Child Development and Family Center Classrooms and Schedules

Classroom Locations

Our classrooms are located in our main building on Annie Glidden Road and our annex, located in Gabel Hall. The rooms in Gabel Hall are dedicated to infant and toddler care, while the main center building contains classrooms for the entire range of ages. Some of the classrooms in the main center building are practicum rooms.

Please note:

  • Placement in classrooms is determined by the September 1 birthdate deadline used by local schools
  • Group size may vary based on classroom size
Age Group Size Ratio
Infants 9 3 children to 1 teacher
Toddlers 12 3 children to 1 teacher 
2-year-olds 12 4 children to 1 teacher
Preschool 18 6 children to 1 teacher

Hours and Schedules

The center is open weekdays from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Practicum classroom hours are 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (early drop-off is available at 7:15 a.m. with appropriate arrangements). Children enrolled in our practicum rooms attend for the full day, while children enrolled in non-practicum rooms have the option of attending half days. We offer practicum and non-practicum rooms for each age group.

Non-practicum Rooms

Approximate Schedule for Infants

Time Activity
7:30-11:30 a.m.

Classroom exploration
(nap as needed)

8:45-9:15 a.m. Breakfast
10-11 a.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
11-11 a.m. Classroom exploration
11:20-11:30 a.m. Group time
11:30 a.m.-noon Lunch
12:30-2:30 p.m. Rest time
2:30-4:20 p.m. Classroom exploration
2:45-3:15 p.m. Snack
4:20-4:30 p.m. Group time
(4:50-5 p.m. in winter)
4:30-5:30 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
(winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.)

Approximate Schedule for Toddlers

Time Activity
7:30-10 a.m.

Classroom exploration

8:45-9:15 a.m. Breakfast
10-11 a.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
11:30-12:15 p.m. Lunch
11:30-2:45 p.m. Classroom exploration
(nap as needed)
2:45-3:15 p.m. Snack
4:30-5:30 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
(winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.)

Approximate Schedule for Twos

Time Activity
7:30-10 a.m. Classroom exploration
9-9:30 a.m. Breakfast
10-11 a.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
11-11:30 a.m. Classroom exploration
11:30-11:45 a.m. Group time
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30-2:30 p.m. Rest time
2-3 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
2:30-4:15 p.m. Classroom exploration
2:45-3:15 p.m. Snack
4:15-4:30 p.m. Group time
(4:45-5 p.m. in winter)
4:30-5:30 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
(winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.)

Approximate Schedule for Preschool

Time Activity
7:30-10:45 a.m. Classroom exploration
9:30-10 a.m. Breakfast
10:45-11 a.m. Group time
11 a.m.-noon Outdoor exploration/gross motor
12-12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30-2:30 p.m. Rest time
2-3 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
3-4:15 p.m. Classroom exploration
3-3:30 p.m. Snack
4:15-4:30 p.m. Group time
(4:45-5 p.m. in winter)
4:30-5:30 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
(winter – classrooms combine at 5 p.m.)

Practicum Rooms

Approximate Schedule for Infants

Time Activity
7:30-8:45 a.m.

Free play and classroom activities

8:45-9:15 a.m. Open breakfast
9:15-10:15 a.m. Free play/breakfast clean-up
10:15-10:30 a.m. Transition/outdoor clothing ready and dressed
10:30-11:15 a.m. Outdoor exploration
11:15-11:30 a.m. Transition/prep for lunch
11:30 a.m. -noon Lunch
noon-2:40 p.m. Free play and classroom activities
2:40-2:45 p.m. Group time
2:45-3:15 p.m. Snack
3:15-4 p.m. Free play and classroom activities
4-5 p.m. Outdoor exploration
  • All diapers changes are completed prior to outdoor play
  • Younger infants will be fed on demand
  • Older infants will eat during scheduled meal times
  • Naps will provided as needed

Approximate Schedule for Toddlers

Time Activity
7:45-8:45 a.m.

Free play and classroom activities

8:45-9 a.m. Group time/transition to breakfast
9-9:30 a.m. Open breakfast
9:30-10:15 a.m. Transition/Breakfast clean-up/outdoor clothing ready and dressed
10:15-11:15 a.m. Outdoor time
11:15-11:30 a.m. Transition/Prep for lunch/cots out
11:30 a.m.-noon Lunch
noon-12:15 p.m. Transition from lunch to cots
12:15-2:30 p.m. Naptime
2:30-2:45 p.m. Transition from nap/quiet free play
2:45-3 p.m. Group time
3-3:30 p.m. Snack
3:30-5:15 p.m. Free play and classroom activities/outdoor time (as allowed)
  • Diapers are changed every two hours and as needed
  • This schedule is tentative and is meant to be flexible to meet the needs of the children

Approximate Schedule for Twos

Time Activity
7:45-8:45 a.m. Free play and classroom activities
8:45-9 a.m. Group time/transition to breakfast
9-9:30 a.m. Open breakfast
9:30-10:15 a.m. Transition/breakfast clean-up/outdoor clothing ready and dressed
10:15-11:15 a.m. Outdoor time
11:15-11:30 a.m. Transition/Prep for lunch/cots out
11:30 a.m. Noon Lunch
Noon-12:15 p.m. Transition from lunch to cots
12:15-2:30 p.m. Naptime
2:30-2:45 p.m. Transition from nap/quiet free play
2:45-3 p.m. Group time
3-3:30 p.m. Snack
3:30-5:15 p.m. Free play and classroom activities/outdoor time (as allowed)
  • Diapers are changed every two hours and as needed
  • This schedule is tentative and is meant to be flexible to meet the needs of the children

Approximate Schedule for Preschool

Time Activity
7:45-10 a.m. Choice time
9-9:30 a.m. Open breakfast
10-11 a.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor
11-11:30 a.m. Choice time
11:30-11:45 Group time
11:45-12:15 p.m. Lunch
12:15-12:45 p.m. Books/nap transition
12:45-2:45 p.m. Rest time
1:45-2:45 p.m. Outdoor exploration/quiet activities
2:45-4 p.m. Choice time
2:45-3:15 p.m. Open Snack
4-4:15 p.m. Group time
4:15-5:15 p.m. Outdoor exploration/gross motor

Contact Us

Child Development and Family Center
Campus Child Care Center Building
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-0125
815-753-8502 (fax)
jboyer@niu.edu

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Child Development and Family Center Annex
The annex is currently closed.

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