Early Childhood Development Centers
We pay attention to the little things. We offer convenient hours and affordable pricing!
Infant & Toddler Ages: 6 weeks - 2 1/2 years (ages vary by location) | A Y Membership is NOT required
We love kids! Our Early Childhood Development Centers partners with parents to grow healthy, happy children, ages six weeks to five years. At the Y, infants develop trust and security, toddlers learn to explore, and preschoolers learn the skills needed to be successful in school. We provide children with a safe and nurturing environment filled with opportunities to grow and explore the world around them with caring professionals. Our Centers provide a warm, caring and fun setting that stimulates their natural curiosity and encourages personal expression.
The YMCA Early Childhood Development Centers are provided at several convenient, close-to-home locations throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area, please click on the link below for further information:
OUR BENEFITS
- Licensed
- Full/Part-time Child Care
- Low Child-Teacher Ratios
- Healthy Meals and Snacks
- Creative Curriculum
- Gym Activities
- Family Engagement Activities
- Outdoor Experiences
- FREE Y youth membership for all children enrolled full-time
- Financial Assistance available to those who qualify
SECURE PLACEMENT ON OUR WAITLIST
We would love to care for your child, but we are currently on a waitlist. If you would like to be added to this list, please choose your location below and click on JOIN OUR WAITLIST.
There is a $25 non-refundable fee per child to place your child’s name on this waitlist. You would then be notified when an opening becomes available.
Questions? Please call 616.855.9622.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER LOCATIONS
PARENT INFORMATION
We believe learning takes place as children touch, manipulate, and experiment with things and interact with people daily. Children’s play is an essential component of our curriculum, through their play and experiences, themes are developed that guide our daily activities and interactions.
At the Y, we utilize Creative Curriculum which has six core content areas: literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, and technology.
Our programs use the Creative Curriculum individual assessments and also child portfolios to assess your children’s developmental progress annually. The teaching staff and families discuss the results of the assessments and plan for continued growth throughout the year.
BY USING CREATIVE CURRICULUM AS OUR FRAMEWORK, WE FOCUS ON:
- How children develop and learn
- The learning environment in which children learn
- What children learn
- The role of the teacher
- The role of the family
PARENT RESOURCES & FORMS
TYPICAL DAY
Please note, this is a sample of our typical schedule. Each classroom will have a personalized daily schedule to ensure children’s developmental needs are being met.
| Start Time | End Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive at 8:00 am | Arrival, child choice, morning snack | |
| 8:00 am | 9:00 am | Breakfast, table toys |
| 9:00 am | 10:00 am | Small group, large group time |
| 10:00 am | 11:30 am | Child choice, outside, gross motor |
| 11:30 am | 12:30 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 pm | 2:30 pm | Rest time, quiet activities |
| 2:30 pm | 3:30 pm | Snack, table toys |
| 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | Small group, large group time |
| 4:30 pm | 5:30 pm | Child choice, outside, gross motor |
| 5:30 pm Closing | Departure |