Our Philosophy

In 1986, WCCC entered into an arrangement with Wellesley College and Babson College to build a new facility for infant, toddler, and pre-school children on the Wellesley College campus. The Center now provides services to three constituencies--the community, Babson College, and Wellesley College. We aim to have one third of our children from community families and two thirds of our children from the colleges.
    The Early Childhood Program is a process oriented program which fosters each child's individual development as the basis for all curriculum. In our Infant Rooms, infant schedules are as varied as the infants themselves. The Toddlers have time and space to explore with all their senses and to gain confidence in using their rapidly changing physical and verbal skills. In the preschool groups (ages three, four and five), our philosophy is derived from the High Scope Foundation--a cognitively based curriculum in which children are seen as active learners who develop best when their daily activities and projects stem from their own interests. We have information available on the High Scope philosophy, and parents are welcome to borrow these materials at any time.

Program Information

WCCC’S Early Childhood Program, located in the design-built day care building on the Wellesley College campus, provides care for children from three months to five years of age. There are seven age groups: two infant, two toddler, and three preschool. The Center opens at 7:30 am and closes at 5:45 pm. Except for legal holidays, a week at the end of the summer, and the week betwee. Christmas and New Year’s, the program operates year round. The staff is made up of teacher/caregivers who have training and experience in the field of early childhood education. Teachers must meet Office for Child Care Services standards for teacher qualifications.

Our goals are to keep children safe and healthy in an attractive and stimulating environment while providing a program which is individualized to meet each child’s developmental level. Most important is the fact that all of this takes place in an atmosphere in which each child’s needs are put first. Building trust and self-confidence are the goals of interactions between child and caregiver, the curriculum, and even the daily routines such as snack and clean-up.

The schedule includes indoor and outdoor play, activities for small groups and large groups, times for children to play quietly alone or read a book with a teacher. Lunch, brought from home, is followed by a rest time. The Center provides a snack twice a day.

Parents of infants should note that in both infant rooms, the teachers adapt to each baby’s schedule, rather than having the child conform to a group routine. Parents provide formula, baby food, and diapers, and the Center provides juice and whatever is appropriate for infant snacks.

In addition to the full-time option, WCCC offers a limited number of three and two day schedules for infants and toddlers. Preschoolers may come for five, four, or three days. All rates are monthly and for a full day. The Center does not offer a half day program.

WCCC holds Open Houses two or three times a year; please ask for the date of the next one scheduled. Once there is a definite opening or the likelihood of one occurring, parents will be invited to take an individual tour of the Center. Our enrollment process requires that you complete an application form and send it in along with a $20 application fee.

The Wellesley Community Children’s Center is a private, non-profit child care organization. The center does not discriminate in its admission, scholarship, or employment practices on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, sexual orientation, political beliefs, disability, sex, age, or marital status.