Dolores Doré Eccles Center for Early Care & Education
Our teachers, staff, and families support children's growth and learning through the provision of intentionally planned and developmentally appropriate environments that build on children's natural tendency for play, promotes curiosity, wonder, and exploration, and provides challenges for mastering new skills.
Our curriculum encompasses the entire day and is demonstrated in our indoor and outdoor environments, the daily schedules, and the types of materials and activities offered. The children's daily experiences reflect intentional efforts to provide each child with opportunities to explore and build literacy, science, math, physical, creative, cognitive, and social skills.
Our community is created with a shared commitment to children and extends beyond the center doors to include families and the wider USU community. We work in partnership with families to meet their individual needs as they balance school, work, and family. Our program provides opportunities for students and faculty to learn more about early childhood care and education through research and training.
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Danielle Egan
Program Administrator
DDE Early Care and Education Center
Rebecca Johnson
Office Manager
DDE Early Care and Education Center
About Our Center
Dolores Dore Eccles was greatly admired for her genuine interest in helping others. Known affectionately by her family and friends as "Lolie," she was a spirited individual with a wonderful sense of humor. Born and raised in Texas as a "Southern belle," Lolie became a devoted citizen of Utah after her marriage in 1925 to Logan native George S. Eccles, whom she met while both were students at Columbia University in New York.
While George became a leader in the nation's banking industry as CEO of First Security Corp. (now Wells Fargo), Lolie focused her talents and energies as an active board member and community benefactor, assisting many educational institutions and non-profit organizations. For more than 57 years, the couple worked together "to improve the quality of life for their fellow citizens," a charitable vision their Foundation now carries on in their behalf.
The Eccles Foundation generously supported the creation of the Dolores Dore Eccles Center for Early Care and Education - in Lolie's honor and memory - to help children meet life's challenges, embrace new opportunities, and succeed in reaching their future goals.
Classrooms
Infant & Toddler | 6 Weeks to 24 Months
Infants Full Day: $1,122 | Half Day: $561
Toddlers Full Day: $1,010 | Half Day: $505
The Infant/Toddler classroom strives to provide parents and children with a loving and flexible care environment, designed to meet their own specific needs. Materials and experiences in the classroom include feeding, diapering, art, sensory and large motor activities, and are all intended to encourage further growth. Teachers interact and communicate with parents to encourage continuity for each individual child.
Jr. Preschool | 2 and 3 year olds
Jr. Preschool Full Day: $898 | Half Day: $449
At Junior Preschool, much of the day is spent in play and gaining self-help skills. Daily experiences include a sensory table, art materials, dramatic play, books and reading, math and manipulatives, science, large and small motor activities and semi-structured group times both in the classroom and outside. Two and three year olds developing sense of independence and initiative are encouraged through the provision of choices during most of the day.
Sr. Preschool | 3 ½ to 6 year olds
Sr. Preschool Full Day: $808 | Half Day: $404
Each day consists of choice time, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, large and small groups, and outside time. Additionally, children frequently participate in science experiments, cooking experiences, field trips and have classroom visitors. Teachers work to establish an open line of communication with all families and value their role in teaching children.
Day Camp | Summer Only - School Age children
Upon Request
Day camp is offered through the summer months for school-age children. Children at this age enjoy getting out and exploring, and the day camp program is designed to support this with daily off-site activities ranging from art and science experiences to recreation and swimming.
Staff Roles
Meal Programs
Snacks and Lunch
Snacks and lunch are an important part of the DDE Center’s curriculum. The Food and Meal Program Teacher works to incorporate the cultural backgrounds and preferred tastes of the children into the menus. Families are encouraged to share favorite recipes so that all children will have a favorite menu item on occasion. We serve a variety of healthy foods with a focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Junior Preschool, Senior Preschool, and Kindergarten eat lunch in our Food and Meal Classroom. Food is never used as a reward, incentive, or punishment at the DDE Center.
Family Style Service
Teachers eat with the children, encouraging conversations and appropriate eating. This is a social time for children and helps them strengthen relationships with other children and adults. Meal times are also a time for learning. Children develop self-help skills (setting the tables, serving themselves, pouring milk, and helping with clean up) and they learn about the importance of nutrition in building healthy bodies.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
We participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through the USDA which requires children have access to specific food groups and serving sizes. Families will be asked to complete a form for the CACFP program upon enrollment and annually.
Family Choice in Feeding
The DDE Center will work with families to support and accommodate adherence to dietary restrictions, food allergies or dietary preferences. In some cases, accommodating all dietary needs may be difficult and families may be asked to supplement food for their child’s meal. Families are encouraged to speak with the food and meal teacher or the program administrator if they have any concerns.
Breastfeeding
The DDE Center works to support breastfeeding mothers to maintain breastfeeding while their child is in care. The infant/toddler classroom is equipped with a separate room for families wishing to feed their child or needing to pump while on campus, and all staff are trained to handle breast milk in a safe manner. Breast milk being brought from home must be labeled with the child’s name and the date and time the breast milk was collected. DDE Center staff is happy to work with parents to coordinate feedings.