- Year round early care and education for children 6 weeks to 5 years Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 5PM
- Four age group fully inclusive mainstream classrooms
- Handicap accessible building and facilities
- Serves nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack sponsored in part by the USDA Child Care Food Program
Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum as well as the Maine Early Learning Guidelines guide curriculum in the areas of literacy, math, science, arts, social studies and practical life, and technology. Teachers actively engage each child in exploring, experimenting, problem-solving, being creative, and constructing meaning in interest areas including blocks, dramatic play, creative arts, reading, sand and water, music and movement, games, and the outdoors.
Children are offered a combination of teacher directed large and small group activities as well as ample opportunities for self-directed exploration building build on experiences absorbed at their own rate. In these ways, children develop fine and gross motor abilities, sensory and cognitive skills, social and emotional awareness and important self-help skills.
Children are the heart and soul of the Children’s Center. We work to foster independence, autonomy, and trust. Children are encouraged to expand their capabilities, internalize limits, make decisions and understand the consequences of their actions. We understand and value individual differences such as temperament, interests, learning styles and life experiences when responding to children.
Family Partnerships
Our message to families is you are always welcome here and we can learn from you. You are entitled to know what is happening in the program and we will share in the care of your child. All classroom teachers welcome parent visits to the classroom at any time. We invite you to join your child at mealtime. These visits are very special and can give you an idea of his or her daily routine, activities, friends and life at the Center.
Who We Are
Gina – Director
Gina has worked for 9 years at Belfast Area Children’s Center and has more than 30 years in both a Community Action Childcare Program and corporate childcare. She is interested in language and social emotional development of young children and children with special needs. She was born in New York and her favorite place is Acadia National Park. Her hobbies include reading, listening to music and shopping, but her favorite thing to do besides being with family is working with children.
Tanya – Office
Tanya has almost 25 years of experience at Belfast Area Children’s Center. She enjoys spending time with her 7 grandchildren and is interested in psychology.
Angela – Blue Room
Angela has more than 23 years of childcare experience and has an associates degree in early childhood education. She has trained in Jiu-Jitsu and is almost a black belt in the art.
Sarah – Blue Room
Sarah has had more than 20 years of experience in childcare, all of which has been at Belfast Area Children’s Center. She has many years of experience riding horses and has owned goats, a donkey and horses throughout her life.
Sabrina – Vanilla Room
Sabrina has over five years of childcare experience in various settings including Montessori Pre-K and nannying. She loves weight-lifting and would like to eventually do a body building show. She is also in college for nursing and would like to work in the NICU in the future. Her favorite place is the ocean or the gym and her hobbies include working out, origami and cooking. Given the choice of any super power, she would choose being able to breathe underwater.
Rebecca – Vanilla Room
Rebecca has over 38 years of childcare experience. She likes spending her time gardening, woodland walks and reading. Her favorite place is Flagstaff Lake and the river near her home. If given the choice of meeting any famous person, dead or alive, she would choose Martin Luther King.
Ashlie – Toddler Room
Ashlie has three years of childcare experience and is the oldest of six siblings. She has lived in seven different states and is planning to start college in the Fall of 2023 for Early Childhood Education. Her hobbies include crocheting, skiing, sewing, candle/soap making and baking/cooking. If given the choice of any superpower, she would choose invisibility.
Maggie – Toddler Room
Maggie has over 25 years of childcare experience including working as a one-on-one teacher, ed tech, and at Belfast Area Children’s Center. She rides a motorcycle and goes on Model-T tours in her Model-T. Her hobbies include camping, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking. She would love to meet Stephen King if given the chance.
Natalie – Infant and Toddler Rooms
Natalie has more than two years of experience in children’s behavioral health and has interests in child development, special needs and teaching. She enjoys spending time at home crocheting or hanging out with her cats. She owns a tortoise and, if given the choice of any super power, she would choose teleportation.
Anne – Infant Room
Anne has 34 years of childcare experience working in the infant, toddler and vanilla rooms at Belfast Area Children’s Center. She has interest in moral development, brain development and non-neurotypical development. She enjoys gardening, swimming, hiking and carpentry and her favorite place is under waterfalls or in pools. Something interesting about Anne is that she once had a job in a wildlife refuge in Peru and had a pet baby giant anteater.
Isabella – Infant Room
Bella has two years of childcare experience and is currently working toward her degree in elementary education. She is interested in infant/toddler development and culturally responsive teaching. She likes spending time playing volleyball and painting as well as being with her family and she grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.
Betsy – All Rooms
Betsy has over 30 years of experience in childcare, including 13 years in special education. She is especially interested in art based education, special education, art therapy and nature-based education. She is from New York and enjoys being home with her family, bush craft, art, crafts, cooking/baking and herbalism. If she could pick any superpower, she would choose having endless energy.
Maeve – All Rooms
Maeve has more than four years of experience in this field and has an interest in Montessori, mindfulness and emotional well-being. She was born in Ireland and shares a birthday with Mickey Mouse. Her favorite restaurant is Delvinos and she would choose invisibility if given the option of any super power.
Contact Us
Director: Regina Madden
Belfast Area Child care Services
1025 Waterville Rd.
Waldo, ME 04915
Phone: (207) 342-5535
FAX: (207) 342- 2124
[email protected]