CHILD CARE

Maryland  |  District of Columbia  |  Virginia  |  Download Child Care Flyer  

What makes parents choose, without hesitation, the YMCA for the care of their children?

Quality

They know that the YMCA has been providing stimulating infant and toddler day care and innovative before and after school programs for more than 30 years. As one of the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit child care leaders, the YMCA opened its doors with a strong commitment to families, recognizing immediately the need for quality, affordable child care. Today, our local branches throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia supervise more than 27,000 children a year.

Reliability

Our parents enjoy peace of mind. They know that their children will learn and grow in a safe, nurturing, wholesome and fun environment, under the loving guidance of certified professionals who make each child a priority. Through an age-appropriate curriculum combined with creative activities, games, reading, recreation, computer lessons, homework assistance and field trips, we help children of all ages develop motor, mental and social skills and achieve a sense of security and independence. Because healthy activities help build strong spirits, minds and bodies, we always include swimming, sports and specialty classes, like dance and art. The YMCA’s child care programs, which adhere to the goals and standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), encourage youngsters to

• develop their self-confidence
• build healthy peer relationships
• learn to appreciate the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, and
• grow in leadership and team spirit.

Asset Building

In our critical work with children—from toddlers to teens—we at the YMCA have a wonderful approach called Developmental Assets. Based on findings from the Search Institute, the Developmental Assets model identifies 40 essential character building blocks that all young people need to grow up as healthy, competent, caring, responsible and contributing adults.

Our goal is to help youngsters acquire these building blocks to create a firm foundation for life—a positive identity; a strong sense of power, purpose and self-worth; and values that will enable them to make wise choices throughout life. We want to help them become compassionate, well-rounded and well-adjusted individuals who care about the well-being of others and learn to place the needs of others above their own.

The YMCA provides the positive, supportive environment necessary for children to develop these assets. Through project-based, hands-on activities geared toward individual learning levels, ages and interests, our children begin to feel empowered as valued members of the community, experience the consequences of their actions and celebrate the process of learning.

Security

Our reputation for consistency, dedication and professionalism and safety make parents feel confident entrusting us with the care of their children. We continuously review our health and safety policies to ensure the well-being of each child. Our low child-to-teacher ratios enable the staff to foster solid relationships and provide sound guidance, while maintaining the stability that contributes so effectively to the comfort, security and development of the children in our programs.

The YMCA School-Age Care Curriculum
Our well-planned YMCA School-Age Care Curriculum helps to make your children’s experience instructional, inspirational and fun.

Developed through a partnership with the YMCA of the USA, the YMCA of Greater Providence and National Institute of Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College, it takes into account the specific needs and interests of the children; the unique needs of the school and the community; the talents and strengths of the staff; and the available resources both at the YMCA and within the community.

The YMCA School-Age Care Curriculum encompasses eight core areas:
• the arts and humanities
• character development
• health wellness and fitness
• homework support
• literacy
• science and technology
• service learning
• social skills enhancement and conflict resolution

Through it, we empower children to express themselves, use their imaginations, and be creative; to practice reading, writing, speaking, thinking critically, and understanding others and to appreciate books. They begin to see the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in all aspect of life.

We offer them free choice of a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that may be done in small groups or alone, carefully balanced with participating in such enjoyable large group activities as playing soccer or reading a book. And, of course, we serve a nutritious snack.

School Time Out Programs & Services

Target Time Teen Programs, a positive alternative
It’s 4:30 pm. Do you know where your teenagers are? Where were they at 3 pm? What are they going to be doing until 6 pm? Are they alone in the “Danger Zone,” the unstructured afterschool time from 3 to 6 pm when teens are often left to their own devices? Research continues to show that teens unsupervised after school are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and engage in sexual activity.

The YMCA of Metropolitan has a solution. Through our Teen Action Agenda, we currently provide after school, evening and weekend activities for one in 10 teens with the goal of reaching one in five teens by 2005. Our tutoring, mentoring, sports, and community service opportunities offer teens positive experiences in which they can feel that they are significant and respected members of their families, schools, and communities. We also conduct Holiday and School Days Out Programs and Services.

The YMCA works! According to the most recent survey among YMCA teenagers, 70 percent had never used alcohol; 80 percent had never smoked cigarettes, and 85 percent had never used illegal drugs.

YMCA Day Care

It’s never too early to focus on the development of the whole person—in spirit, mind and body. We recognize the unique character and temperament of each child, from infants to preschoolers, and support developmentally appropriate activities to foster social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth. We consistently stimulate infants with music, movement, color, touch and language and challenge toddlers with increasingly complex levels of play to enhance gross motor and cognitive skills.

