A newly renovated space for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds has been unveiled in Summerville, South Carolina. The facility, developed through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) and WC Christian Academy, was celebrated with an open house event on Saturday. The new center is part of the ‘Quality Care by Design’ initiative, which aims to enhance early childhood education and create safe, developmentally appropriate environments for young children.
A Developmentally Focused Learning Space
The newly renovated facility includes four rooms, each dedicated to specific age groups: infants, one-year-olds, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds. The rooms are designed to foster sensory and developmental growth by offering materials that engage young children’s senses.
“You have to provide material that is sensory-appropriate so they can build those sensory skills, like how things feel, sound, and look,” said Elaine Bryant, a teacher and assistant director at WC Christian Academy.
The rooms are thoughtfully designed with neutral colors and simple décor to create a calm and inviting environment. All items in the rooms are placed low to the ground, making them easily accessible and visible to young children. The materials used are safe, engaging, and specifically chosen to support early childhood development.
A Statewide Initiative to Improve Early Childhood Education
The facility’s renovations were part of the ‘Quality Care by Design’ initiative, which seeks to enhance early childhood education programs throughout South Carolina. This initiative was made possible by the social services ABC Quality program, which provides funding for childcare programs to meet the state’s rigorous educational and environmental standards.
“This is an opportunity for the program to highlight what they have been doing,” said Sherrie Dueno, ABC Quality Project Manager. “It’s been a long process for the redesign, and now they can show the community all the resources they have to offer.”
Enhancing Access and Preparing for the Future
In addition to improving the quality of early education, the initiative aims to increase access to childcare for families and better prepare children for their transition to preschool and kindergarten.
The open house on Saturday welcomed program organizers, families, community leaders, child care professionals, and supporters of early childhood education. The event took place at the new facility located at 1202 Central Ave in Summerville, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
