Center for Young Children and Families

Center for Young Children and Families
A young male child smiles as he holds a large teddy bear in his arms

Helping Children and Families Grow to be Their Very Best


The Center for Young Children and Families at Plymouth State University is a great place for children.

  • Serving young children, 13 months to 5 years, in the Plymouth and surrounding communities, as well as the Plymouth State Community
  • A laboratory school for the Early Childhood Studies Program at Plymouth State
  • Licensed by the State of NH, and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • All teachers have Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degrees in Early Childhood
  • Open 10 months, September – June.

Donate Now

Mission and Philosophy

Our Mission

The mission of the Center for Young Children and Families is to provide high quality childhood programs to young children and their families. A high quality program is identified by its ability to offer comprehensive learning experiences through a planned environment. Child care is only one component of the program. Within the Center environment, the developmental needs of children are planned for in a consistent and secure setting offering developmentally appropriate practices. As part of the Department of Early Childhood Studies at Plymouth State University, the Center is a model early childhood program for the training of students in the fields of early childhood studies and child development.

Our Philosophy

The Center for Young Children and Families offers developmentally-based programs that focus on the needs of the whole child – physical, emotional, social, cognitive and familial. All staff members recognize the importance of teacher-child interactions and strive to establish and maintain warm and trusting relationships with children and their families. Activities and routines at the Center are based on sound developmental practices and build on children’s natural curiosity and problem-solving abilities. Children participate in many play and language activities and have the opportunities to work and play in small and large groups and individually. Our child-centered philosophy reflects and understanding of the needs of young children in a complex society. The Center for Young Children and Families seeks to serve all children, including young children with special needs.

The Plymouth State University Center for Young Children and Families is licensed by the State of New Hampshire and is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This national accreditation recognizes and honors early childhood programs of high quality. Only seven percent of programs nationwide have achieved this honor. The CYCF is part of the Plymouth State University Education Early Childhood Studies Department and is a training facility for early childhood and child development students. The Center is viewed as an academic laboratory program for Plymouth State students.