The MLC Early Childhood Learning Center is a non-profit, college-run early childhood program for New Ulm area children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.  It exists as a service for families who desire an early learning experience for their children.  It is state-licensed to serve children in its four classrooms.  The center also exists to provide experiences for observation, participation, and student teaching by MLC early childhood education students.
          The overall goal is to provide early learning experiences that assist parents in nurturing the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of their young children.  We believe this goal can be reached when children learn by doing—by hands-on, active experiences that are developmentally appropriate for young children.  We further believe children develop best when all experiences occur in an atmosphere of Christian love and respect.

Specifically, these goals are accomplished:

·         with activities that exercise children’s bodies,

·         with experiences and stories that encourage children to explore God’s world, to solve problems, and to express feelings,

·         with a social environment that encourages children to play and talk with

       each other and with adults  

·         with teachers who recognize the individuality of each child’s abilities and needs.