CDC Philosophy

Philosophy

Childhood is the most important time in one’s life, as it sets the pathway; it is not to be hurried or short changed.
A child has rights and is to be respected.
A child is valued as an individual, and therefore, a child’s learning pace is respected.
A child is an individual, creative, and capable of problem-solving.
Teaching must build on the child’s developmental level.
Learning should be enjoyable.
A child benefits from developmentally appropriate stimulation and learning experiences.
Children need to be interactive in their environment and have hands-on experiences.
Play is the most important way in which a child learns.
A child learns from parents, peers, teachers, and self-discovery of pride in one’s self, family and community. A child must experience life in a genuine and worthwhile way.
A child needs to develop a healthy self-esteem, develop competencies, which help him/her to feel confident and self-reliant, and develop a strong sense community.

To promote access to higher education for low-income parents, especially women and minorities, thereby, promoting self-sufficiency.
To provide quality childcare for unemployed and under-employed student-parents who are entering the work force through welfare-to-work programs.
To provide a safe and nurturing environment for children.
To provide and enhance appropriate parenting practices.
To provide information and referrals for parents and prospective parents.
To provide applied teaching experiences in a classroom setting for related disciplines on the Los Angeles Community College District campuses.
To provide educational opportunities for the future child development workforce in appropriate practices based on current research.
To provide a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate early childhood (birth-age 5) educational programs designed to foster optimum growth and development of the total child.

N/A