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Pat Logan is director of the UB Child Care Center.
How many children does the UB Child Care Center serve?
We have two sites. Our South Campus center is licensed for 90 children. The North Campus site is licensed for 54 children. We care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.
What is the center's philosophy?
We believe that children learn through play. This means that children learn best through active exploration of their environment and through relationships with others. The teacher's role is to set up interesting experiences for children or groups of children and expand children's thinking by asking questions. We also believe in respect for others. Our motto is: "We want everyone to be safe here." By safe, we mean physically and emotionally safe. We believe in positive guidance for children. We help children develop problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills. We support children and families.
The center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). What exactly does that mean?
It means that we follow standards for quality care for children. The standards set by the NAEYC cover health, relationships, teaching, curriculum and assessment, safety, community relations and relations with families. Teachers in accredited centers must meet qualifications in training. Almost all of our teachers have a degree and experience. The NAEYC is the largest early childhood professional organization in the U.S.
How does the UB Child Care Center differ from the Early Childhood Research Center in Baldy Hall?
Both UBCCC and the Early Childhood Research Center are accredited and have similar philosophies. UB Child Care Center is a non-profit child-care center that serves the UB community—faculty, staff and students. We offer care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years from 7:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, all year round. The ECRC is a lab school under UB's School of Graduate Education. It offers part-time programs for children ages 2-5.
There are extensive waiting lists for both locations of the center, especially for the infant rooms. Does the center have plans to expand?
We are hoping to work out a plan to expand our center on North Campus, where there seems to be the greatest need. We would like to offer more infant care and also after-school care. Last summer we added a school-age summer camp on South Campus and are planning on running it again this summer. Waiting lists can be deceptive, though. Parents should not be discouraged by the list. Many times spots open up earlier than anticipated.
How does the center fit into the UB 2020 strategic plan?
Plans to expand UB's faculty and student population should include expanding available child care. Quality child care can be an important recruiting tool to help bring faculty and graduate students to UB. Knowing their children are well cared for gives parents the peace of mind to enable them to work.
What do you think about John Rosemond's assessment that society today has become "child-centered" and that parents are too lenient?
I believe that children learn when they are given choices, but I also believe that choices need to go hand-in-hand with limits. Giving children choices gives them a sense of control over their lives and builds self-esteem. It helps children develop decision-making skills. But too many choices can be overwhelming, and giving children limits gives them a sense of security. Everyone who works with children needs to remember that. I don't believe that our country is really "child centered." In spite of research that shows the importance of the first five years of a child's development, little financial support is given to early childhood education.
How do you counter the argument that very young children should be at home with their mothers, rather than spending time in day care?
There are many single-parent families or families that need the income of both parents. There are families where both parents want to work. It's not our place to judge families, but to provide the best care we can for children who come to our center. We support families by comforting children at parting times, welcoming parents to visit during the day and by allowing families to work or study without worrying about their child. We provide a homey atmosphere with caring adults. Research shows that many gains in social skills are made by children who have attended quality child-care facilities. Children who have been in child care are more ready for kindergarten because they have had opportunities to play with other children and are used to being away from their parents.
What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have answered it?
What makes UB Child Care Center unique? Being part of UB gives our center a very diverse community. We have families from all over the world. We have many children who speak two or even three languages. This is a great opportunity for children to learn that in spite of our differences, we are all very similar.