Deer Park Teaching & Learning Center

Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center (DPTLC) "Little Warriors" is dedicated to children and the fulfillment of their needs. By treating each child with love, respect and understanding, the teachers promote these qualities within the children. We offer an enriched environment that encourages the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of our children. Our goal is to nurture in each child the development of a positive self-image, a curiosity for learning, a social orientation, basic problem-solving techniques and a sense of fun and adventure.

Each child is encouraged to enjoy learning with others through play. We believe that play is vital to a child's learning; it is the way each child organizes and makes sense of their world. Through play experiences, children learn to build and maintain relationships. They learn to trust others, which enhances their emotional maturity.

Our intimate center houses two classrooms: one for 2- and 3-year-olds, and one for 4- and 5-year-olds, with two staff members in each class. Both age groups explore developmentally appropriate activities through weekly themes.

Located inside Deerfield High School, DPTLC takes great advantage of being immersed in a community of learning. We provide a lab school experience for our Child Development students, fondly referred to as our “high school friends.” The high school students enrolled in Child Development present theme-related activities that focus on pre-math, pre-science, pre-reading, social, large and small motor skills under the supervision of the Child Development teacher and DPTLC staff.