Concord Children’s Center (CCC) is an accredited, nonprofit preschool committed to the development and early education of young children from the age of 10 weeks through preschool. CCC uses the term childcare to describe the work we do each day developing the whole child in our care; daycare is not a broad enough term for our philosophy of early childhood care. Working together with families, CCC helps nurture engaged, lifelong learners by creating an environment that celebrates a child’s inquisitive nature, encourages exploration and play, fosters confidence in each child’s individual gifts, and guides children in building strong, respectful relationships.
Whether you are seeking year-round infant or toddler care or an excellent preschool education, we encourage you to explore CCC.
Our locations
West Concord
1300 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742 Phone: (978) 369-6790 Fax: (978) 369-0179 Program Director: Anne Doherty
CCC at West Concord is located in the heart of West Concord village, across from the newly renovated Fowler branch of the Concord Public Library and adjacent to the Harvey Wheeler Community Center. It includes three infant-toddler classrooms and four preschool classes. CCC at West Concord also has a separate infant/toddler playground, a naturalistic playground for our older children, a vegetable and flower garden, and a multi-purpose room with a wall of windows overlooking the playground.
CCC East Concord is in a historic farmhouse with a custom-built addition, located just outside Concord Center and abutting old agricultural fields. It includes three infant toddler classrooms, three preschool classrooms, two indoor multi-purpose spaces, an activity kitchen, a separate infant/toddler playground, and a larger playground for our older children.
CCC offers NAEYC-accredited infant, toddler, and preschool early education and care at two locations in Concord, Massachusetts. Our teachers are skilled and enthusiastic educators who have a thorough knowledge of child development and hold degrees in early childhood education and related fields. We offer year-round flexible full- and part-time schedules tailored to fit the unique needs of each family. Children flourish in this setting, and CCC families are encouraged to become involved in shaping our vibrant community
Infants and Toddlers
At CCC, we offer infants (ages 10 weeks to 15 months) and toddlers (15 months to 2 years, 9 months) safe and nurturing spaces in which to grow.
During these early years, children are learning that they can exercise some control over their social and physical world. Infants and toddlers acquire new skills and understanding about themselves through play and exploration. At CCC, teachers engage infants and toddlers in ways that focus on each child’s needs, interests, and development.
In our preschool classrooms (for children aged 2 years, 9 months, to kindergarten), teachers present engaging and interactive thematic units to spark curiosity.
Children build broad foundations for learning in all content areas: language arts, creative arts, math, science, and social studies. Our preschool activities are designed to appeal to all the senses (visual, auditory, and physical). We encourage children to be active in their own learning by asking questions, reflecting on what they are doing, and connecting new knowledge with past experiences. At the preschool level, CCC places a strong emphasis on social development; teachers guide children gently in learning to share, take turns, lead, follow, and be a good friend.
Our summer program continues CCC’s commitment to provide a stimulating, engaging experience designed to meet the developmental stages of participating children.
Led by our staff of professional early childhood educators, the summer program combines an interactive creative curriculum with opportunities for relaxation, play, and social development. There is plenty of time for outdoor play in our natural play environments. Children entering CCC for the first time are able to make new friends and meet many of our teachers prior to the fall start of school.
CCC’s summer program is for children enrolled in one of our school-year programs. The program is offered in one-week sessions from the end of the regular school year in June through mid-August. Children must enroll for a minimum of four weeks.
CCC offers flexible scheduling to meet a variety of family needs. We are open year-round from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents may choose a schedule of between three mornings and five full days per week. Our weekly schedule offers the following options:
The mission of the Concord Children’s Center is to cultivate an intimate, welcoming community where children develop respectful relationships and inquisitive minds, build confidence in their individual gifts, and are engaged, prepared and inspired to learn.
Educational Philosophy
We believe that children flourish in a warm, sensory-rich, child-focused setting. CCC provides a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors, where young children can play, explore, and learn. The atmosphere at CCC encourages both self-reliance and sharing, and our low child-to-teacher ratio provides ample opportunity for individual attention.
We believe care and education are united. Responsive care is critical for nurturing healthy, happy and full-realized humans. Children are learning every moment and learn the deepest lessons through the caring exchange.
We believe that early childhood is a crucial time to develop a healthy sense of self-confidence. CCC educators encourage children to meet and overcome developmentally suitable challenges. The self-confidence that these efforts produce is authentic and vital to developing enthusiasm for learning, independence, and meaningful social ties.
We believe that children are individuals and that differences are valuable. Each child has a unique learning style and particular needs. CCC celebrates these differences and cultivates an environment that can address individual interests and developmental levels.
We believe that children learn more effectively when they direct their own play and work. CCC provides a balance of child-initiated and teacher-directed activities that include opportunities for both active and quiet play. CCC’s predictable routines and consistent supervision provide structure within which children are encouraged to pursue a range of activities and to explore.
We believe that family is the main source of security and identification for young children. At CCC, we understand that our students’ well-being depends on our success in working with their families.
We believe in Nature based education. With the understanding that everything in the natural world is interrelated and that humans are part of this as co-habitors, it is important for children’s learning to be in, with, and for nature.
Concord Children’s Center includes all members of the community and does not discriminate in hiring policies or admissions on the basis of race, sex, religion, cultural heritage, national origin, political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, or mental and physical disability. The Center is licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. We are governed by a Board of Directors composed of parents, staff and community members.
Infants
At CCC, we offer infants (ages 10 weeks to 15 months) and toddlers (15 months to 2 years, 9 months) safe and nurturing spaces in which to grow. During these early years, children are learning that they can exercise some control over their social and physical world. Infants and toddlers acquire new skills and understanding about themselves through play and exploration. At CCC, teachers engage infants and toddlers in ways that focus on each child’s needs, interests, and development.
