At Bakersfield College, there is a child development center that is funded by the California State Department of Education.
According to the BC Website, the child development center is a state preschool and is available to families in Bakersfield who qualify.
Students who come to BC are given first priority if they want to enroll their children.
Only children ages six months to five years can be taken care of at the center.
The center is very organized and creative; it has classrooms for every level.
The Caterpillar room is for infants; Butterflies room is for toddlers, Dragonflies’ room is for two-year-olds, and the Starfish, Seashells and Sand Dollars are for preschool children.
“I just love everything about this center and all the teachers and workers seem very sweet,” said Karina Sandoval, who wishes to enroll her child soon.
The center is located on the far left side of the campus across from the bluffs.
The center helps BC students out in many ways, such as providing care for their children while they are in class.
“I like the fact that I can have my kids taken care of for free while I am in class learning,” said BC student Lourdes Gutierrez.
Frank Rico, Gutierrez’s husband, said, “The center is very colorful and looks very fun to be in. If I was a child I would love to be able to be in these classrooms and play with all the awesome toys they have in the playground.”
The child development center also provides jobs and school credit for students who plan to have careers in this field.
Anabel Bugarin, a student at BC, has been working at the child development center for a year.
Working with these children is an experience that can be applied to a future career.
“I wanted a job with hands-on experience, plus I love working with kids,” she said.
Bugarin wishes to pursue a career with children. She hopes to transfer to California State University of Bakersfield and get her master’s degree in child development.
She would like to be a pre-school teacher and eventually, a site supervisor.
The center provides an educational component and care for infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children.
“My kids enjoy the centers very much and learn new things everyday. When we get home they always surprise me with something new,” said Gutierrez.