NE Child Development Center
Now enrolling for Fall/Winter 2025!
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Now enrolling for Fall/Winter 2025! ***
Why Choose NECDC?
Mission Statement
Northeast Child Development Center (NECDC) is dedicated to nurturing the growth, development, and well-being of every child in our care. We provide high-quality, inclusive early childhood education that supports the whole child—socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically—while partnering with families and the broader community to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Philosophy
At NECDC, we believe that every child deserves a safe, loving, and stimulating environment where they can thrive. Our philosophy is rooted in the following principles:
Child-Centered Learning: We honor each child’s unique strengths, interests, and developmental journey, fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence through play-based and experiential learning.
Equity and Inclusion: We are committed to creating a welcoming and affirming space for children and families of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We actively work to dismantle barriers to access and opportunity.
Family Partnership: We view families as essential partners in a child’s development and strive to build trusting, respectful relationships that support shared goals and open communication.
Community Connection: We recognize that children grow best in strong, connected communities. NECDC collaborates with local organizations, schools, and leaders to ensure our programs reflect and respond to the needs of our neighborhood.
Holistic Development: We support the whole child by integrating social-emotional learning, health and wellness, cultural awareness, and foundational academic skills into our daily practices.
Through compassionate care, intentional teaching, and community collaboration, NECDC empowers children to become joyful learners, empathetic friends, and confident contributors to their world.
Program Highlights:
Healthy, Homemade Meals: Our full-time food service manager prepares all meals from scratch, focusing on nutritious, low-salt and low-sugar options with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. We believe healthy bodies support healthy minds.
Remodeled, Home-Like Environment: Our recently renovated center features modern learning environments that feel warm and welcoming—just like home. Each space is designed to support exploration, comfort, and connection.
Experienced, Nurturing Educators: Our passionate and experienced teachers are responsive and caring, ensuring your child receives a great education in a safe and loving atmosphere.
Positive Behavior Support: Teachers use research-based strategies to guide children’s behavior through engaging, meaningful learning experiences that promote self-regulation and cooperation.
Focus on Physical Development and Wellness: Children build strength, stamina, and coordination through activities that support large and small motor skills—laying the foundation for a healthy life.
Challenging Learning Centers: Our classrooms include learning centers that promote critical thinking and understanding of the world through subjects like math, science, and social studies.
Communication: We maintain communication with families using the Bright Wheel mobile app, keeping you informed throughout the day.
Developmental Assessments: We also hold parent-teacher conferences twice a year to discuss your child’s progress toward age-appropriate developmental goals. Currently, 80% of enrolled children are on-track developmentally for their age.
Strong Parent Involvement: We have an active and committed Parent Advisory Council that supports NECDC, and ensures both children, and their families, have the best experience possible.
Center Information
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 7:30-5pm Address: 1700 Second Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Office Phone Number: 612-787-4048 License Number: 801743
At NECDC, we create a nurturing, secure, and joyful environment where your baby can thrive. Each child is paired with a dedicated primary caregiver who builds a trusting relationship and serves as your main point of contact. This bond fosters emotional security and lays the foundation for healthy development.
In our infant classroom, warm and caring teachers help children begin to understand themselves and their emotions. Through consistent, loving interactions, babies form meaningful connections with both staff and peers. Our goal is to ensure every child feels safe, loved, and confident—ready to explore and learn new skills.
Daily Routines
Our relationship with your child begins with consistent, loving routines that help infants feel safe, nurtured, and ready to learn. We work closely with you to support and continue the schedule you've established at home, creating a seamless experience for your baby.
At NECDC, daily routines include:
Hellos and Goodbyes – Gentle transitions that help your baby feel secure at arrival and departure.
Diapering and Toileting – Caring, hygienic practices that support comfort and development.
Eating and Mealtimes – Nutritious meals and snacks served in a calm, responsive environment.
Sleeping and Naptime – Restful sleep routines tailored to each child’s needs.
Getting Dressed – Encouraging independence and self-help skills in a supportive way.
These routines are more than just daily tasks—they’re opportunities for connection, learning, and growth.
Infant Enrichment
In our infant classroom, your child will begin to explore the world through a variety of enriching experiences designed to support early development and spark curiosity. Through guided play and hands-on activities, infants will:
Play with stimulating and educational toys that encourage sensory exploration and motor skills.
Dabble in art using safe, baby-friendly materials.
Imitate and pretend as they begin to understand the world around them.
Enjoy stories and books that foster language development and a love of reading.
Explore sand and water to build tactile awareness and fine motor skills.
