Iowa State University Child Care Center

Prairie Flower Children's Center is an independent nonprofit nature-based early childhood education center located in Ames, Iowa, serving families for over 25 years. The center offers a year-round cooperative nature preschool for children aged 3-6, along with after-school programs, summer camps for children aged 5-12, and a parent-child playgroup for those aged 14 months to 3 years. With a mission to strengthen connections to the community and the natural world, Prairie Flower promotes holistic child development through a curriculum that is largely child-led. The center strives to create a nurturing environment where children can explore, learn, and develop a love for nature while fostering a sense of belonging and community involvement. Generated from the website

Formative Years opened in the fall of 1986 to provide a professional early childhood experience, to families in the Ames area, that meets the total needs of growing children in the areas of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. We provide: teachers with degrees and continual training and education in the childhood education field. Our teachers are hired based not only on education and experience, but on sincere desire to work with young children and a dedication to providing a warm, loving, safe, and nurturing educational environment for the children in our care. teachers who implement The Creative Curriculum to meet their classroom needs and structure their lessons to teach young children the way they learn; through play and hands-on activities. Learning at Formative Years is fun! consistent personal and written communication regarding your child’s activities and progress. Families have an opportunity to have formal conferences with their child’s teachers twice a year. a variety of care options; full-day childcare/preschool, before and after-school care for kindergarteners through sixth graders. We also provide full–day care for school age children when school is not in session. a safe, clean, fun and well-equipped facility with a happy smile and greeting each and every day. Child Care Preschool Day Care Before School Programs After School Programs Full Day Summer Programs Please call Stacy to ask any additional questions you might have, to get your child’s name added to our waiting list, or to set up a time to tour the center.