Bloomington Developmental Learning Center

Temwayaj

“ Our son is happy at BDLC even though at almost a year old his separation anxiety is pretty bad right now! He still crawls off excitedly when I drop him off in the morning, which I’m so grateful for. His teachers are kind, calm, and responsible. And very experienced. The younger helpers in the room are sweethearts. Really no complaints. Oh–their outdoor space is also really nice, definitely the prettiest of any daycare we’ve seen in Bloomington. And they spend a lot of time out there. “

“ My 4 year old son has been attending BDLC for over a year since transferring from another daycare facility. The positive changes in every aspect of his behavior and development have been truly amazing. His teacher is absolutely wonderful, and he has grown so much in his short time there. We are so pleased with the care and instruction that he’s receiving that we recently transferred our 10 month old daughter there as well. In the three weeks that she has been in attendance, she has already learned how to feed herself and has officially started crawling! As parents, I couldn’t think of a more exceptional school to send my children to!”

“ I am a current and long term parent of children at BDLC. My children have attended this amazing school since 2013. The teachers are amazing. They care so deeply for my children, even after my oldest graduated. The play based and child directed curriculum is wonderful for encouraging each child’s individual self. I have also been impressed with the new executive director that was hired in 2017 and continues to work to improve the program. I would choose BDLC again if I had it all to do over again. “

“ I am so happy to have found the BDLC. My daughter who is 2 now was at two different daycares before, and she would do nothing but scream and cry most of the day. When she started here, the teachers took the extra time to hold her and play with her and make her feel loved, and it changed her perspective on what school is. She also isn’t just sitting there bored. Some things I really love about this place are that they play outside as often as possible and even get to have most of their meals outside at picnic tables. They have a garden where the toddlers can just walk around and pick things to eat like basil and cilantro and green peppers and tomatoes. It is planted by the preschoolers, which is also awesome! They grow little seedlings in the classroom in the springtime and then go plant them in the garden when the weather gets nice. They also have music classes and dance classes (although you do have to pay extra for dance, but it’s still cool to have that option during the day.) They encourage kids to play with paint and sand and to get dirty. There’s nothing better than when my toddler comes home with a speckled in paint and with a shirt full of tomato seeds from the garden. The kids also have a lot of liberty, if a kid decides to take their shoes off and stomp in the mud, it is met with a smile instead of discouragement. They really only discourage things that aren’t safe and even then they always use positive discipline strategies. We’ve been there now for two months and my little one wakes up in the morning and says “I ready go school!” and she can’t get her clothes on fast enough. When I come back to pick her up she has lots of things she wants to show me that she did throughout the day. At pick up and drop off and in the little events for kids and parents, her teachers have put in the extra effort to make me and my husband feel welcome in the classroom and with the new community of parents. I am just really happy that we got in here, so I wanted to take the time to say thanks.”

“ We love taking our daughter to BDLC! It’s a unique and loving community where kids are encouraged to be themselves.”

“ We have been at BDLC for several months now and have loved it! Our 18 month old (who has the worst kind of stranger danger instincts) absolutely loves his teachers and always comes home clean and happy. The teachers keep open communication with us, and always inform us if anything seems out of the ordinary about his behavior — this has always proceeded mild sickness, so it was nice having the head’s up! I also really appreciate the vegetarian menu provided for the kids. It has a wide variety of foods that include plenty of protein sources, fresh fruits/veggies, and grains. We’re not vegetarian at home, so I am glad that he is exposed to this approach to food at school. He’s also healthier than ever and growing perfectly according to our pediatrician, so it’s obvious he’s getting all the nutrition he needs :) Another thing I am particularly impressed with is the lesson plans provided by the teachers each month. They look creative and fun, but the best part is that I can tell that my kiddo actually learns from their activities! He always comes home having learned new skills, words, and games - he’s even trying to count already! As much as I wish I could be at home 24/7 teaching him all these things, I am so comforted to know that he is in good hands at BDLC. “

Filozofi

At BDLC, we believe in providing a child-centered, family-oriented, and multi-ethnic childcare program that focuses on individualized attention and self-paced environmental exploration. We ensure developmentally appropriate guidance in cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development areas, with a strong emphasis on social and emotional growth. Our educational philosophy combines various curriculum models such as the Creative Curriculum and Reggio Emilia, fostering a holistic approach to learning. We create a child-centered classroom environment that supports cognitive, physical, and social/emotional growth through free play opportunities and self-directed exploration. Additionally, we practice Conscious Discipline, emphasizing the importance of adults regulating their own emotions to help children process their feelings and navigate challenging situations. We prioritize calm and respectful interactions, offering choices and validation to support children in their emotional development.