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WILLIAMSBURG \u2013 The WISC Kids Club is expanding its early childhood offerings with a new infant care program and a music partnership designed to enhance learning for young children.<\/span><\/p>\n The program now welcomes infants as young as six weeks old, addressing a growing need for child care options for families with babies and toddlers.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBoth Courtney and I, as infant teachers as well at other centers, and we just love, we love all of the age groups, but the infant and toddler age group is especially exciting because that\u2019s when they are just, you know, brand new and really starting to learn and explore,\u201d said Samantha Carrillo, director of WISC Kids Club. \u201cWe also know from experience that most infant and toddler classrooms are, because they can accept fewer kids, they\u2019re usually harder to get into and usually require a lot more of a wait list.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She added that many families struggle to find care for children in those early stages.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe really recognize the need there is in the community and wanted to help, help serve some families in the community who are looking for care and maybe have been on a wait list for a year,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Assistant director Courtney said the shortage of infant care affects working parents across the community.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI feel like everywhere we turn, we\u2019re seeing moms in need of care and it\u2019s, you know, the only way to keep the community moving is if the children are cared for, the parents will keep working and if the children can\u2019t be cared for, the parents can\u2019t work,\u201d she said. \u201cSo we felt like the community was hitting a block there with everyone on a wait list and we knew that we could open these rooms and not have a wait list.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The program officially started last Monday, and welcomed its first toddler the day the interview took place, beginning with families already connected to the preschool.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur first toddler that\u2019s starting with us happens to have a sibling in an older preschool classroom\u2026 we\u2019ve been working with this family for five years now or so, maybe even six,\u201d said Samantha.<\/span><\/p>\n The new infant program follows the center\u2019s core philosophy focused on confidence-building and exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur biggest philosophy is that we\u2019re going to be growing and building confidence and kindness,\u201d Samantha said. \u201cWe want to have a playful exploration type of environment where children first fall in love with the idea of education, which is going to help build their confidence in education later on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to the infant expansion, the center has launched a weekly music program through a collaboration with Mosley Music.<\/span><\/p>\n The partnership began when a representative from the music program visited the facility while exploring sponsorship opportunities at the WISC.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cShe was touring the program looking to potentially become a sponsor for the WISC,\u201d Courtney said. \u201cInstead, we ended up trading the sponsorship for some classes for our kiddos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Now instructors from Mosley Music visit the preschool every Thursday to lead lessons that incorporate music and movement.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey come out every Thursday and our kids get to have a music lesson now and they have been loving it,\u201d Courtney said.<\/span><\/p>\n Educators say the music component offers important developmental benefits for young learners.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt helps with their cognitive development, helps with making those little connections within their brain,\u201d Courtney said. \u201cMusic plays a pretty crucial role in enhancing early education and it really stimulates the brain regions that are associated with language and memory.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She added that the lessons also support emotional development.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think the biggest thing for us is the continued expression and the emotional expression, which of course flows right back into the confidence of the child,\u201d Courtney said. \u201cAnd if they\u2019re confident expressing themselves, they can do anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The center, located within the Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex, already incorporates an early learning curriculum along with opportunities for physical activity through soccer classes, indoor play areas, turf fields and nature trails.<\/span><\/p>\n Leaders say the new programs align with the organization\u2019s broader mission to serve families in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe just want to help as many families as we can,\u201d Samantha said.<\/span><\/p>\n She added that expanding infant care allows the center to support parents during one of the most challenging stages of child care.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe know we\u2019re going to be able to help so many more families,\u201d she said. \u201cNot only just with giving them care, but with giving them good care, and hopefully care that they can feel comfortable leaving their six week old baby with, because that requires a lot of trust.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n