Our mission is to provide early care and education to children to assist in their healthy, emotional, social, mental, and physical development for lifelong learning.
- To be alert, curious, self-confident, positive, and independent.
- To be aware of personal feelings and to begin to express themselves appropriately so they can be understood by others.
- To respect the feelings and rights of others, to begin to understand another person’s point of view, and to begin to be an independent and cooperative member of a group.
- To feel secure in relationships with adults where there is mutual respect.
- To be creative and come up with interesting ideas, problems, and questions.
- To think about relationships among things and to notice their similarities and differences.
- To increase the various basic information and basic practical skills.
- To develop greater coordination and to explore, enjoy and increase the various ways of large and small muscles.
- To develop language and speech skills; vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and the enjoyment of speaking and communicating with others.
- Develop a positive self-image which is reflected by independence, self-discipline, confidence, responsibility, and appropriate interactions in a variety of ways
- Learn in a child-centered environment through spontaneity and curiosity which will assist in the development of the child’s social and emotional health.
- Be encouraged to reach their potential in all areas of development through adult support in a happy, healthy, and safe environment.
- Have the opportunity for choices; the creativity of learning which will promote confidence for the present and future learning and overall development.
- Expand skills between school and home through active parent involvement which will enhance individual self-growth.
We believe every child is unique in terms of life experiences, developmental readiness, and cultural heritage. The partnership between school and home provides for a better understanding and increased knowledge of the child’s educational goals, development, and activities. The foremost task of Bristol Child Development Center, Inc. program is to promote optimum development of a healthy self-concept in each child.
In January 1970, the Mayor of Bristol appointed a committee representing a cross-section of the City to study the feasibility of establishing a daycare center in Bristol. The Committee recommended the establishment of a private, non-profit agency, set up as a non-stock corporation.
The Bristol Daycare Center opened in December 1971 in the Asbury Methodist Church providing meals, transportation, and educational instruction to 30 children ages three to five. In June 1978, a second facility was opened to provide daycare to an additional 30 children at Bristol Baptist Church. The Center became a member agency of the United Way of Bristol in 1980.
The Center expanded again in 1983 after receiving funding and a license to expand the services at both centers for an additional 45 children.
In 1995, new legislation brought School Readiness funding to Connecticut, and then Bristol Daycare center became Bristol Preschool Child Care Center.
In October of 1998, Bristol Preschool Child Care Center received 1.2 million dollars in tax-exempt bonds from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) for the purchase and renovations of 339 West Street for a new School Readiness childcare facility. The Center opened in July of 1999 and provides preschool services for 103 children.
In July 2002, the Asbury Methodist Church site was closed, and services were consolidated at the 339 West Street site.
In 2015 Bristol Preschool Child Care Center was awarded 5 million dollars in State Bonding funds to renovate the first floor of the former John J. Jennings School, 291 Burlington Ave. Bristol, CT. In September 2016 the center was opened and can serve 136 children ages 12 weeks through 12 years.
In 2021, Bristol Preschool Child Care Center became Bristol Child Development Center, the name was changed to reflect more accurately who we are now as an agency and the direction we want to move towards in our future. We are not just a preschool program but a high-quality child-development center. BCDC serves up to 239 children, ages 12 weeks to 12 years age in two locations, 339 West Street, Bristol, Connecticut. and 291 Burlington Avenue, Bristol, Connecticut.
Bristol Child Development Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC Accreditation helps teachers and other staff at early learning programs develop a shared understanding and commitment to quality. The accreditation process leads to increased staff morale, greater staff retention, and a more positive, energetic work atmosphere overall—enabling centers to provide a solid foundation for all children’s success in life. NAEYC-accredited early learning programs are exceptionally well equipped and meticulously measured for indicators of quality in the classroom and beyond. From guidelines for teacher preparation through safety standards, NAEYC Accreditation ensures that programs are safe, well prepared, and intentional about ensuring children’s success. As a reputable indicator of quality, NAEYC Accreditation correlates with children’s greater readiness and success in school and beyond; increased educational attainment rates; and overall healthier lifestyles. Additionally, we are a state-licensed childcare facility under the Office of Early Childhood.
Bristol Child Development’s Educational Philosophy is based on the premise that each child has the inherent right to develop the skills necessary to be a life-long learner. Our program stimulates each child’s thinking and expression, exploration, and curiosity. We do this through providing rich learning environments catered to each age group and designed according to interest areas. Children in our classrooms learn through hands on play and intentionally planned high quality learning experiences. Teachers develop these activities through observational data collection. They watch children play and engage in conversation with them about their ideas and interests to build the curriculum. We utilize the State of Connecticut Early learning and Development Standards which allow us to implement a content-rich, developmentally appropriate program that supports active learning and progress in all developmental areas.
As part of our education philosophy, we also believe in the importance of conducting routine observations and assessments of children throughout the year. We do this by using the Connecticut Documentation & Observation for Teaching System.