Have fun with music and movement, dancing, clapping, and discovering rhythm.
Go outdoors for fresh air and nature exploration.
These activities are thoughtfully designed to support your baby’s growth while making learning joyful and meaningful.
Toddlers are energetic, curious, and eager to explore—and at NECDC, we channel that energy into meaningful learning experiences. Building on the foundation of our Infant Program, the Toddler Program introduces new activities and opportunities that support your child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
We use Creative Curriculum by Diane Trister Dodge, a play-based learning approach that encourages toddlers to grow through exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. Teachers create lesson plans based on the emerging skills and interests of the children in their classrooms, while also allowing time for child-initiated play and discovery.
Our nurturing educators guide toddlers toward developmental milestones through:
Stimulating classroom environments
Milestone-based curriculum
Immersive learning experiences
Educational toys and activities
This curriculum helps toddlers expand their communication and social skills, develop new ways of thinking, and practice movement through play.
Enrichment Activities
Toddlers gain new skills and build relationships through a variety of enrichment activities that make learning fun and engaging. These experiences help toddlers grow into confident, curious learners—ready for the next stage of their development. In our toddler classrooms, children enjoy:
Playing with toys that support cognitive and motor development
Dabbling in art to express creativity and explore textures and colors
Imitating and pretending to build imagination and social understanding
Enjoying stories and books that foster language and literacy
Tasting and preparing food in simple, sensory-rich experiences
Exploring sand and water to develop tactile awareness
Having fun with music and movement to build rhythm and coordination
Going outdoors for fresh air, physical activity, and nature exploration
NECDC children are kindergarten successful!
At NECDC, we believe school readiness is about more than just knowing the ABCs. It’s about helping children develop the foundational skills they need to thrive in a classroom setting and beyond. These “ready to learn” skills include the ability to share ideas in a group, ask and answer questions, solve problems, and explore solutions with confidence. Our preschool classroom is thoughtfully designed to engage children in meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for the expectations of both elementary school teachers and parents.
Children learn best through hands-on exploration, guided by teachers who inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Through play-based learning and intentional teaching, we help children become:
Confident problem-solvers
Thoughtful decision-makers
Engaged communicators
Collaborative learners
The result is well-rounded children who are not only academically prepared but also socially and emotionally ready to take on the exciting challenges of school.
Our preschool program is designed to support the whole child through a balanced and intentional approach that helps children build essential skills that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.
Our curriculum develops specific skills, including:
Self-awareness – Understanding emotions, identity, and personal strengths
Responsibility for self and others – Practicing independence and empathy
Prosocial behavior – Building friendships, sharing, and cooperation
Learning and problem-solving – Exploring ideas and finding solutions
Logical thinking – Making connections and understanding cause and effect
Listening and speaking – Strengthening communication and comprehension
Reading and writing – Developing early literacy through storytelling and print awareness
Gross and fine motor skills – Enhancing coordination through movement and hands-on activities
Our classrooms are vibrant, engaging spaces where children learn through play-based exploration, guided by caring teachers who foster curiosity and creativity. We use the Creative Curriculum to support individualized learning and encourage children to take initiative in their own growth.
Learning Through Play
At NECDC, we believe that play is the foundation of learning—especially in the preschool and pre-kindergarten years. Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to encourage exploration, creativity, and skill-building through hands-on activities that support all areas of development.
Children engage in a variety of learning centers and experiences, including:
Blocks – Building spatial awareness, problem-solving, and collaboration
Games – Developing cognitive skills, turn-taking, and strategy
Dramatic Play – Encouraging imagination, role-playing, and social interaction
Art – Fostering creativity, self-expression, and fine motor skills
Writing Center – Practicing early writing, drawing, and communication
Sand and Water – Exploring textures, volume, and scientific concepts
Music and Movement – Enhancing rhythm, coordination, and self-regulation
Cooking – Learning about nutrition, measurement, and teamwork
These activities are carefully guided by our educators to ensure that children are not only having fun but also developing the skills they need for future success.
Families often have a lot of questions before they make a final decision about their childcare needs. We are here to help! Complete this form to take the first step in our admission process. After completing the form, we will send you information about our tuition rates, current openings, and how to schedule a tour.
Parents Handbook [PDF]
Emergency Preparedness Plan [PDF]
2025 Program Calendar
Parent Health Policies [PDF]
Mandated Reporting Policy [PDF]
Covid Precautions, 9.7.2021 [PDF]
Federal Civil Rights Law and USDA Statement:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.