Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Nebraska Omaha Child Care Center (UNOCCC) is to provide a high quality child care and early education program for children, as well as opportunities for training and research to enhance the knowledge of care, education and development of young children.
The center collaborates with faculty, schools, and community groups to advocate for improved resources for young children and their families.
Research activities in related fields of study are intended to promote knowledge of developmental issues and practices relevant to early childhood education, early learning and practical application of this knowledge. The center provides opportunities for university students and members of the community to increase their knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate teaching practices, and non-violence program planning, child care administration and parent/teacher/child interactions.
The center promotes evaluation of its current programmatic components such as toddler and preschool curricula, child nutrition, parent involvement, and creative environments for children. In-service and pre-service experiences include classroom observations and directed experiences. As the field of Early Childhood Care and Education evolves to meet the growing needs of today’s children and families, the center will continue to provide a leadership role in teaching, training, and research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Philosophy Statement
The UNOCCC integrates quality child care services and early childhood education. Our philosophy supports the “whole child” concept of development based on the belief that one cannot educate without offering care and protection; and one cannot provide care and protection without also educating young children in a group setting.
Knowledge of this integrative practice promotes respect for children and the adults who care for them and to implement the developmentally appropriate practices to promote the health and growth of the whole child by meeting his/her emotional, social, intellectual, physical and emerging cultural needs.
The center uses a team teaching approach in each age group classroom. Together the professional staff and administration plan the over-all program goals and objectives and curriculum units intended to meet the child’s individual developmental needs. We nurture, facilitate, and assess each child’s normal pattern of development in all functional areas, while respecting the individuality and potential of all children enrolled.
The center's fundamental belief is that children have the right to be cared and educated in a safe, healthy, nurturing environment by adults who are well-trained in child development principles.
We strive to promote and demonstrate respectful interactions between the teacher-parent, teacher-child, child-child, and teacher-teacher relationship. This helps establish an atmosphere of acceptance and well-being for all who participate in the program.