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November 2022 by carol riley
Comforting, inviting,nurturing community for every one to play,learn,and grow together!
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May 2021 by Heather Benz
We are so lucky to have Ruby enrolled at DCC! The teachers are caring and thoughtful, the children love it there, and it feels like a family. I know she is in good hands.
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March 2021 by Meagan Murphy
My three children attend(ed) DCC from a very young age and stayed enrolled right up until Kindergarten. Thanks to the teachers that loved and taught them using a constructivist philosophy, and growing up in an environment that encouraged and challenged them, they were beyond ready for elementary school both socially and academically. The staff and philosophy have been a pivotal role in helping raise my children into kind, capable humans and we will forever be grateful for the foundation they had here. They are who they are today because of DCC.I have also had the privilege to be a teacher at DCC for over a decade, therefore giving me a unique perspective as both a parent and staff member. I can tell you that Discovery really is a family...from the teachers to the Directors to the parent-run board and the families that enroll. As both a parent and staff member, I always feel listened to, supported, and confident that my and all the children are loved and cared for. The directors have a long history with this place and are a wealth of knowledge and understanding about children and running a center. The board is all parents, and are so invested and supportive of staff and families. Communication is very important to everyone, as well as health and safety. These things make all the difference in making this not just a childcare center, but a home for all.I'm very fortunate to watch my children and so many others grow and learn each day in such a unique, enriching environment!
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February 2021 by Mia E.
Having sent my daughter to another daycare and been dissatisfied with the care but not brave enough to switch until the pandemic hit. I then selected DCC due to the intimate nature and therefore the health protections and small class size that DCC provides. We have little to no interruptions like many of my friends and the communication is amazing. But the most important thing to realize is that DCC is not a daycare it is a community! The teachers do not see their role as a job but love the children and want to see them develop. Parents give of their time because they believe in the DCC and the community it creates. And the children see DCC as a home away from home and thrive. I could not recommend DCC more!
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January 2021 by tricia kennedy
DCC is such a wonderful place! Long term teachers (some have been there over 20 years) who truly engage with the kids, dedicated staff, and child-led exploratory learning. We couldn't be happier.
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October 2020 by Monica Kraus
My daughter has been attending DCC for about 1.5 years and our experience has been wonderful there. My daughter loves going to school and her teachers are amazing. It’s been so fun to watch her learn, grow, and make friends. I highly recommend DCC!
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October 2020 by Joy Vierling
This is our home away from home! I cannot say enough about the staff and teachers; I'm confident they truly know and love both of my children. But it's worth mentioning I love the building and classrooms, too, it's one of the first things I noticed when we toured 3 years ago. It was just so different from other places. The rooms are homey and have interesting built-in structures with tons of places to explore. From a curriculum perspective there is a huge emphasis on learning through play with all the age groups, even in the infant room. A friend of mine suggested this center as it was where she sent her kids years ago. Her children are now in college, but there are teachers still there that remember them!
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September 2020 by Blake Jones
Great place; staff were always helpful and care greatly about the children they were entrusted to look after.
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February 2020 by Erika Allen
My place of employment...love it
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April 2019 by jai mello
As a former employee, I must say that this is a very disorganized and toxic work environment, from the director to the teachers. I only worked as a toddler teacher for 60 days before I resigned. If you're looking for a place filled with unqualified workers at skyrocket prices, then this is the place for you! By far, the worst job I've ever had. Prospective parents and teachers, if you love your kids and value a peace of mind, don't waste your money on this place! - Johannah M.
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April 2019 by Darren
What an amazing center! The staff are deeply dedicated to the children and adhere to a philosophy of child care that allow the kids to grow and learn through play and discovery. You'll find no better place for your kids for infant through pre-k. The personal and social skills they'll learn will give them a great boost for Kindergarten--and in life in general! And, once again, the staff here are truly dedicated people. They are genuine and loving educators. Your kids will be in great hands.
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June 2018 by Erin Suelmann
We are so lucky and thrilled to have found the Discovery Children's Center! I can't imagine my child learning and growing anywhere else. The staff and teachers are phenomenal, and I have never felt anything but confident my daughter is being well cared for well educated during the day.
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June 2018 by Darren Murphy
What an amazing center! The staff are deeply dedicated to the children and adhere to a philosophy of child care that allow the kids to grow and learn through play and discovery. You'll find no better place for infant through pre-k. The personal and social skills they'll learn will give them a great boost for Kindergarten--and in life in general! And, once again, the staff here are truly dedicated people. They are genuine and loving educators. Your kids will be in great hands.
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November 2017 by Heather M.
My son has been at DCC for 10 months and we absolutely love it! The place you chose to care for your child is so important and has such a role in bringing up your child. We think of them as partners in our son's care. When we first walked through the facility we knew it was the type of place we were looking for. It was designed specifically for the developmental levels of each age range and each room grows with the children. There are ball pits, activity areas, cubbies, crawl spaces, stairs and slides. It's a space that has been growing with its children for 30 years and shows the love and character of all those people. The building brings you in but the staff keep you coming back. They know all of the children in their care as well as all the kids in the entire building! It's a real community and the teachers are always happy to see us and talk to us for as long as needed. They challenge the kids with new activities, ideas and games everyday while being gentle and kind.
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August 2017 by Darren M.
Having three children growing up through DCC from infancy to pre-K, I can definitively say that Developmental Child Care is by far the premier childcare center in all of St. Louis. Unlike other child care centers that may aim to merely corral and entertain the kids until their parents return, the staff at DCC staff own up to their namesake and develop the children at every stage and age. They engage the kids in every moment, every day. I've passed so many centers where the staff merely sit aside and "watch" the children as the time passes. Not at DCC. Here, the youngest infants hone their motor skills, learn to communicate their needs with sign language, and cultivate social skills through meaningful relationships with both their fellow infants and classroom teachers. All while having fun! You can literally see the difference at home, when your 9-month old suddenly taps his fingertips for "more" food instead of crying, or when he engages another baby with laughter and jabbers, or in the way he curiously turns an object about in his hands. Make no mistake, the infant room staff are skilled and experienced teachers. And the trend continues through to every room with every corresponding teacher. Toddlers learn to share and care for one another while communicating and expressing their own feelings. They create artwork, have imaginative play that encourages them to think outside the box of their own lives, and explore new things. They learn to have fun both on their own and in groups. They are given choices on how to spend their time and allowed to speak for themselves rather than having their day dictated to them and planned. Their senses are nourished with all kinds of play and exploration---as play and exploration are paramount to this constructivist center. You'll never find your child passing time coloring a rocket ship inside the lines of a book. Instead, they'll draw the rocket themselves, or paint it on a canvas, or straight up make it of cardboard and climb inside. There are no pointless boundaries. They're allowed to make messes---and then learn to clean them up! They're encouraged to try new things and arrive at their own understanding. As such, the teachers work hard to keep this spirit alive. They don't rest on their laurels, but stay in the fray and engage with the kids from open to close. There is no question that our boys entered Kindergarten with a DCC edge. Forget preschools---keep them at DCC. I could spot a DCC kindergartener with ease. They're curious, friendly, social, smart, and not afraid to try new things and meet new people. We were so worried on the first day of kindergarten---and for nothing. He was more prepared for it than we were! Thus, the DCC difference is absolutely profound. You'll be kept up to date every step of the way. The staff at DCC truly love and admire their kids and will keep you abreast of every moment with pictures and notes on both their achievements and interests, but also their routines and preferences. They get to know your child as well as you do. Children at DCC look at their staff with genuine love and respect. It's a wonderful thing to behold and be a part of.
