About Us.
The Caring Center (est. 1982) is a diverse and inclusive community where young learners, ages 8 weeks to 10 years old, are nurtured in a loving, family-centered environment.
Young children learn through play – so we play, and learn (and laugh) a lot, every day! Our NAEYC-accredited program is designed to cultivate each stage of a child’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth, through a rich variety of daily activities that are planned to meet Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood Education.
Our Mission.
The Caring Center is an independent, nonprofit organization, formed by parents and professional educators, to deliver exemplary early childhood education, and to promote family and community development. We partner with our teachers, families and community to create an inclusive culture of love and learning, that fosters our children’s healthy, holistic development.
Our Philosophy.
We believe that every child is unique.
We believe in educating the whole child.
We believe that children learn through play.
We believe in building literacy from birth.
Read our: Philosophy Statement
Core Values.
At the Caring Center, we:
- Stimulate emotional, intellectual, physical and social growth in a safe environment
- Provide an individualized, developmentally-appropriate program focused on nurturing the whole child
- Instill a lifelong love of learning and a sense of community in a multi-cultural environment
- Teach healthy habits of body and mind
- Read, sing and laugh with our children every day
- Foster partnership between parents, staff and community by creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, communication, and collaboration
- Support the personal and professional development of TCC staff, and enable them to provide an innovative and uniquely ‘Caring Center’ experience for our children
Our History:
The Caring Center (TCC) began in 1982 as a high-quality childcare center for employees of the Institute for Scientific Inquiry (ISI). But when ISI was sold, a business decision was made to close the center (originally located at 34th and Filbert Streets).
Instead, parents and staff rallied to save TCC, forming a new, non-profit entity, planning and raising the funds to build a new facility. Land was acquired at the corner of 31st and Spring Garden Streets (our current location), and the new building was designed and built, with the cooperation of teachers, staff and parents. Doors opened in the spring of 1992!
In 2009 we expanded, adding 3 new classrooms in our Caring Center Enrichment Academy (just across the parking lot).
Learn More: Dr. Eugene Garfield, founder of ISI, wrote extensively about TCC’s founding, Art & More Art at TCC.