The Children’s Center

The Children’s Center offers care and education for infants, toddlers, twos, threes, Fours/VPK, and school age children. It also offers an enrichment program for infants and toddlers with special needs and an inclusive child care program for children with and without developmental delays.

Programs

• Infants — 6 wks to 12 mo · Care and education for infants.
• Toddler — 12 mo to 24 mo · Care and education for toddlers.
• Twos — 24 mo to 36 mo · Care and education for twos.
• Threes — 36 mo to 54 mo · Care and education for threes.
• Fours/VPK — 42 mo to 5 years · Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten provider; extended care offered for the hours following VPK.
• School Age — 5 to 12 years · Afterschool and Summer Programs are offered for ages 5 through 12 years.
• Enrichment Program — infants and toddlers with special needs · Provided when grant funds are available for eligible families of infants and toddlers with special needs.
• Inclusive child care program — children with and without developmental delays · An inclusive child care program at The Children’s Center.

At a glance

• Ages: 0–12 years old

About the provider

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. Debbie Smith is the director. The center became nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in May 2001 and continues to maintain the high standards of NAEYC. It accepts Early Learning Coalition certificates and welcomes families receiving subsidized care.

The center accepts Early Learning Coalition certificates. The center welcomes families receiving subsidized care. Children with special needs and those at risk are given a head start. Services for the Birth To Three program include a Family Support Plan and weekly visits, and services are provided in the home, child care center, or another care giver’s home.

Last updated September 9, 2026.