The recently opened LSU Child CareCenter is in such high demand that parents are placing their unbornchildren on waiting lists.
    Mary Sciaraffa, LSU Child Care Centerdirector, said the center has been successful. She said there are afew more spots open for pre-school children, but no spots areavailable for infants.
    The center is an “in-demand center,”Administrative Specialist Rhonda Jarreau said.
    Jarreau said enrollment has gonesmoothly for the last three months. She added that the center hasbecome popular by word of mouth and people are more eager to signup now because they have heard about the center’s success.
    Child caretakers use the DevelopmentalApproach Practice, which is based on a child’s developmentalprocess, said Nesrine Ghosn, interim assistant director andcoordinator at the center.
    Ghosn said group and individual lessonstake into account everything about a child, including culture andchronological age. She said the center works around children’sneeds, and the classroom is set up for each child’s interests.
    Sciaraffa said the teachers are skilledin observing the children. Basic concepts such as the alphabet aretaught using the individual interests the teacher has observed.
    The lessons planned go into a learningcenter, and Ghosn makes herself a part of the center, working withthe children individually, Ghosn said.
    Some University departments have takenan interest in the center. Sciaraffa said she has spoken with thehuman ecology department, which is interested in placing studentteachers in the center in the spring.
    Sciaraffa said she also has spoken tosome library science teachers who would like to create a projectfor their students using the center. They would like to compile alist of quality children books to give the parents, Sciaraffasaid.
    Jarreau said the center uses studentworkers in the learning process by having them work with thechildren. She said they always are looking for new student workers,the only limitation being they need their own work study orchancellor’s aid scholarships.
    The center, located behind the CEBAparking lot on Gourrier Lane, is open to the community, but thoseaffiliated with the University are given priority.
    The center accepts children ages sixweeks to five years.