Classrooms and Schedules
Classroom Locations
Our classrooms are located in our main building on Annie Glidden Road and our annex, located in Gabel Hall. The rooms in Gabel Hall are dedicated to infant and toddler care, while the main center building contains classrooms for the entire range of ages. Some of the classrooms in the main center building are practicum rooms.
Please note:
- Placement in classrooms is determined by the September 1 birthdate deadline used by local schools.
- Group size may vary based on classroom size.
| Age | Group Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
|
Infants
|
9 | 3 children to 1 teacher |
| Toddlers | 12 | 3 children to 1 teacher |
| 2-year-olds | 12 | 4 children to 1 teacher |
| Preschool | 18 | 6 children to 1 teacher |
Hours and Schedules
The center is open weekdays from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Practicum classroom hours are 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (early drop-off is available at 7:15 a.m. with appropriate arrangements). Children enrolled in our practicum rooms attend for the full day, while children enrolled in non-practicum rooms have the option of attending half days. We offer practicum and non-practicum rooms for each age group.
Non-practicum Rooms
| Approximate Schedule for Infants | |
|---|---|
| 7:30-11:30 a.m. |
Classroom exploration |
| 8:45-9:15 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 10-11 a.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 11-11 a.m. | Classroom exploration |
| 11:20-11:30 a.m. | Group time |
| 11:30 a.m.-noon | Lunch |
| 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Rest time |
| 2:30-4:20 p.m. | Classroom exploration |
| 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Snack |
| 4:20-4:30 p.m. | Group time (4:50-5 p.m. in winter) |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor (winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.) |
| Approximate Schedule for Toddlers | |
|---|---|
| 7:30-10 a.m. |
Classroom exploration |
| 8:45-9:15 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 10-11 a.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 11:30-12:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 11:30-2:45 p.m. | Classroom exploration (nap as needed) |
| 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Snack |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor (Winter – classrooms combine at 5) |
| Approximate Schedule for Twos | |
|---|---|
| 7:30-10 a.m. |
Classroom exploration |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 10-11 a.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Classroom exploration |
| 11:30-11:45 a.m. | Group time |
| 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Rest time |
| 2-3 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 2:30-4:15 p.m. | Classroom exploration |
| 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Snack |
| 4:15-4:30 p.m. | Group time (4:45-5 in winter) |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor (winter – classrooms combine at 5) |
| Approximate Schedule for Preschool | |
|---|---|
| 7:30-10:45 a.m. |
Classroom exploration |
| 9:30-10 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 10:45-11 a.m. | Group time |
| 11 a.m.-noon | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 12-12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Rest time |
| 2-3 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 3-4:15 p.m. | Classroom exploration |
| 3-3:30 p.m. | Snack |
| 4:15-4:30 p.m. | Group time (4:45-5 p.m. in winter) |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor (winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.) |
Practicum Rooms
| Approximate Schedule for Infants | |
|---|---|
| 7:30-8:45 a.m. |
Free play and classroom activities |
| 8:45-9:15 a.m. | Open breakfast |
| 9:15-10:15 a.m. | Free play/Breakfast clean-up |
| 10:15-10:30 a.m. | Transition/Outdoor clothing ready and dressed |
| 10:30-11:15 a.m. | Outdoor exploration |
| 11:15-11:30 a.m. | Transition/Prep for lunch |
| 11:30 a.m. -noon | Lunch |
| noon-2:40 p.m. | Free play and classroom activities |
| 2:40-2:45 p.m. | Group time |
| 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Snack |
| 3:15-4 p.m. | Free play and classroom activities |
| 4-5 p.m. | Outdoor exploration |
- All diapers changes are completed prior to outdoor play
- Younger infants will be fed on demand
- Older infants will eat during scheduled meal times
- Naps will provided as needed
| Approximate Schedule for Toddlers | |
|---|---|
| 7:45-8:45 a.m. |
Free play and classroom activities |
| 8:45-9 a.m. | Group time/Transition to breakfast |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Open breakfast |
| 9:30-10:15 a.m. | Transition/Breakfast clean-up/Outdoor clothing ready and dressed |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. | Outdoor time |
| 11:15-11:30 a.m. | Transition/Prep for lunch/Cots out |
| 11:30 a.m.-noon | Lunch |
| noon-12:15 p.m. | Transition from lunch to cots |
| 12:15-2:30 p.m. | Naptime |
| 2:30-2:45 p.m. | Transition from nap/Quiet free play |
| 2:45-3 p.m. | Group time |
| 3-3:30 p.m. | Snack |
| 3:30-5:15 p.m. | Free play and classroom activities/Outdoor time (as allowed) |
- Diapers are changed every two hours and as needed
- This schedule is tentative and is meant to be flexible to meet the needs of the children
| Approximate Schedule for Twos | |
|---|---|
| 7:45-8:45 a.m. |
Free play and classroom activities |
| 8:45-9 a.m. | Group time/Transition to breakfast |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Open breakfast |
| 9:30-10:15 a.m. | Transition/Breakfast clean-up/Outdoor clothing ready and dressed |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. | Outdoor time |
| 11:15-11:30 a.m.. | Transition/Prep for lunch/Cots out |
| 11:30 a.m. Noon | Lunch |
| Noon-12:15 p.m. | Transition from lunch to cots |
| 12:15-2:30 p.m. | Naptime |
| 2:30-2:45 p.m. | Transition from nap/Quiet free play |
| 2:45-3 p.m. | Group time |
| 3-3:30 p.m. | Snack |
| 3:30-5:15 p.m. | Free play and classroom activities/Outdoor time (as allowed) |
- Diapers are changed every two hours and as needed
- This schedule is tentative and is meant to be flexible to meet the needs of the children
| Approximate Schedule for Preschool | |
|---|---|
| 7:45-10 a.m. | Choice time |
| 9-9:30 a.m. | Open breakfast |
| 10-11 a.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Choice time |
| 11:30-11:45 | Group time |
| 11:45-12:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:15-12:45 p.m. | Books/Nap transition |
| 12:45-2:45 p.m. | Rest time |
| 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/quiet activities |
| 2:45-4 p.m. | Choice time |
| 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Open Snack |
| 4-4:15 p.m. | Group time |
| 4:15-5:15 p.m. | Outdoor exploration/gross motor |
Contact Us
Child Development and Family Center
Campus Child Care Center Building
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-0125
815-753-8502 (fax)
jboyer@niu.edu
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Child Development and Family Center Annex
The Annex is currently closed.
