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 large multi activity center room for children and a variety of enriching activities. Classrooms include a peaceful sleeping alcove in the infant room and cozy reading lofts in the 2, 3, and 4 year old rooms, along with large shaded playgrounds for each age group.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
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 on April 1, 1992, and purchased it that same year. The center operates under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff and supports the professional development of teachers through early childhood education training. The leadership team includes Debbie Smith as Director and Missy Rogers as CEO of The Arc of the Emerald Coast. 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 Children’s Center follows a philosophy that all children can and do learn in an inclusive environment with developmentally appropriate experiences under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff. The program uses a developmental based curriculum, offers a wide range of enriching activities to meet the individual needs of each child, and focuses on building each child’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills. The center offers multi-cultural and developmentally appropriate materials and equipment, complies with all state and local requirements for childcare, and supports open communication with families in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, including parent/teacher conferences twice a year. Teachers at the center are described as tenured and spend lots of time cuddling and talking to children to instill trust and provide an early learning environment for movement, exploration, and communication. Afterschool and Summer Programs for ages 5 through 12 years provide a safe, fun, and active environment.
The Children’s Center became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in May 2001 and continues to operate as a nationally accredited child care center while maintaining the high standards of NAEYC. The center’s goal in the community is to provide childcare to all children and to mainstream children with special needs, and it receives and accepts many referrals from partnering agencies, including Early Learning Coalition certificates.
Last updated February 13, 2026.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
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 on April 1, 1992, and purchased it that same year. The center operates under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff and supports the professional development of teachers through early childhood education training. The leadership team includes Debbie Smith as Director and Missy Rogers as CEO of The Arc of the Emerald Coast. 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 Children’s Center follows a philosophy that all children can and do learn in an inclusive environment with developmentally appropriate experiences under the guidance of a competent, knowledgeable staff. The program uses a developmental based curriculum, offers a wide range of enriching activities to meet the individual needs of each child, and focuses on building each child’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills. The center offers multi-cultural and developmentally appropriate materials and equipment, complies with all state and local requirements for childcare, and supports open communication with families in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, including parent/teacher conferences twice a year. Teachers at the center are described as tenured and spend lots of time cuddling and talking to children to instill trust and provide an early learning environment for movement, exploration, and communication. Afterschool and Summer Programs for ages 5 through 12 years provide a safe, fun, and active environment.
The Children’s Center became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in May 2001 and continues to operate as a nationally accredited child care center while maintaining the high standards of NAEYC. The center’s goal in the community is to provide childcare to all children and to mainstream children with special needs, and it receives and accepts many referrals from partnering agencies, including Early Learning Coalition certificates.
Last updated February 13, 2026.
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