Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Alice Brown Early Learning Center is licensed through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

The center accepts children from 18 months to 5 years old. Full-day care is available five days per week and part-week care consists of two or three full days per week.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. The center is closed four weeks per year for training and refurbishment and is closed for major holidays in conjunction with Adelphi University’s operating schedule.

The center embraces an emergent, developmentally appropriate constructivist curriculum. Together, teachers and children are active explorers, building on and expanding a child’s knowledge and understanding through self-discovery and adult-supported guidance. The curriculum is influenced by teacher observations of children’s play, supportive interactions, engaging in active listening and tuning in to children’s needs, interests and current events in their family’s lives.

Interactions between our expert teachers and students foster the development of children’s feelings of competency and independence and enhance the desire to explore the world around them, generating a deep intrinsic love of learning.

Our full-time teachers have experience in the field and hold degrees in early childhood education or a closely related field. Our staff also includes knowledgeable assistant teachers and teaching teams, comprised of Adelphi graduate assistants and student employees. All members of the teaching team participate in an orientation of the center’s policies, procedures, philosophy, learning activities and interactions and guidance expectations.

The children’s daily routine is consistent, yet flexible—including playtime, snack time, meeting time, group work and focus work. Activities are teacher-supported and rooted in structured and unstructured play-based learning that permit children the time and freedom to learn at their own pace.

Yes. Students rest and rejuvenate from 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. in a relaxing atmosphere conducive for children to sleep or rest quietly; listen to soft music or a story on tape; or draw.

Yes, regular outdoor play is essential to children’s health and development and is part of their daily activities.

Parents are offered formal conferences at least twice a year to discuss their child’s developmental progress. Teachers are always available for informal conversations and sharing of information. A description of daily activities will be posted near the parent sign-in book. Parents are encouraged to schedule formal conferences on an as-needed basis.

Each family completes an Emergency Contacts/Authorized to Visit or Pick-Up form that is kept on file. Children can only be released to individuals named on this form with the appropriate photo identification. Additionally, parents or guardians must sign their children in and out of the center daily.

In the event of severe weather (snow, hurricane, etc.) the center will close if the Garden City campus of Adelphi University is closed. University closings are announced via the web, several local radio and television stations, the AU2Go mobile app, and the University Alert hotline.

The center is part of the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, and is an experiential learning site for the academic and research needs of the University faculty and student population.