Overview

Child Care programs at the YMCA are focused on meeting the social, emotional, and academic needs of our young learners so they can grow into the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. YMCA Child Care is a place for children to explore, learn, and grow in an environment where they will feel safe, cared for, and celebrated. When you enroll your child in YMCA Child Care, you can feel confident, knowing your child is learning, playing, and growing in a safe space with caring leaders. In every program and every classroom, the Alexandria Area YMCA addresses the specific needs of children based not only on age, but also individual pace of development. We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success.

Additional Information

Drop-In & Short-Term Care

Alexandria Area YMCA Child Care is pleased to offer drop-in and short-term child care to families Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 5:45 pm.

Curriculum

• Funnydaffer provides a complete curriculum that takes the busy work and stress out of lesson planning which allows more time for teachers to work with children.
• Fun & Creative Play-Based Curriculum
• For more than 24 years, over 200 extremely qualified childcare professionals contributed to the construction of this play-based curriculum.
• Our curriculum is designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles to ensure each child succeeds. We provide a very large platform from which to build a comprehensive approach to delivering curriculum. Our lesson plans are designed to let children discover, invent, pretend and challenge themselves.
• Approved for Use in Accredited Schools. The Funnydaffer curriculum has been assessed by many childcare professionals and is approved in states across the nation. Our curriculum addresses all of the developmental and learning objectives each child needs. Plus, it is really fun!
• More than 10,000 Lessons. Over 200 teachers with vast amounts of experience have contributed to the construction of this curriculum over a period of 22 years.

Sibling Discount

Families with three or more children actively enrolled in the YMCA Child Care program receive a 25% discount on tuition. This discount is applied to the weekly tuition of the oldest child, helping to make quality child care a little more affordable for larger families.

Meals and Snacks

We all sit down together for a nutritious breakfast to fuel our bodies and brains for the busy day ahead. Eating together is a wonderful way to build community and practice social skills like sharing and conversation. After playing, we transition back inside, wash our hands, and get ready for a healthy lunch. A healthy snack gives everyone the energy boost they need to power through the rest of the afternoon.

Typical Day for a Preschooler (Sample Schedule)

• 6:30 – 8:00 a.m. | Arrival & Morning Free Play
• 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast
• 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Circle Time & Learning Centers
• 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. | Outside or Gym Play
• 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. | Lunch Time
• 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Rest Time
• 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Afternoon Snack
• 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Projects, Play & More Active Time
• 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. | Winding Down & Parent Pick-Up

Staff

Lead Infant Teacher, Lead Toddler Teacher, Lead Preschool Teacher, Lead K-Readiness Teacher. 35 Staff Members at YMCA Child Care Center. 12 Staff Members at Nelson Care Center.

Safety Protocols

• The Alexandria Area YMCA's commitment to providing a safe environment for every individual who engages with us—especially children—is essential to our mission, reputation, and our viability as an organization.
• All Y team members who have contact with children must complete a background screening. They will also go through training on recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse.
• We also screen all members, and guests against a national sex offender registry to allow us to continue to provide a safe, welcoming environment for every person at the Alexandria Area YMCA.
• All Y volunteers who have contact with children must complete a background screening.
• All Y team members are recognized as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under the State of Minnesota statutes and are therefore required to report any suspicion of abuse against those who participate in programs at the Y.

Parent Communication

Every YMCA Child Care classroom has an iPad with the Brightwheel app. This easy-to-use tool allows our teachers to:

Facility Rating

4-Star Parent Aware Facility. When a program participates in the Parent Aware Star Rating process, they are letting their stars shine. They volunteer for extra training and professional development to go above and beyond basic health and safety licensing requirements.

Intergenerational Programming

Intergenerational programming at Knute Nelson fosters skill-sharing between generations. Children bring joy and spirit to residents, keeping them young at heart, while residents' attention helps children flourish. Kids visit weekly, sing, and use the hallways as classrooms, calling residents their 'grand buddies.'