George Mason University Child Development Center
Preschool in Fairfax, VA 22030
The Child Development Center (CDC) opened August 31, 1992, at 4400 Patriot Circle. Until August, 2007 the Center occupied three modules, and had an enrollment of 50 children, 2-5 years of age. In August, 2007 the Center moved to its new building at 4402 University Dr. “by the water tower”. The Center doubled in size and currently has an enrollment of 120 children with two classrooms for each age group. The center is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Child Development Center’s Director, Tina Morris, joined the Mason Faculty in July 2002 as a Lead Teacher in the Teddy Bear classroom. She was named Director in 2003. Tina has over 20 years of experience in early childhood programs, dating back to her degree in Early Childhood Development from the University of Rhode Island.
A mother of three and a grandmother, she has been involved in educational programs throughout the United States. Tina is a member of the National Assocation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and was awarded a Citation of Merit from the Maryland State Department of Education in 1993. In August 2005, she was Mason’s Employee of the Month.
One of Tina’s biggest challenges as Director was running the Center while overseeing the construction of the new Center “by the water tower”. The new building doubled the size of the center, going from 60 children to 120 and increasing it’s staff, programming, and budget accordingly. Within two months of the grand opening, the Center was filled to capacity.
- Child Ages:
- 2 years - 5 years
- Rates:
- $$$
- Licenses & Accreditations:
- Virginia Department of Social Services
- Preschool:
- Yes
- Hours of Operation:
- 7am - 6pm
Monday - Friday
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Our teaching philosophy is that young children learn through their play. The focus of their learning is on the formation of concepts about themselves and their physical and social environment. Their learning is facilitated by multi-sensory experiences, play, and language development.
Through play children explore their environment, try out various roles and problem solving strategies and test their ideas to discover relationships. They involve their senses as they touch, move, create, and develop understanding about feelings. Through interaction with adults and peers they become fascinated by the power of language as a tool for communication and understanding. They need guidance and encouragement from adults as they strive toward the development of autonomy and a positive sense of self.
The CDC provides a relaxed, nurturing environment, and activities to encourage development of language skills, math concepts, large and small muscle development, music, art, and dramatic play activities. Leaning about living things, community and social and self-help skills are also a part of this environment.
