ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. –
The Infant and Toddler University officially moved to a new room in Child Development Center 1 on Aug 28.
Surrounded by brightly painted walls, with educational posters displaying colors and numbers, and many new toys, the Andrews Infant and Toddler University opened at their new location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Infant and Toddler University program has ample room for participants, an infant changing table, infant and toddler toys, tables, chairs, and a variety of other supplies.
Developed as a Family Advo-cacy outreach program, the Infant and Toddler University strives to serve Team Andrews' youngest and newest family members.
"The purpose of this program is to enrich the lives of our children with fun learning activities in a stimulating environment. But, the Infant and Toddler University program also offers the opportunity to bond and create friends among our military community," said Alma Fontanez-Serrano, family advocacy outreach infant and toddler curriculum and activities coordinator and wife of Staff Sgt. Ricardo Valentin, 79th Aerospace Medicine Squadron mission operations technician. "We provide our participants with a curriculum based on some of the Montessori philosophy and principles. We also added gymboree activities and field trips to expand and enrich the activities that we offer." Participants in the program visited the Old Maryland Farm and Nature Center at Watkins Park recently.
With the new location, Infant and Toddler University is able to offer its young participants many new activities. "The benefits of the new room are that we are going to be able to offer a colorful, stimulating and safe environment following the Montessori guidelines. We have assigned specific areas for the infants and toddlers to play, learn, discover, and explore," said Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano. The Infant and Toddler University room offers a library corner, practical life activities, music, art, as well as manipulative and sensorial tables surrounded by toddler-sized furniture and new carpet.
As a program participant and, now as coordinator, Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano first became involved with the program with the birth of her son. "I have been associated with the Infant and Toddler program for almost two years. I started as a participant when my son, Gian Andre, was three months old. Within a couple of months, I started to volunteer my time to the program," said Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano. She believes the "Infant and Toddler University is a place to play, learn, dance and help to maximize and develop your kid's potential."
Parents are also participants in the program to facilitate their child's growth. "Every parent guides and helps their own children to participate in the activities to assure a positive enrichment experience and to ensure a good flow of the various projects and activities," said Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano.
"My personal experience has been that I have found very good friends at Infant and Toddler University and it is almost like an extended family. We have been there to celebrate our children's milestones and achievements," said Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano. "It is not easy to be part of a military family and it is even harder to be away from your family. This program works as a support group for parents as well as an educational program for the children."
The new Infant and Toddler University location is at CDC #1 on Virginia Avenue, near the intersection of the Virginia Gate and the Golf Course. It is free, unless otherwise noted. Infant University is offered Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Toddler University is offered Tuesday from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. For more information, please contact Mrs. Fontanez-Serrano, at (301)599-8884.