PHILOSOPHY

The YMCA Child Development Centers are geared to the individual needs of children. Each room provides a play-centered environment with a wide range of materials and developmentally appropriate activities, which allow children to manipulate, discover, explore, make choices, and create according to their interests. Each child is recognized and valued as a unique individual with a capacity for growth and development. Through group and individual activities, each child is encouraged to develop emotionally, socially, creatively, and intellectually at his/her own rate.

Our definition of quality is formed for the YMCA using standards established by the YMCA of the USA, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and most importantly the needs of the individual children and parents we serve.

The essential component of our child care program is our staff. Staff are trained in growth and development and set age appropriate expectations. Staff guide and direct children with warmth, concern, acceptance, approval, and respect enabling children to develop a strong, positive self-concept. A warm responsive atmosphere is provided to foster a sense of trust and autonomy, as well as to encourage cooperation, communication, and respect for others.

Another component of our philosophy is that families should not be turned away due to an inability to pay for quality child care. To this end, we have a established a scholarship fund (through United Way and our own Strong Kids Campaign) to assist parents in affording YMCA child care. Donations are also welcome. Additionally, we accept DHS payments for child care.

The YMCA believes strongly that quality child care is only possible when parents are involved in the make up of the program, directly or indirectly. A variety of options are available for parents to participate in some way.

Child Care

Each human nostril registers smells differently

Smells in the right nostril are more pleasant than the left.
The most pushups ever performed in 1 day was 46,001

Want to learn how to do the perfect pushup, ask any of our fitness coaches for show and tell.
The average human body contains enough fat to make seven bars of soap

Yikes, that is kind of disgusting, but interesting.
The right lung takes more air in than the left

Take a deep breath, fill your lungs and relax – you earned it!
Deep breathing gives you health benefits similar to aerobics

Slow down. Take a deep breath. But, don’t forget to do aerobics to make your heart strong.
You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV

Turn off the TV, take a walk, and then go to sleep – think how many calories you will burn.
Gardening is said to be one of the best exercises for bone health

We knew Grandma was right on. Plant a flower or vegetable garden!
There are 206 bones in the human body

Keep them strong with strength training exercises and healthy eating.
Apples are more effective than caffeine at waking you up in the morning

They said an apple a day keeps the doctor away, now one more reason to start the day with an apple.
25% of your bones are located in your feet

Take care of your feet, wear socks that pull moisture away and make sure your shoes aren’t worn out.
Diets are a part of life

Take a healthy approach and combine exercise with healthy eating and you’ll do all right.
Your skin is an organ

This one just intrigued me!
Each pound above your ideal weight lowers your life expectancy by 34 days

So, manage your weight through healthy eating & exercise. Our fitness coaches can help you!
It takes about twenty seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body

Faster than a speeding bullet!
Your heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood each day

That heart sure does a lot of work. Keep it healthy with aerobic exercises.
The beat goes on…

During a typical human life span, the human heart will beat approximately 2.5 billion times.
A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons a day

Whew, no wonder we go through so many towels at the Y!
The average human body contains enough iron to make a small nail

Hmmm, not sure what to say about this, but kind of cool.
The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime

Wow, the heart sure gets a great workout. Make sure to keep it healthy by taking a walk or run today.