At Bright Side’s Dogwood Village center, generations share a place to learn

Story time at Bright Side's Dogwood Village location can bring together people at very different stages of life. The early-care center's setting on a senior-living campus in Orange makes intergenerational activities part of its approach to childhood learning.

Bright Side Early Care & Learning Center has been family-run since 2016. Its faith-based program emphasizes the whole child, combining play with experiences in art, music, movement and early science and technology.

At Dogwood Village, the physical setting is designed for young children: rooms for infants and toddlers, soft play areas, places for art and naps, and a grassy outdoor playground. Alongside those everyday spaces are opportunities to connect with older adults through activities such as reading, exercise, cooking and seasonal celebrations.

The intergenerational element gives the location a distinctive role. Children encounter people outside their own age group, while shared activities create occasions for conversation and participation across the campus. It is a concrete feature of the program rather than a slogan about community.

Family communication is another part of Bright Side's operation. The center uses Procare updates and a Parent Advisory Board, creating channels through which parents can follow the program and contribute to it. Its Orange presence also includes a location on Spicers Mill Road.

Choosing child care involves practical questions about age groups, availability, hours and a child's needs. Bright Side invites families to contact the center to discuss those details. At Dogwood Village, that conversation includes an unusual opportunity: early learning in a setting where the wider community is close at hand.