Ossining Children's Center

The early childhood years are seminal not just for the child but for the family. We affirm and support parents during this important time.

Children were born to learn. Through the intimate bond of caregiver and child the child’s natural desire to learn is awakened and developed. Research on early childhood development shows that 80 per cent of an individuals learning capacity and character are determined in the first four years of life. For this reason we work as a team with parents to best meet the developmental needs of their child.

There is no one size fits all early childhood curriculum. Each child is an individual with a distinctive temperament and his or her own way of interacting with the world. Normal comprises a broad spectrum of dispositions and rates of development. Our teacher-caregivers and our curriculum are flexible in order to support each childs unique developmental path.
It is during out of school time that youngsters begin to develop life-long habits of balancing work with leisure. During after school hours and school vacations school-age youngsters need a balance of down time physical activity help with homework a wealth of enrichment experiences and mentoring relationships with supportive adults. Learning opportunities that are different from those in the school environment can make a critical difference to youngsters who have aptitudes and/or learning styles that may remain untapped in a traditional classroom. Furthermore school-age children are ready to be introduced to the recreational and cultural riches of our region.
Interacting with people from various backgrounds is an essential learning experience for children today as they will be expected to function as adults in a global multicultural marketplace. We are fortunate that our learning environment is characterized by the rich cultural and socioeconomic diversity of Ossining reflected in our enrollment and in our staff.

Furthermore both historically and today OCC has always had a close working relationship with the Ossining Union Free School District. Todays OCC-Public School collaborative programs include a model collaborative pre-kindergarten; an after-school program housed in one of the Districts schools; and a childcare and parenting program for teen mothers enabling them to graduate from Ossining High School.

The Center spearheads a Community Outreach Committee comprising representatives from other local childcare centers the Ossining Public Library the Open Door Family Medical Center the First Steps Family Literacy Program the Ossining Public Schools and other local organizations that serve children and families.