Welcome !

We, the staff of the United Methodist Children’s Center (UMCC), would like to welcome your family to our center. We recognize your need for reliable child care services. Our center will provide loving and nurturing care for your child. We look forward to working with you as a team and sharing ideas and concerns about the growth and development of your child/ren.

We believe:

• That God has created each person as a whole being, with individuality, uniqueness, dignity, and potential;
• That children learn Christian behaviors and biblical values as modeled by others;
• That children progress through certain developmental, stages, mastering the tasks of one level before moving on to the next stage.
• That learning is most effective when children actively participate in meaningful learning experiences;
• That children have unique and individual learning styles;
• That children are motivated by achievement success and self-improvement;
• That curriculum should be balanced between a child centered and content centered program.

How It All Started

We started with a "latch key" program in 1981.  Pastor Ernie Fritschle had contacted Dell Rey School and found interest there.  The program began around 2:30 until 6:00p.m.  This went on for a year or two and then we began a full day care with Doris Lasby as the first director.  Since the state required a copy of her fingerprints, we got the forms and used an ink pad to take Doris 's prints.

The state accepted our application. We began to accept infants.  The library was used by nursing mothers from the phone company. It worked well for both.

In the beginning we were sighted several times for infractions.  However, the center never closed.  We learned as we went along. In those days there was also chapel every Friday, which was attended by all but the youngest.

The church saw the center as a mission outreach and gave it their full support.