Quick Facts

  • Ages: 2 months - 3 years
  • Hours: 7:30am to 5:45pm
  • Staff-to-child ratio: 1 to 4
  • Enrollment capacity: 24
  • Lunch and snacks served daily

Director: Johanna Leni

4111 Alma Street
(650) 493-2240

Palo Alto Infant-Toddler Center (ITC)

Palo Alto Infant-Toddler Center, affectionately known as ITC, has been serving children and their families for 33 years. We believe that our program is unique in that we differ from a traditional child care setting by creating a fun, home-like environment. Additionally, children at ITC are supported by a loving staff with over 50 combined years of experience.

Parent Information and Participation

At ITC we strongly believe that family involvement is vital to the success of our program. We conduct many events that bring together current and alumni families such as potluck meals, camping and workdays. It is our feeling that these activities promote a sense of extended family which is exactly how we view our center. We are so thankful for the parents and family members who work together to make ITC feel like home.

Center Activities

ITC uses a model known as Family Age Grouping which allows a child to interact with others in an age range similar to that of a sibling. We also operate on a staff rotation system, rotating weekly positions in order to engage different groups of children in a variety of activities. By using the staff rotation system we allow the children to experience several different activities and environments while still having the stability of familiar settings and faces.

The staff rotation system and Family Age Grouping allow for quite a bit of freedom and independent learning in a safe and stable environment. We provide our children with the ability to make choices, allowing them to have a sense of control over their daily activities and to develop autonomy. Our staff encourages "free play" in a variety of settings throughout the center. Outdoors there are pushcarts, bikes and pull cars around a pathway, as well as mats, sand, grass, climbing structures and slides. Indoors children are provided with a variety of activities including arts and crafts.