MSUM Early Education Center Open Year-Round

Expanded calendar appeals to community members

Minnesota State University Moorhead’s (MSUM) Early Education Center now offers its outstanding programming year-round in an effort to meet the growing needs of the community.

The Center previously operated on the university’s academic calendar, since most enrolled children’s parents were students or MSUM employees.

“We are excited to be open during the summer and breaks so more families can take advantage of our high-quality program,” said Center Director Lacey Saga.

As Abby Haugen searched for a new daycare for her children, she learned that MSUM’s Early Education Center was switching to year-round programming.

“I went to the campus preschool when I was a kid so I trusted the facility. I needed a full-time provider, so the change to yearround made it an easy choice for us,” Haugen said.

MSUM’s Center was the first program in Moorhead to be accredited under the National Association for the Education of

LICENSED TEACHERS, EDUCATION MAJORS AND PRACTICUM STUDENTS PROVIDE PERSONAL ATTENTION WHILE MEETING EACH CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

Young Children’s (NAEYC) new standards. It is one of four programs in Moorhead and six in Fargo to earn this prestigious stamp of approval representing a higher standard of quality caregiving and a teaching emphasis on children’s core development areas.

The Center provides care for children 16 months to six years of age, including programs for toddlers, preschool and kindergarten. The Center is an educationbased program designed to meet each child’s unique needs. Hands-on learning activities promote language and social skills, independence, problem solving, creativity, and emotional, physical and intellectual growth.

The “before and after” kindergarten program offers educational experiences along with art, dramatic play and supervised field trips.

The Center’s low adult-to-child ratio ensures that children get focused, personal attention while enjoying the benefits of a group setting with children their own age.

“In addition to a lead teacher and one to two student workers in each classroom, education majors and practicum students are often in the classroom, so children receive a lot of one-on-one attention,” Saga said. “We are really able to look at what’s developmentally appropriate for each child and to focus on each child’s individual needs.”

MSUM’s teachers are professionals with college degrees and specific training in early childhood education. All fulltime staff and student workers are also trained in first aid, CPR and shaken baby syndrome.

The Center’s recent remodel boasts bright, open classrooms with observation space for parents and education students, a state-of-the-art security system, and a 1,667 squarefoot indoor gymnasium with a climbing structure, bikes, basketball hoop and tumbling equipment. An outdoor playground features sandboxes, sensory and climbing walls and a track.

A unique aspect of MSUM’s Center is the campus life experience.

“So many fun things happen on campus, and we often take the children to these activities,” Saga said. Recent excursions include children’s theatre, Nemzek gymnasium, planetarium, wellness center, yoga class, dragonfest, art gallery, science labs, library, taxidermy lab and frequent campus walks.

Besides the wonderful care her children receive at the newly renovated facility, Haugen says, “it’s wonderful they enjoy different experiences that most preschools don’t. My son raves about the planetarium. Being on a college campus is cool for our children to be a part of.”

Nutritious meals include breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack following the guidelines of the USDA Child Care Food Program.

“We are dedicated to giving each child what he or she needs,” Saga said.

For enrollment information, please call 218.477.2214 or visit web. mnstate.edu/childcare.