Our Mission - provide parents peace of mind.

Play is children's work and the way children learn. Blessing Hospital Child Care Center educators believe a daily routine of both child initiated play and teacher-directed play enhances this learning.

Blessing Hospital Child Care educators are caring professionals dedicated to meeting each child's individual needs by providing developmentally appropriate activities in a quality environment that is safe and nurturing.  We serve the whole child in an atmosphere of compassion and respect.  We strive for continuous improvement through cooperation and partnerships with families.

History of Blessing Child Care
Blessing Hospital was the first hospital in Illinois to establish an on-site employee child care center. It opened February 19, 1974, with a licensed capacity of 25 children. 

In 1999, the program moved to a new 23,150 square foot facility designed with three main wings including Infant/ Toddler, Preschool, and School Age. Blessing Hospital Child Care currently accommodates approximately 500 children (ages six weeks to 12 years) annually, providing peace of mind to Blessing Hospital employees and affiliated staff.        

Features of the Child Care Center

• Age-appropriate learning curriculum for all ages.
• Security system at the main entrance controls access into the building.
• Large rooms equipped with child sized furniture and equipment, including toilets, sinks, and water fountains.
• Bathroom facilities adjoined to classrooms.
• Kitchen facilities in every classroom.
• Direct playground access from every classroom.
• Age-appropriate playgrounds including a toddler, preschool, and school-age playground.
• Large multipurpose rooms for indoor play.

Child-Teacher Ratio

• Infants (6 weeks -15 months): 1 teacher to 4 children
• Toddlers (15-24 months): 1 teacher to 5 children
• Two year olds:  1 teacher to 8 children
• Three, four and five year olds:  1 teacher to 10 children
• School-age (ages 6-12):  1 teacher to 20 children

Infant, Toddler, Preschool Curriculum
At Blessing's Child Care Center, all children, infants to 12 year olds, are engaged in stimulating, learning activities that are developmentally appropriate.  The Preschool Program, geared for children ages two to five, provides activities in the following areas:

• Dramatic experiences: housekeeping play areas, rhythm activities, song, and fingerplay.
• Creative arts:  emphasis is on creating an individual product.
• Math experiences: shapes, number concepts, one-to-one correspondence and counting.
• Science:  experiences in the physical world
• Health & Safety:  good nutrition, dental care, good grooming, and safety at home and away.
• Social development:  playing and sharing with others.
• Large and small muscle development
• Christian Education: optional

School-Age Program
Before and after school care is available during the school year at the Child Care Center. The Center also provides transportation for school-age children to schools within the City of Quincy for a daily or weekly fee, depending on which best meets the needs of parents.

During summer months, children ages  five through 12 who have attended kindergarten may participate in summer school age activities offered by Blessing Hospital's Child Care Center. Activities include swimming, skating, field trips, interactive sports and games as well as general play and activities suggested by the children.

Testing
Children enrolled at the Center are eligible to receive an assessment and testing by trained professionals. Parents are provided with a copy of the results of the assessment/testing and parent/teacher conferences are held. Parental participation in the Blessing Hospital Child Care Center is welcomed and encouraged.