Learning Center for Families

Sometimes families with young children need a little TLC.  Whether it’s a developmental delay or disability, poor health, poverty or a less than optimal home environment, there are certain difficulties that put infants and toddlers at high risk from achieving their full potential.  Since 1993, The Learning Center for Families (TLC) has been providing the extra help families need to navigate these challenges and ensure that every child in our community has the skills they need to excel in school and in life. We know that children who enter kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to succeed academically, as well as later in life.  But school readiness does not begin in kindergarten – it begins before birth.  Research indicates that early childhood experiences – including prenatal – have a profound effect on the brain’s development.  TLC has a number of programs that are designed to help families at this crucial time in their young child’s life:

Early Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes the physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth of infants and toddlers while assisting their parents in achieving greater self-sufficiency.  This program is available at no cost to pregnant women and families with children ages birth to three.  It combines weekly home visits with child-family play groups to support parents as the child’s primary educator.

Early Intervention serves all children ages birth to three who are showing any kind of developmental delay or who have a condition such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, autism, etc. Staff members include nurses, special educators, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, as well as speech, physical and occupational therapists who regularly work with families in their homes, at child care or at one of our family centers.

Parents as Teachers provides extra parenting support for pregnant women of any income who are in stressful situations or who have had less than optimal child rearing experiences.  Families may enroll in Parents as Teachers beginning with pregnancy and remain in the program until their child enters kindergarten.  Parent educators work with parents in a home-visiting model to strengthen protective factors and ensure that young children are healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Kindermusik classes nurture children’s cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development through music and movement classes for parents and children ages birth to five.  Low cost classes with scholarships are available to families who qualify.  Sessions are offered morning, noon, and early evening to accommodate busy family schedules.  Families receive a library of musical materials to take home and enjoy.

Caterpillar Clubhouse is a new private pay childcare operating out of our St. George location at 2044 S. Mesa Palms Drive.  Hours of operation are from 7:30am – 6:00pm, Monday through Friday.  Children from the ages of six weeks to five years are welcome.

TLC is a nonprofit 501©3 organization and member of United Way Dixie which relies on support from volunteers and parents, as well as contributions of time, money and supplies to supplement our federal and state contracts.  This generosity enables us to serve more families, continue to be innovative with our services, and be less reliant on unpredictable government funding.  TLC has built a solid reputation for sound fiscal management, creative programs and consistent, high-quality services to an ever-growing population of children in need.  We invite you to join us as we continue to enhance the lives of hundreds of families every week throughout our community.

For more information on our how to enroll in our programs or to find out how you can get involved as a donor or volunteer, please visit our website at www.tlc4families.org  or call 435.673.5353