Child Care Center

Our Mission

The First Baptist Church Child Care Center is committed to excellence in Christian child care as a Ministry to children and their parents. We are a full-time non-profit Christian Ministry of First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, providing the community with a holistic approach to child care. Our program reflects our knowledge of child development by offering high quality infant, toddler, and preschool programs. High teacher to child ratios in each classroom help us promote physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual development of young children, while also responding to the needs of families. Our highly trained teachers and staff nurture children’s natural curiosity and wonder within a safe Christian environment that is similar to home, and allows them to explore and discover. We partner with parents, building a strong foundation for success in the life of each child.

We believe that family members are the most important people in children’s lives. We strive to work together with families as true partners for the benefit of each child. While we bring knowledge of how children develop and learn, the family brings intimate knowledge of their unique child. We value family connections and understand that the strength of these relationships support each child. Parents and family members are encouraged to visit their children in our classrooms during the day, whenever their schedules permit. The friendly staff at The First Baptist Child Care Center have created a “home away from home” where your children can learn through interactive play and your family can feel the support of a caring community.

Maximum Teacher-to-Child Ratios:

• For infants, 1 teacher for every 4 children.
• For toddlers, 1 teacher for every 4 children.
• For two-year-olds, 1 teacher for every 6 children.
• For preschoolers, 1 teacher for every 10 children.

Infants and Toddlers

In the first two years, infants and toddlers learn about the world through their senses. They develop close bonds with special adults and explore their environment. Our role as caregivers in infant and toddler classrooms is to facilitate the development of curious children, help them do things for themselves, and foster trust in adults. We believe in continuity of care, where a primary caregiver provides nurturing support for 3 or 4 infants or toddlers in her group. We respect each child as an individual and provide each the freedom to develop physical, social and emotional skills at his or her own pace. Through responsive care giving, we support the individual needs and schedules for our children.

Two-Year-Olds

Two-year-olds are explosive in their ability to communicate, coordinate their movements, and assert their independence. They are moving from the total dependence of babyhood to the more independent, mobile world of preschoolers. The First Baptist Child Care Center is excited to provide two-year-olds with manageable challenges and mastery experiences. We offer a relaxing environment that allows for frequent mood changes, varying interests, and capabilities of two-year-olds. Our teachers are gentle, patient and calm. They provide developmentally appropriate “play-centered” activities, creating a learning environment where children can feel successful and important.

Preschoolers

Children age three to five are growing rapidly in every area of development: socially, physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Developmentally appropriate “play-centered” activities and routines are planned, offering each child many opportunities for challenge and success. Whether they’re little artists, acrobats, doctors, dinosaurs, or dancers, children can express themselves while gaining confidence in a social learning atmosphere. Children have the freedom to make choices in an environment that has been designed to meet all of their needs. The children at The First Baptist Child Care Center are creative problem solvers, life long learners, and interesting, interested individuals.

Our Staff

Our qualified staff is committed to Early Childhood Education and Professional Development within that field. They participate in ongoing Early Childhood Development and Education classes. Staff members respect, value and accept children individually. Teachers and staff make it a priority to know each child well and treat him or her with dignity at all times. All staff members, board members, and volunteers at The First Baptist Child Care Center must pass a comprehensive background check. Teachers here are CPR and First Aid Certified, and maintain a Salt Lake Valley Health Department Child Care And Preschool Food Handler Card.

Discipline and Guidance

First Baptist Child Care Center is committed to the belief that through praise and encouragement, children learn appropriate behavior. We will reason with, set limits for, and model, appropriate behavior for children. We will attempt to prevent problems before they occur in our classrooms and play areas. Teachers listen to children and provide alternatives for inappropriate behavior as needed. Natural and logical consequences are used as we explain things to the children on their individual levels of understanding. The needs, desires, and feelings of each child are respected as we strive to maintain consistency throughout the facility.

Meals

Children over one year old are served nutritious, homemade meals and milk for breakfast and lunch, and an afternoon snack.

Facilities

• Individual classrooms for each age group
• Regulation size gymnasium
• Sand-filled play area with playground
• Enclosed, outdoor, grassy courtyard with walkways for running and using riding toys

Activities

• Arts And Crafts
• Bible Stories
• Blocks And Other Construction
• Early Numbers
• “God’s Children Sing” With Ms. Julie Goodro
• Hands-On Science
• Holiday Celebration
• Imaginative Free Play
• Indoor And Outdoor Free Play
• Interactive Story Time
• Music
• Parent-Sponsored Activities (Once Per Month)
• Opportunity To Participate In Church Christmas Program
• Plays, Puppet Shows, And Other Drama
• Reading Preparation
• Rest Time
• Sensory Development
• Stretch-n-Grow® Classes For Children 18 Months And Older
• Toilet Training

Other Information

Hours of Operation: M-F 6:45 am – 6:00 pm
Director: Carol Wood
Program Coordinator: Gina Hintz
Phone: (801) 582-6230
Email: childcare@firstbaptist-slc.org