CHILD CARE:



PRESCHOOL CHILD CARE

The Lakeshore Family YMCA offers quality, affordable child care for ages 6 Weeks to 5 Years (Pre-K). It is part of the YMCA's nonprofit, charitable mission to provide programs that encourage healthy development for children. Our child care program brings together a unique combination of resources to ensure that your child gains the skills and knowledge to successfully begin kindergarten.

At YMCA Child Care, your child will be active and engaged with highly trained teachers who understand the importance of quality, guided play in every child's development.

 

Our Mission-Driven Approach to Child Care

Providing quality, affordable care for your children is not just a business to us. It is our mission – a vital part of our commitment to the community. It is an approach that includes unique programs to make sure kids stay motivated intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. We strive to deliver the program in a safe and positive YMCA environment. The Y is driven by community need, guided by community volunteers and open to all. Subject to available resources, no person is denied participation in a YMCA program solely due to financial inability to pay the fee. The Y is proud to be a United Way affiliated agency.

Philosophy

Our Early Childhood Center recognizes that play is children’s work, and that providing a rich environment where creative play promotes cognitive, emotional, physical and social development is critical to your child’s health. Our program is language rich, with emphasis on offering the children pre-reading and pre-writing experiences that will spark a lifelong love of language. Our staff develops character activities that reflect the YMCA emphasis on honesty, caring, responsibility and respect.

Our program:

  • Supports and strengthens the family unit
  • Helps children develop to their fullest potential through developmentally appropriate activities
  • Provides a positive YMCA environment of safety, support and care
  • Appreciates the diversity of families and staff within the program and the community at large
  • Grows children to become our future leaders and supporters
  • Helps children develop new skills through self directed choices
  • Allows children to have fun

Programs and Activities

The activities and atmosphere of the program aim to meet the developmental, physical, emotional and social needs of the children. Our approach is designed to create a wide range of learning opportunities. Each YMCA Child Care Teacher develops lesson plans to meet the particular needs of the children in their classroom. The program includes all of the following:

  • Group Time: Children sit in a circle or group with the lead teacher. Calendar, weather and theme topics are discussed along with books and songs.
  • Center Time: Teacher directed activities that include language, science, math, big and small muscle movement, and arts and crafts.
  • Morning and Afternoon Snack: The YMCA will provide your child with a healthy morning and afternoon snack. Milk and water offered with every meal.
  • Computers: Beginning at age three, children enrolled in preschool have directed computer lab time weekly using educational software designed to build preschoolers skills and terminology using the IBM Young Explorers program.
  • Spanish: Children enrolled in preschool have a 30 minute lesson weekly introducing them to the language. Lessons teach basics skills such as colors, numbers, and manners and include music, food, and literature from the Spanish culture.
  • Recess: We have a private playground for toddlers, and a separate playground for the older children. Outside play is critical to good health, and kids will spend time outdoors as long as temperature and weather permits.

Quality Staff

Every YMCA Child Care Classroom is led by at least one state licensed Child Care Teacher. All YMCA staff must complete a background check before working in the program. Our staff members are experienced and caring, trained in child care program, First Aid and CPR. Each potential YMCA employee receives risk management training before beginning any type of employment at the YMCA, and all staff is required to take 12 hours of child care training annually.

Student Teacher Ratio

Our child care program is committed to ideal teacher-child ratios to ensure safety and quality learning opportunities. This allows for a great deal of focused attention on each child.

  • Infant: 1 adult to 4 children
  • Toddler I: 1 adult to 4 children
  • Toddler II: 1 adult to 4 children
  • Transitional Preschool: 1 adult to 8 children
  • Preschool: 1 adult to 10 children
  • Pre-K: 1 adult to 12 Children
  • Child Care Rooms and Ages
  • Ages Served: 6 Weeks to 5 Years (Pre-K)
  • Infant: 6 weeks to 14 months
  • Toddler I: 14 months to 2 years old
  • Toddler II: 2 to 2 ½ years old
  • Transitional Preschool: 2 ½ years old to potty trained
  • Preschool: 3 to 4 years (3yrs before Dec. 1st and potty trained)
  • Pre-K: 4 to 5 years (4 before Dec. 1st and potty trained)