The Children’s Center
The Children’s Center, 343 Holmes Blvd NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
About
The Children’s Center offers Afterschool Programs and Summer Programs that include a wide range of enriching activities to meet the individual needs of each child. The program uses a developmental based curriculum and offers multi-cultural and developmentally appropriate materials and equipment. Teachers are described as tenured and spend lots of time cuddling and talking to children to instill trust and provide a healthy early learning environment for movement, exploration and communication.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
The mission of The Children’s Center is to provide quality care and education for young children 6 weeks to 12 years of age in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The program’s goal in the community is to provide childcare to all children and to mainstream children with special needs, and it provides childcare to all children and mainstreams children with special needs. Afterschool and Summer Programs offered for ages 5 through 12 years provide a safe, fun and active environment.
The Children’s Center is designed to create a warm and secure environment for children of all ages, including a peaceful sleeping alcove in the infant room, cozy reading lofts in the 2, 3, and 4 year old rooms, a large multi activity center room for ages 5 to 12 years, and large shaded playgrounds for each age group. The environment provides developmentally appropriate experiences for young children under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff, and the program supports the professional development of teachers through early childhood education training. The Children’s Center offers open communication with families in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect and provides parent/teacher conferences twice a year to keep parents informed of their child’s progress.
The Children’s Center has been in business since October 1990. The Arc of the Emerald Coast, formerly known as Horizons of Okaloosa County, took over the center April 1, 1992, and in 1992 the Children’s Center was purchased by Horizons of Okaloosa County. The center became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in May 2001 and continues to operate a nationally accredited child care center, and it complies with all state and local requirements for childcare. Leadership includes Debbie Smith, Director, and Missy Rogers, CEO of The Arc of the Emerald Coast.
The Children’s Center receives and accepts many referrals from partnering agencies, including Early Learning Coalition certificates. The program’s philosophy celebrates the potential of each child and focuses on building each child’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills. The center continues to operate a nationally accredited child care center under license number C010K0039.
Last updated May 31, 2026.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
The mission of The Children’s Center is to provide quality care and education for young children 6 weeks to 12 years of age in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The program’s goal in the community is to provide childcare to all children and to mainstream children with special needs, and it provides childcare to all children and mainstreams children with special needs. Afterschool and Summer Programs offered for ages 5 through 12 years provide a safe, fun and active environment.
The Children’s Center is designed to create a warm and secure environment for children of all ages, including a peaceful sleeping alcove in the infant room, cozy reading lofts in the 2, 3, and 4 year old rooms, a large multi activity center room for ages 5 to 12 years, and large shaded playgrounds for each age group. The environment provides developmentally appropriate experiences for young children under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff, and the program supports the professional development of teachers through early childhood education training. The Children’s Center offers open communication with families in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect and provides parent/teacher conferences twice a year to keep parents informed of their child’s progress.
The Children’s Center has been in business since October 1990. The Arc of the Emerald Coast, formerly known as Horizons of Okaloosa County, took over the center April 1, 1992, and in 1992 the Children’s Center was purchased by Horizons of Okaloosa County. The center became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in May 2001 and continues to operate a nationally accredited child care center, and it complies with all state and local requirements for childcare. Leadership includes Debbie Smith, Director, and Missy Rogers, CEO of The Arc of the Emerald Coast.
The Children’s Center receives and accepts many referrals from partnering agencies, including Early Learning Coalition certificates. The program’s philosophy celebrates the potential of each child and focuses on building each child’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills. The center continues to operate a nationally accredited child care center under license number C010K0039.
Last updated May 31, 2026.
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