History
Founded in 1982 by Leslie Williams and Annette Axtmann as the Center for Infants and Parents (CIP), the Center has long been providing quality early care and education for the youngest children and their families and professional preparation for graduate students whose studies focus on infancy. Over the years and with the support of Teachers College, the Center has grown from one part-time infant toddler room, primarily serving children of TC graduate students, into a more comprehensive service program providing full-time and year-round care and education.
We now serve children from 2 months through 5 years of age whose families are currently affiliated with Columbia University as students, staff, or faculty. Early care and education is provided in three rooms, each with a mixed-age group of children. Adaptability to meet a wide variety of developmental needs is built into the program. The Center's growth and development has also been supported through the gifts of many kind and generous donors. We are grateful to Rita and Herbert Gold for their support of our most recent expansion.