THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 2002
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5A
Center provides fun, learning for campus kids
Expanding upon the traditional concept of day care, Hilltop Child Development Center teaches as well as entertains.
LINDSEY KILIANY/KANSAN
By Mike Gilligan Kansan staff writer
Christine Hammon remembers how hard it was bringing her child to class.
"It's hard to concentrate because you're still being a parent," said Hammon, a Lawrence graduate student in sculpture. "I would have to pay attention to my child and the class at the same time."
Julian Silverstein, 6, and Gage Nelson, 6, paint and glitter hats in the Hilltop Development Center. Pat Pisani, director of the center said about 85 to 90 percent of the children here are related to either faculty or students of KU.
Students like Hammon don't have to bring their children to class if they choose the Hilltop Child Development Center, an on-campus child care facility where students have first priority.
Liam Prum, 4,and Lindsey Stroud, Salina senior, work with building blocks in the Hilltop Child Development Center.
Hilltop, which recently moved to a new location at 1605 Irving Road, aims to provide care and an educational curriculum at the same time, according to its Web site.
The center is open from 7:15
"It's not a day care center," said Pat Pisani, director of the center. "We have educational programs for the children."
INDSEY KILIANY/KANSAN
a. m. to 5:45 p.m. The cost varies depending on the age of the child, the program, the parent's monthly income, and the number of children in the family.
Full-day programs cost from about $20 to $28 a day and half-day programs cost about $10 to $18 a day.
"Even when they are playing sports outside, it's still educational." Pisani said. "They are developing their motor skills, learning cooperation and taking turns."
Hammon said the aspect of education, and not just day care, was an important factor in deciding which facility to choose.
"Kids need structure," she said. "The facility combines education with activities."
Pisani, who has worked at the center for 12 years, said the facility was accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
"We are even higher regarded than some programs because of our accreditation," she said.
She said the center followed a set of guidelines set by the association for specific age groups.
"The kids, from 1 to 4 years old, work on things like coloring and counting," said Pisani. "The older kids work on more advanced things like language."
Pisani said the center had different programs depending on
ages and how long the kids stayed at the center.
There is a full-day program for kids ages 1 to 4 and kindergartners, as well as a half-day program for pre-schoolers ages 1 to 4.
"We also have an after-school program for first through fourthgraders," Pisani said. "It's the perfect situation for families who don't know what to do with their kids the rest of the day."
About 60 percent of the children at the center are from student families. There are about 210 children currently enrolled in programs at
the center, Pisani said.
Eaton said she was happy with
the center.
"It's a fabulous facility, the best in Lawrence," she said. "It's close to where I take classes and the teachers are wonderful."
Contact Gilligan at
migilligan@kansan.com This story was edited by Andy Gassaway.
How It Feels to Actually Hear The Sound of Mom's Voice
KU can't cure all hearing-impaired children. Yet. But it can help the very young hear better, adapt, or on occasion experience the joy of a full recovery.
The Hartley Family Center at KU Med is one of several whose mission is the improvement of children's lives. It's part of a broader commitment to serve the state and region with cradle-to-grave health care. This tradition began with a former Chancellor, Franklin Murphy, who put fourth-year med students to work with rural Kansas physicians and, in so do
to work with rural Kansas physicians and, in so doing, established a national model for medical outreach.
INVEST IN EXCELLENCE
KU First intends to raise $500 million by 2004, $22 million of which will be devoted to outreach programs providing specialty health-care solutions, and $3 million for programs in public service and public policy.
Because it's the right thing to do.
We hear.
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