The first 5 years of a child’s life are the most important, fundamentally. A child’s brain is developing at rapid speeds, and they learn more quickly than any other time in their life. Research has proven that experiences in the first few years of life help shape how their brain works. Children without preschool often times have difficulty once enrolled in school.
Preschool Class Story Time
Toddlers Classroom Story Time
Families in Crisis
MVK’s Child Development Center is licensed by the State of California and funded by First 5 Riverside and The Riverside County of Education. We are able to provide free or low-cost childcare options to many families in need that are in crisis. A family in “crisis” may fit in any of the following categories:
- Homeless/ Domestic Violence- MVK provides services to families fleeing domestic partnership and that are defined as homeless by the McKinney Vento definition. That is to say that, the family or individual does not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
- Teen Parent- We provide services so that teen parents can continue their education or stay employed.
- Children with limited special needs- MVK provides service to children that are born with disabilities and other limited special needs, services are most effective when started before 3 years of age.
- Grandparents raising grandchildren- Services are provided to help with child care while the guardian is at work or taking care of the family’s needs.
- Other- Need verification of their “crisis.”
*From the categories above, all are required to provide verification of their situation. This is in order to continue services or have services rendered.
Girls Painting
Programs
Children in the Child Development Center will learn language, social-emotional skills, perceptual motor skills, and will develop cognitively through guidance and exploration. As a result, children are often evaluated and screened (ASQ) to address a child’s developmental progress.
Infant- Babies will sit up, crawl, hold their head up, use hands to feed themselves, eventually walk, makes sounds or noises, and responds to sounds. Ratio per classroom is 1 teacher to 3 infants.
Water Play
Toddler- Runs, plays, use of cups for drinking, scoops food with spoons, uses words, learn to group or count and potty training. Ratio per classroom is 1 teacher to 4 toddlers.
Preschool- Climbing, drawing, learning to print letters, able to ask questions (who, what, and how), uses sentences, able to self-serve foods, wash hands, learns rules, identify some letters and numbers. Ratio per classroom is 1 teacher to 8 students.
Staff
MVK teachers receive valuable training to help increase the children’s confidence, self-esteem, and motivation. The minimum requirement for the teachers in the Child Development Center are:
24 Units of Early Childhood Education & 16 General Education Units
Family Style Lunches
Nutrition Service
The Child Development Center follows the CACFP guidelines and is NAP SACC certified. Therefore, children consume more vegetables, fruits and whole grains and less consumption of sugars and saturated fats.
Funding
Funding for MVK’s Child Development Center comes from First 5 Riverside and the Riverside County Department of Education (RCOE). Through our RCOE funding, we have been able to increase the number of children we serve. Also, with support from the CCTR – California Center-Based (Infant Toddler Care 9 slots) and CSPP- California State Preschool Program (16 Preschool). In addition, we rely on the generosity of the community for donations to fill the funding gaps for our Children’s Service Department.
Enrollment
MVK is one of the only licensed child care facility for families in crisis in the Coachella Valley. Space is extremely limited.
For more information please contact Norma Loredo 760-347-4741 ext 113.