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Four young children with colorful bows in their hair sit on the floor in the foreground, while a blurred background suggests an outdoor setting with a fence.

Play and Explore in Early Childhood

Country Day's Early Childhood Center (CDECC) is filled with warmth and energy. It is where children from infants to four years blossom, parents will often be found, and attachments are formed that continue from one year to the next.

At CDECC, each child is allowed to develop at their own pace.  We view children as unique learners who need the opportunity to acquire knowledge in ways that are meaningful to them. No two children will learn the exact same way, and no two children develop at the same rate.

Our philosophy is based on the fact that children learn best by being active participants in constructing their knowledge. Our students have every opportunity to play and explore in a stimulating environment. They are encouraged to explore the properties of water by playing with objects and seeing which ones sink or float. They learn about art by watching a visiting artist mix colors and then trying it themselves. They discover what the terms rough and smooth mean by using their fingers to compare the texture of flour to oats.

Country Day's campus provides our youngest learners the luxury of acres of land to play and explore. Through play, children learn what is real and what is not, they develop symbolic thinking, they learn to interact with others, and they lay the foundation for all the cognitive changes that will rapidly occur. Children with opportunities to explore through play learn to question, find answers, and problem-solve. This, in turn, will generate excitement and enthusiasm about learning - a goal of our program.

What we love the most about CDECC, though, is the dedication of our teachers. They are the heart of our Center, creating an atmosphere filled with warmth and enthusiasm. Our teachers are experienced, knowledgeable, and continually developing professionally. They are interested in the lives of their students, serious about the work they do each day, and believe in each child's uniqueness-- striving to match activities with individual needs.

Sincerely,
Whitney Brooks
Director, Country Day Early Childhood Center

A young child with blonde hair and a white bib draws on paper at a wooden table, with a blurred background of a classroom.
A happy young boy with curly hair in a blue t-shirt with a truck applique smiles broadly in the foreground, while blurred figures and colorful toys are visible in the background.
Two young children, one with a striped headband and the other in a watermelon-patterned dress, embrace tightly against a blurred, light blue background.
A smiling boy in a t-shirt sits on a playground structure with a blurred background of trees and sky.
A young boy with blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a light blue t-shirt, sits at a table with cups of milk and a plate of food, while a green cloth hangs in the blurred background.
A young girl with a pink bow in her hair is applying paint to a yellow paper with a white bottle, while a blurred background suggests an indoor setting.
A young boy in the foreground holds a stuffed toy, while other children are visible in the blurred background.

Questions?

Whitney Brooks
Early Childhood Center Director
whitney_brooks@mpcds.com
(504) 831-4523

Erica Lund
Early Childhood Center Assistant Director
erica_lund@mpcds.com
(504) 831-4531

For general admission questions, email cdeccadmissions@mpcds.com.

Applying to CDECC

CDECC welcomes all applicants, and students are admitted based on several criteria, such as the date of application. First-round enrollment notifications are sent in late January for the next school year. Applications included in the first round of notifications are those received before December 31, 2026. Applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027, will be considered as part of our second round of enrollment decisions for the next school year, subject to availability. If we are unable to offer a spot for the 2027-2028 school year, your application will carry over to 2028-2029.

Approximate Ages by Class
Classrooms are organized by age, with one-, two-, three-, and four-year-old rooms. There is no hardline cutoff date for when your child enters each class. Our program is flexible, and enrollment options range from two to five days a week, with half or full-day options. Extended care is also available for parents who need more flexibility.

  • Sweethearts: 6 weeks to 1 Year
  • Butterfly: 1 Year to 2 Years
  • Dragonfly: 2 Years
  • Pepper: 2 Years to 3 Years
  • Dino: 3 Years to 4 Years

Frequently Asked Questions

A smiling young boy in a striped shirt holds a %22First Day of School%22 sign with colorful pencils along the bottom, while yellow banana cutouts are visible on a window in the background.
Butterfly students read books during story time

Sample Schedule: Butterfly Classes

Arrival and Open Play: 7:30-9:00 am
Circle Time & Music: 9:00-9:15 am
Snack: 9:15-9:45 am
Outside Play: 9:45-10:30 am
Group Work: 10:30 - 11 am
Lunch: 11:00 am
Story & Nap: 12:00 - 2:30 pm
Snack: 2:30 - 3 pm

Pepper Classroom
Sample Peppet Schedule

Sample Schedule: Pepper Classes

Arrival and Open Play: 7:30-9:00 am
Circle Time: 9:00-9:10 am
Snack: 9:10-9:30 am
Outside Play: 9:30-10:30 am
Reading & Books: 10:30 - 11 am
Lunch: 11:00 am
Nap: 12:00 - 2:30 pm
Snack: 2:30 - 3 pm