Mission & Program
Our Mission
Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers provides quality, financially accessible childcare for children and their families in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment.
Critchlow Adkins is a nonprofit, licensed, and accredited childcare provider. Founded in 1970, Critchlow has cared for and educated four generations of children in Talbot County.
Our Programs
We offer preschool (ages 2-4), pre-k through 5th grade before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs. Critchlow’s caring teachers use an education-based curriculum, including proprietary STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities that spark children’s imaginations, promote problem-solving and critical thinking, and nurture a love of learning that will help them achieve academic success and Build a Brighter Future!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Highly trained, caring staff
- Age-appropriate curriculum
- Learning through play
- Homework assistance for school-age children
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) enrichment programming
- Early literacy programming for preschoolers
- Nutritious breakfast and snacks provided daily
- Quiet rest time for preschoolers
- Educational and fun field trips
- 45+ community partners
- On-site partnership with Talbot County Public Schools
Our Goals
- To help each child to develop socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually to their fullest potential and to build a positive self-image.
- To prepare each preschool child enter school ready to learn.
- To provide age-appropriate activities that promote growth in all developmental areas for school age children before- and after-school, on school holidays, and during summer vacations.
- To assist parents in their efforts to work and/or continue their education and support their families.
- To support employers by providing reliable childcare for their employees.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING
Whether children are in preschool, before- and after-school programs, or summer camps, Critchlow teachers incorporate learning into every aspect of the day. One of the most exciting parts of our program is our innovative, literature-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) projects, developed by our Program and Outreach Specialist, Amy Michaels. These fun and engaging literature-based activities teach our children about the world around them, encourage them to work together to solve problems, and challenge them to think critically – all through play!
Our preschoolers also participate in several Literacy Programs aimed at preparing them for success once they enter public school. Through the Raising a Reader program, our little ones receive a bag full of books each week to take home and enjoy. Raising a Reader is designed to promote early literacy and encourage families to read together. Our teachers also use VIOLETS (Vocabulary Improvement and Oral Language Enrichment through Stories) to help our preschoolers develop their oral language, pre-literacy skills, and background knowledge. Additionally, we utilize a technique called Dialogic Reading, which develops reading comprehension skills by making children part of the storytelling process through prompts and discussion.
Click the button below to explore STEAM Projects you can do at home!
MD EXCELS LEVEL 5 RATING
Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers are licensed and accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Child Care, and all five sites have achieved an MSDE Maryland EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care) Check Level 5 rating.
- All five of our sites have been awarded EXCELS Check Level 5 ratings by the Maryland State Department of Education.
- EXCELS Check Level 5 is the highest possible rating awarded to childcare providers and is based on nationally recognized quality standards and best practices.
- Accredidation and EXCELS ratings, unlike licensing, are not required for childcare centers. They are voluntary review processes and are only awarded to childcare programs that substantially exceed state licensing requirements.
- Proudly, Critchlow has achieved this or similar levels of excellence for over 30 years.
Contact us to arrange a site tour or learn more about our program!
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