Child Development Center

At the Defense Supply Center Columbus Child Development Center (CDC), we lovingly provide a range of care options, including hourly, part-day, full-day, seasonal, and respite care. In our nurturing learning spaces, your little ones will blossom as they develop their motor, cognitive, and social skills through engaging individual, small group, and large group activities. Our care fees are determined by total family income (excluding certain special pay and allowances), ensuring affordability for all our families. We have the joy of caring for up to 280 children, from the tiniest infants (6 weeks) to curious six-year-olds. You can have peace of mind knowing we are both DOD-certified and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), reflecting our commitment to excellence.

Our mission is to provide quality, accessible, and affordable child care where your child will thrive. We promise a safe, secure, and clean environment filled with warm and caring staff who cherish each child. Your child will delight in age-appropriate and developmentally enriching learning activities, and we are dedicated to building strong, supportive partnerships with you every step of the way.

Please feel welcome to visit us anytime during our open hours for more information or a tour of our center.  We look forward to meeting you and your family!

“I Need Child Care”

We’re genuinely excited about the possibility of welcoming your family into our community! Below are resources to help you through the process of requesting care. Step One: register on our waiting list.

Visit www.militarychildcare.com, create an account and add your child to our waiting list.

Download MilitaryChildcare.com brochure

Check out the following resources:

Eligibility for the CDC is contingent on the status of the sponsor.

Eligible CDC patrons include:

  • Active duty military personnel.
  • DoD civilian employees paid from either appropriated funds (APF) or non-appropriated funds (NAF).
  • Reserve Component military personnel on active duty or inactive duty training status.
  • Combat related wounded warriors.
  • Surviving spouses of Military members who died from a combat related incident.
  • Those acting in loco parentis for the dependent child of an otherwise eligible patron (legal documentation is required).
  • Others authorized on a space available basis (to include DoD Contractors, other non-DoD federal employees, etc.)

In the case of unmarried, legally separated parents with joint custody, or divorced parents with joint custody, children are eligible for child care only when they reside with the Military Service member or eligible civilian sponsor at least 25 percent of the time in a month that the child receives child care through a DoD program. Click here for more information on Military Family Types & DoD Civilian Priorities.

Share our Child Care Provider job postings with your friends & family interested in working with young children in a lead, part time or flex position.

Resources For Enrolled Families

CDC Families, this is your go-to spot for important information you’ll need to stay connected!

Check back soon for new information.

New Parent Support & Family Resources

  • CHOICES: CHOICES is an agency dedicated to serving victims of domestic and relationship violence. CHOICES provides a 24-hour crisis and information hotline for information, temporary shelter for women and their children, legal support and advocacy, safety planning, counseling and community education and training. (614) 224-4663.
  • Franklin County Child Services: Resources and reporting for child abuse and neglect. (614) 229-700
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital Poison Center:  As one of only 55 American Association of Poison Control Regional Certified Centers, The Central Ohio Poison Center provides state-of-the-art poison prevention, assessment and treatment for 64 of Ohio’s 88 counties.  If you think someone may be poisoned, call (800) 222-1222.
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline: (614) 221-5445 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Action for Children: Action for Children is a source for child care and early learning services in Central Ohio. The organization also provides referrals to licensed child care programs – both center and home based.
  • Center for Family Safety and Healing: Offers a wide range of programs and services to address all aspects of family violence, including child abuse and neglect, teen dating abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse
  • Child Care Aware: Child Care Aware provides comprehensive, nationwide child care resources and information for parents and caregivers.
  • HealthyChildren.org: Operated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this site provides information on ages and stages, child safety, family life, healthy living and health issues, child and adolescent development, etc.
  • Help Me Grow: Help Me Grow provides education, developmental screenings, services and referrals for expectant parents, newborns, infants, and toddlers in the state of Ohio.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. NAEYC Accreditation is the gold standard for early childhood programs across the country. Families of young children who attend NAEYC-accredited programs can be confident that they deliver the highest quality early care and education.
  • Thrive: Thrive is a continuum of developmentally appropriate parenting programs that are available at no cost to parents and caregivers of children from birth to 18 years old. Online, universal parenting programs are available to parents. Additional resources contain ideas for how parents can include children in completing daily tasks, like cooking and laundry, and how to stay active while being indoors.
  • ZERO TO THREE: ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.

Upcoming Events

  • Jun 27, 2025

    Jun 27, 2025

    Tee Up For Trauma Golf Scramble

A playground with slides and climbing structures under a canopy, next to a running track.

Contact Us

Building 22

(614) 692-2852 (general)

(614) 692-1661 (enrollment)

Rate us on ICE

email us

Hours of Operation

Monday

6:00am – 6:00pm

Tuesday

6:00am – 6:00pm

Wednesday

6:00am – 6:00pm

Thursday

6:00am – 6:00pm

Friday

6:00am – 6:00pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Closed Federal Holidays

Testimonials

“Absolutely love the CDC, we are going to be so sad when we PCS and our daughter has to leave this amazing nurturing place!”  
“Tracy took the time out of her schedule to check on our daughter on her first day and let us know how she was doing. Her teachers have been wonderful. The care & attention the whole staff shows is something I think is very uncommon and made this new start easier for our family.”
“We love the CDC and all the staff! Our kids love going here and feel their teachers really do enjoy spending time teaching and guide our children.”  
“We wouldn’t take our daughter anywhere else! The staff is wonderful and show so much care and if we’ve had even the most minor concern Tracy and others have been quick to put us at ease. It’s obvious they care about our whole family! ”