The Children’s Learning Center’s (CLC) goal is to lovingly nurture each child in a faith-based environment. The CLC is designed to care for children as Jesus has taught us.

We commit ourselves to partnering with families to develop children with healthy, appropriate activities that direct each child’s need to grow during this time of rapid learning.

We commit ourselves to partnering with families in a healthy development of children through age-appropriate experiences that facilitate the child’s social, cognitive, motor, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Quality childcare demands a safe, healthy, happy, and attractive place for children to spend the day with qualified, trained caregivers that love their work. As the child receives warm and sensitive care, he or she is more likely to enter school ready and eager to learn and get along well with other children.

Quality childcare enables the young child to become emotionally secure, socially competent, and intellectually capable. A kind, trusting relationship with dedicated caregivers can complement the desires of parents for their children to reach their God-given potential.

First Baptist Church, through its Community Ministries program, seeks to serve families in our community with high quality, affordable, Christ-centered childcare. This ministry provides a safe and loving environment through which children are allowed to thrive and develop. A special emphasis is placed on serving at-risk families by implementing financial assistance.

Children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old

We believe children learn through play. Play is children’s work. Through play children have the chance to gain meaning from their environment. We are concerned with the total and unique growth and development of each child and seek to promote: mental and language development, social development, emotional development, and physical & spiritual development. The Children’s Learning Center uses Pinnacle Faith-based and Abeka Curriculums. The curriculum is supplemented as the teachers observe signs of readiness for additional challenge and stimulation. The Center staff respects every child’s individual developmental rate and need to learn.  Our goal is to provide exposure to concepts and skills needed for a successful entry into kindergarten. Developmental & academic checklists (progress) will be recorded in our older classrooms.

Originally housed in the Poundstone Building on Perry Street, The Center was licensed by the Department of Human Resources upon opening in August 1997. The enrollment soon made expansion necessary. The Center moved to the first floor of the J.R. White Education Building. In 1999, property from the First Presbyterian Church was purchased. Their childcare center closed, and Children’s Learning Center expanded to provide space for those children. In 2000 The Center’s classes were relocated to the second floor of the J.R. White Education Building. In 2002, a courtyard playground was added. The Center moved into its present location in 2010. Various community resource persons and enrichment programs have been utilized through years. In 2019 The Center added Abeka curriculum to its program. The Center became a licensed exempt ministry in November of 2024.

The Center staff complete a Pre-employment physical examination, TB skin test, drug screening and criminal history background check. An abuse and neglect registry report will also be obtained. Staff counted in child/adult ratios will be at least 19 years of age. Staff will annually complete 12 hours of DHR training, 10 hours of Childcare and Development Fund training, 2 hours of Ministry Safe training, 4 hours of child evangelism training and 4 hours of CLC training.  Multiple staff will be First Aid/CPR & AED trained.