Although CEHD’s Child Development Center (CDC) is currently closed to all but health care and emergency worker children, its teachers are still providing families with a sense of community, albeit remotely. “They are offering continued learning based on the experiences the children are learning at home,” said CDC Associate Director Sarah McKee.

The teachers are creating weekly journals showing what children are doing at home as well as planning curricula for parents each week. And parents have been pleased with the results. “Trying to balance remote work, house chores, and our son’s education has been incredibly challenging for us as a family,” said parent Gabriela Bustamante. “We miss all that the Child Development Center means and provides, but during these tough times, we have never felt left alone.”

Teachers are also creating videos of songs, stories, and sensory play experiences. “They are also holding large and small group Zoom meetings,” McKee said. “These meetings are focused around the curriculum and things children are doing at home.” Zoom meetings also allow children to see their teachers and their friends while apart.

“Our daughter really looks forward to seeing her friends and teachers in the weekly group time sessions and loves to look through the daily journal each week to see what her friends have been up to,” said parent Emily Ehlinger. “On days where we don’t have group time, we watch the story videos and engage in the other activities that her teachers include in the curriculum.”

McKee said that although everyone misses being together at the center and it can be difficult to work at home with small children, this distance learning is keeping everyone safe right now. “We will reopen the center as soon as possible, following the direction of the governor’s office and U President Gabel,” she said.

Many parents have said that the experience has been inspirational. “In many ways I even feel closer to the teachers now going through this time together and after all they’ve done to support our family,” said Kristina Reigstad. “This experience with the CDC and our teachers encourages us that no doubt we will all get through this and be better from what we’ve learned and experienced.”