About Us
NIU Campus Child Care offers quality care to children ages 3 months - 5 years (along with a summer school-age program for children ages 6-8 years). The Center is licensed through the State of Illinois and accredited through NAEYC's Academy of Early Childhood Program Accreditation, which serves as an indicator of a high quality program. The program is housed in a facility designed specifically for young children. We are located on the east side of Annie Glidden Rd. behind Gabel Hall.
The program is staffed with qualified and experienced teachers who have either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field. NIU student workers serve as teacher aides in the classroom. Many of these students are majoring in education related fields but employment is open to everyone. The professional staff provides on-going training and skill building experiences for student workers.
The teachers provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum within a learning environment, fostering growth in the areas of cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and linguistic development. The curriculum is child-centered and play-based with learning activities designed to meet each child’s individual ability, developmental stage, and area of interest. The program’s philosophy is based on the belief that children learn best through active exploration and social interaction within a safe and nurturing environment. Each day is made up of a balance of active, quiet, individual, and group activities along with morning and afternoon snacks, a hot lunch, and rest/nap time.
Part-time as well as full-time child care is available to NIU students, faculty, and staff. Enrollment is open to the community in the preschool classrooms (3-5 years) only. Parents may schedule three to ten hours of child care per day, one to five days per week. The center is open Monday - Friday, 7:15 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. during fall, spring, and summer semesters. Full-time care is also available between semesters (during interim) for those who need child care year-round.
Parents interested in enrolling their children should visit our enrollment page to find out more information about how to obtain an application. Enrollment is secured on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given as follows: currently enrolled families; NIU students; NIU faculty and staff; community. Enrollment also depends on space availability for a particular age group and the ability to match schedules.