Who We Are Pelham Children's Center is a small not-for-profit preschool childcare center in the town of Pelham, NY. It was incorporated in 1970, and has grown and changed as the needs of the families who bring their children have changed. The Center operates a preschool childcare program in the RJ Daronco Town House and two after school programs - one in the Hutchinson Elementary School and another in the Colonial Elementary School. All three programs are licensed by the Office of Children and Family Services. Our Mission The Pelham Children's Center offers high quality and developmentally appropriate childcare, education and enrichment programs to a culturally and economically diverse group of children. Our program fosters children's intellectual, emotional, social and physical development. The Center strives to make its program affordable to families varying financial means and, to this end, provides tuition assistance for many children. Philosophy? As a learning community, we base our educational practices on what is currently known about how young children learn. Children learn and remember best whey they interact with materials and people in their environment and when they have opportunities to make choices. With the thoughtful guidance of knowledgeable teachers, the children at the Center explore and play with materials and information, and ideas. Play is important to children because while they play, they continually re-examine their understanding of the world in which they live. Through play, they develop social, physical, emotional and intellectual skills they will need in order to be successful in school and beyond.