Many parents who take classes here at American River College have used the care providers at the Child Development Center to help keep an eye on their children while they attend class.

The Child Development Center is open Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and parents need to have their child scheduled prior to dropping them off.

“The program is open to both students and non-students of ARC.  Students, of course, get the first priority though,” said Michelle Matias, Child Development supervisor.

The cost for childcare is determined by the state based on the size of the family and the family’s income.  The rates are for either a half-day or full day.

The children here are cared for by certified instructors as well as student interns from ARC, and are kept busy throughout the day with art projects and nature-based experiments.

“The children recently made ice for one of their experiments,” Matias said.

Christina Langford, a marine biology major, uses the Child Development Center every weekday.

“It’s perfect, I drop (my child) off and then I go right to class, and then after I’m done with class I come right back here and pick her up,” Langford said.  “She loves the teachers. The classroom structure is great, too. They let them play, but they actually teach them at the same time.”

The program is currently accepting applications for the spring 2014 semester.

“It’s awesome,” said Langford.