one organization. Currently, CPDC's educational program includes four all-day classes for children ages one through four years. The enhancement of each child's physical, motor, intellectual, emotional, and social development is an important goal of the program.

The staff members of Child and Parent Development Center share a common philosophy that children learn best when they can actively interact with their environment. We, also, share a common commitment to helping each child develop fully: physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Each child is valued as a unique individual with a particular pattern of growth and manner of acquiring knowledge and skills. In your child's classroom, you will observe a wide variety of materials that can be used in many different ways. Children can explore the materials, solve problems, develop skills, increase knowledge, or be creative in ways that help them to solidify their abilities at one level and be ready to move on to the next. All activities are developmentally appropriate for the age level of the children using them and take into account the different rates at which children mature.

Staff members will allow children to engage in activities at their own level of development at a particular time. When children demonstrate readiness, teachers will encourage them to move to a higher level of functioning by gently questioning, suggesting, or providing the kinds of materials or experiences that will increase knowledge or feelings of competence and self-esteem. In this way, every child is able to develop fully according to his/her own interests and capabilities.

The Child and Parent Development Center is located in the Education and Human Sciences Building. The center is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, year-round. Fees are reasonable and can be paid on a weekly basis. No fees are charged when the center is closed for holidays.

CPDC

• For children ages 1-5 years old

• Enrollment priority for MUW students

• Open to all children of Columbus and surrounding area, regardless of race, religion, or creed

• Below state ratio of children per adult

• Staffed by four classroom teachers and director with college degrees

• Two snacks plus hot, balanced lunch each day

• Open visitation with classroom observation windows

• MUW lab students provide one-on-one interaction

• Licensed by the State of Mississippi Department of Health

For more information, contact:
Mrs. Barbara Beaulieu
Director
W Box 219
Columbus, MS 39701 
(662) 329-7196

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