Preparing students and teachers for their future in education

The value of early education and high quality child care cannot be understated. During a child's younger years, they form values, habits, and connections that will guide them toward success as an adult.

In fact, researchers have discovered that experiences up until age 8 can literally change how the brain develops, which means that the children who are involved in educational programs and advanced social situations are able to build a stronger mental foundation than children who don't have those experiences.

These facts, in part, are what drive the mission of Bright Horizons at Bellevue. This center has been providing premium education, child care, back-up care, to families in the community since 1998. Complete with a spacious playground, outdoor learning areas, an Organic City Garden, and a Certified Butterfly Garden, the facility in the heart of downtown Bellevue, is equipped to unlock the curiosity in children's brains.

"What I have loved most in my twenty-three years with Bright Horizons is the impact we make on the children. I love that we make a difference. I love when we see them years later, they still tell us stories and their memories of my school and lessons that they've learned," says Carol White, the director of Bright Horizons in Bellevue.

Bright Horizons at Bellevue serves children and their families from the infant stage to kindergarten preparation. Its Discovery-Driven Learning curriculum is designed to expose children to various subjects so they can get a headstart on developing skills necessary later in life. Discovery-Driven Learning is learning guided by children's innate desire to make discoveries about themselves and the world around them, which results in some very exciting revelations. This unique approach offers children the opportunity to understand not just what to learn, but how to learn it. During their time here, children will learn about health and wellness, language, social situations and emotions, STEM, visual and creative arts, and more

Speaking of growing teachers, Bright Horizons isn't just about enriching the lives of the children. It's also dedicated to improving the lives of the educators who give their time and knowledge to the young children who attend the Bellevue center. As part of its commitment to professionalizing the field of early childhood education, Bright Horizons offers its teachers the opportunity to earn early education degrees absolutely free. The Horizons Teacher Degree Program is a first-of-its-kind program that allows all full-time employees, including at Bellevue, to earn an associate and bachelor's degree in early childhood education at no cost to them, covering all out-of-pocket expenses, including tuition, fees and books. So far, over 4,000 people across the nation have graduated from the Horizons Teacher Degree Program.

Bright Horizons: Helping children and teachers grow

Bright Horizons is a leading global provider of high-quality early education and child care, back-up care, and workforce education services. For 35 years, they have partnered with employers to support workforces by providing services that help working families and employees thrive personally and professionally. Bright Horizons operates approximately 1,100 early education and child care centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India, and serves more than 1,400 of the world's leading employers. Bright Horizons' early education and child care centers, back-up child and elder care, and workforce education programs help employees succeed at each life and career stage.

For more information, go to www.brighthorizons.com. You can also visit the Bellevue location here:

505 106th Ave NE Suite 100

Bellevue, WA 98004