The Campus Child Care center has served student families since 1978. According to its Web site, Campus Child Care will continue to serve the community during the summer semester.

The Student Association decided years ago that students with families should be able to bring their children here, so they can go to class and have a service that caters to students’ schedules, said Chris Herrmann, director of Campus Child Care.

The center offers care for children ages 2 months to 5 years, and is open year-round.

Herrmann said professional teachers with degrees and part-time students from NIU’s teaching program help take care of the children.

Teachers focus on language, science, math and literacy in the classroom, Herrmann said. She added that the children are working in a pre-academic learning and play-based environment.

Jen Young, head teacher in the infant room, said the classroom uses a plan-based program.

“We base it around the infants’ schedule,” she said. “We primarily work on social skills and teach them to be part of a group setting.”

Young said the infant classroom participates in painting, coloring and physical recreation activities such as going to the playground for walks.

“When we have free play, we can go on the floor and play with them and interact with them,” Young said. “We want them to feel safe, nurtured and loved.”

Herrmann said the child care focuses on the social environment.

“We want the children to learn to get along with people and sit still, share materials and how to interact with other adults and children,” she said.

The children also practice skills for self-help, Herrmann said. The children will learn to pour their own milk and put on their own shoes with a teacher’s help, if needed.

The SA helps fund the student workers’ pay, since minimum wage has increased, Herrmann said.

The budget is set for $108,624 to cover the paychecks.