July 16, 2010
Downtown Baltimore Child Care, Inc. was named one of Baltimore’s best child care centers in the July issue of Baltimore Magazine
"You don't really expect to hear the squeals of delight or the chatter of little voices here, in a space nudged up against the University of Maryland at Baltimore's downtown campus. But behind the brown wooden fence on Arch Street, DBCC has carved out a little oasis of fun for the wee ones and built itself a strong reputation for high-quality care—so much so that it's an approved trainer for the child care community.
How do they do it? First off, high child-to-staff ratios—in the infant rooms, for example, it's 2.25:1, compared to a state mandated 3:1. And the facility itself is thoughtfully designed to spur imaginations and engage even the tiniest tykes. DBCC's 8,000-square-foot playground—divided into a grassy clearing for picnicking and story time, an infant/toddler yard, and a preschool area—offers plenty of time for active play.
But what really defines DBCC may be its philosophy, which is heavy on learning-through-play. The center shies away from rote memorization, as well as screen time. "We have a TV and VCR, although I think it is circa 1982," jokes executive director Margo Sipes."
Learn more about this story: http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/article.asp?t=1&m=1&c=30&s=482&ai=96928