About Riverfront Children's Center |
Riverfront Children's Center 476 Thames Street, Groton, CT 06340 (860) 445-8151 |
Riverfront Children's Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide high quality, affordable childcare and educational services while comprehensively nurturing the unique needs of children and their families. The program serves up to 97 children at a time, ages 3 months through 12 years, whose parents or guardians are working, in school or attending training programs in Southeastern Connecticut. We believe that parents, guardians and teachers working together to promote the healthy development of children is essential in helping children succeed. We envision a community where all children are safe and receiving the highest quality education and all families are self-sufficient and succeeding. We are licensed by the State of Connecticut and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The NAEYC administers the largest and most widely recognized national, voluntary, professionally-sponsored accredidation system for all types of early childhood schools and child care centers. Our early childhood program is accredited every five years by NAEYC through this voluntary, comprehensive process where the program must undergo internal self-study, invite external professional review to verify compliance with the Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Programs, and which has led to a finding of substantial compliance with the criteria. At Riverfront we are committed to the principle of teaching each child to their own individual level of development and need. We believe children learn best in an environment which engages them in interactive, hands-on exploration of materials. Teachers and children play and learn together in carefully designed classroom areas that include math, art, science, gross and fine motor, sensory, reading, writing, creative dramatics, music, blocks and outdoor play. Academics are woven into all activities. What we want most for our children when they complete our program is to have increased self-esteem and problem solving skills, to use language to solve issues that arise, interact with each other and adults in a positive social way, and to express themselves through creativity. We also provide parent workshop and training opportunities focused on a broad range of strategies to strengthen families, including literacy, nutrition, and family fun. We serve as a referral source to help parents navigate the often-confusing system of programs that may be available to help. We host an on-site family resource program providing free clothing, a food pantry, and diaper bank. All of our support programs offer assistance with the dignity critical to fostering the financial and emotional growth of our families toward success. |
