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Where your child is the center!
Our philosophy is called Child-Centered Active Learning
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Continuity of Care
Designed for infants and toddlers to better form secure attachments to their teachers and to minimize transition.
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IC3 at Kendal
Intergenerational program for infants & toddlers
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Welcome to IC3

 

“Where your child is the center”

About IC3

Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) is a non-profit, NYS-licensed, and NAEYC-accredited (National Association for the Education of Young Children) center that has been serving the community since 1976. We offer care for children between 8 weeks and 10 years old, and are committed to providing families with the highest standard of child-inspired, professionally-nurtured care and educational opportunities.

Our innovative continuity of care program is nationally recognized. By providing a safe environment where children can explore and experience hands on learning, we offer a truly child-centered approach.  We are proud of our committed staff and low teacher turnover. The average number of years a teacher has been working at IC3 is 12 years! Our experienced, professional, nurturing teachers will help your child grow a lifelong love of learning. Come see why IC3 is such a great place to play, learn, work, and grow!

Our Difference

Where and how your child is cared is one of the most important decisions you will make. IC3 has been providing childcare since 1976 and is NAEYC Accredited, a mark of our commitment to high quality child care. While most daycare facilities meet minimum state requirements by placing one teacher, a teacher’s assistant and an aide in each classroom, IC3 provides two qualified full time teachers and one teacher’s assistant in every classroom. Our committed staff offer child development expertise and meet or exceed NAEYC recommendations. We are fortunate to offer twice the classroom space required by New York State, two indoor gyms, and a spacious outdoor play yard for each age group. This enriched atmosphere contributes to the social and intellectual development and well being of children in our care. Numerous teachers have presented at State and National AEYC conferences and other events demonstrating innovative teaching methods and programming such as continuity of care and our intergenerational program at Kendal.

Our educational philosophy is called child-centered active learning, which means that children learn by doing. Children learn best by engaging and interacting with people, their environment, and objects around them. Teachers design an environment and plan experiences that allow hands-on learning for children in a range of developmental areas, social, emotional, cognitive and physical. We provide opportunities for children to work with a variety of materials and people, to make choices and to have some control over their choices and activities promoting a life long love of learning.

IC3 was founded in 1976 and has gone through many stages of growth and development over the years. We began as a small parent collective to go on to become a solidly established nonprofit organization offering child care to over 250 children ages 8 weeks-10 years old at three sites: IC3 Main Campus, IC3 at Kendal, and IC3 School Age Program.

Throughout the years, IC3 has remained committed to providing quality child care, repeatedly receiving state and national recognition for their high quality and innovative programming. Over 20 years ago, we became the first child care center in the county to become nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), an indication of high standards of quality. Not only are we committed to high quality child care, but we are also committed to the community that we serve, participating in community outreach initiatives throughout the year.

In 1998 IC3 stayed on the forefront of the early childhood education field by opening an infant and toddler program with an intergenerational program at Kendal at Ithaca. More recently, recognizing the importance of secure attachments, bonding, and building trust with infants and toddlers, we established our continuity of care program in 2003 in which infants stay with the same teachers from the time they enroll until they are three years old.  In 2014 IC3’s continuity of care program was selected as a model for a New York State training for child care providers as part of the New York State Campaign for Continuity initiative. We continue to meet with child care providers in the region to discuss how they might implement continuity of care at their organizations and have presented nationally on the topic multiple times.

IC3 has also made great strides in staff development and retention. Currently 64% of IC3 teachers have been with IC3 for 10 years or more; some for over 20 years! Our committed staff continue to present at panels and conferences locally, state-wide, and nationally on a variety of early childhood education topics.

We are proud of our child development expertise, our commitment to innovative programming, and our leadership in the early childhood education field.

Our Mission

IC3 is committed to providing families with the highest standard of child-inspired, professionally-nurtured care and opportunities for learning.

Our Values

We provide a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate program which fosters: active learning, support for the whole child, & a child-centered environment. We are a diverse community of children, families, and staff. We are committed to treating each individual in our community with respect and we strive to include and celebrate, in all that we do, each individual’s rich character and culture.

As members of the this community we:
Respect and support families
Respect and appreciate diversity
Strive for excellence
Embrace teamwork
Foster innovations
Commit to service at all levels
Actively listen and seek to understand
Communicate openly and productively
Use resources creatively and responsibly
Abide by the NAEYC Code of Ethics
Support the NAEYC Statement of Commitment

Our Vision

Is to be nationally recognized as an outstanding child care center.