At the YMCA, our staff takes the time to listen, guide, teach and play with warmth, patience, understanding and fairness. Each child develops at his or her own pace, which helps to create an ideal learning environment—one of comfort, security, encouragement and fun.

Although we offer several programs for children of various ages, the YMCA uses a host of factors—including developmental checklists, teacher observation and parent input—to determine a child’s readiness to advance to the next program. We know that children develop at different speeds, so no child is ever moved ahead based on age alone.

Infant Program

(6 weeks to 24 months)
The YMCA’s infant care program is designed to meet the needs of each baby based on his or her own schedule. Infants nap, feed, play and cuddle when they’re ready, not on someone else’s predetermined timeline. Music, singing, reading, fingerplaying and constant verbalization foster budding socialization, self-concept and developmental skills. Facilities are equipped with cribs, swings, walkers and age-appropriate toys and books.

Toddler Program

(2- to 3-year-olds)
The YMCA offers a safe, caring environment in which toddlers can begin the path of life-long learning. Both the full-day and half-day nursery school programs emphasize developing a strong self concept as well as social, intellectual and verbal skills.

Preschool Program

(3- to 5-year-olds)
Besides the developmental curriculum, children in the Preschool Program enjoy many other YMCA activities—soccer, swimming, gymnastics, dance and computers—that build self-confidence and socialization skills. We offer full-day and half-day nursery school programs.

Head Start

(3- to 4-year-olds)
The community-based, full-day Head Start program provides developmentally appropriate instruction for preschoolers as well as a full range of support services for the entire family. Soccer, gymnastics, swimming and computers enhance the children’s learning experiences and help teach self-control and socialization and build confidence and creativity.

YMCA Before and Afterschool Programs

Curiosity about the world comes naturally to children. That’s why at the YMCA, we strive to expose children to a variety of new and exciting experiences. In our before and afterschool programs, kids explore and experiment, discover new ideas, work cooperatively in small groups and, consequently, learn to respect the differences and similarities within their own communities.

Our innovative before and afterschool programs offer far more than just homework assistance—although we build in time for that as well. Children may choose their own activities from among many, including science, mathematics, technology, recreation and reading. There is always something different and exciting, from special events and field trips to physical activity and youth leadership projects.

Kindergarten Complement

(kindergarten-age children only)
Designed to enrich the public school system’s half-day kindergarten, the YMCA’s Kindergarten Complement program reinforces academics and prerequisite skills including group behavior, listening to directions and learning to express needs. Parents can enroll their children in K-complement only or may add morning and/or afternoon care for a full-day of safe and fun child care, which includes outdoor play time.

Kindergarten Program

(5-year-olds)
The YMCA’s Kindergarten Program encourages lifelong positive values and prepares children for academic success in an environment that stimulates physical and cognitive development. Each child receives individualized attention while learning a wide range of new skills, including reading, mathematics, science, music, art, language, and handwriting.

School-Age Program

(5- to 16-year-olds)
Outdoor play, arts and crafts, science, creative experiences, quiet time and supervised homework guidance all make for afterschool learning and fun. Additional care is often provided before school and during the public school system’s half days, teacher in-service days, and spring and winter breaks.

Middle School Program

(sixth, seventh and eighth graders)
This on-site program allows middle school students to participate in YMCA activities, including homework assistance, sports and arts and crafts, both after school and directly following the school system’s own extracurricular afternoon programs.

Caregivers as Mentors

The loyalty and dedication of our impassioned, educated and highly trained staff is extraordinary. We pride ourselves on our careful screening and selection to employ the finest child care directors, administrators, teachers and support staff in the metropolitan region. Candidates must meet strict YMCA qualifications, which exceed Child Care Administration guidelines; be free of physical conditions that might adversely affect the children’s health; pass a criminal background inspection; and participate in several training and certification programs, including infant/child CPR, first aid, prevention/recognition of child abuse, OSHA blood borne pathogens, child development, curriculum planning and licensing regulations.

Parents as Partners

The YMCA actively encourages parent participation to ensure the best possible growth and development experience for the children. Beyond the informal daily contact, the YMCA supports the trusting relationship among parent, child and caregiver through

Parent Access
Parents are welcome to join in their children’s activities anytime—no appointment is necessary.

Communication
In addition to written or verbal communication between staff members and parents, we encourage each child to share his or her daily experiences with parents at the end of every program day.

Consistent Parent Meetings
Our caregivers meet with parents regularly to discuss their children’s growth in spirit, mind, and body.

Special Events
Special activities, such as birthday parties, field trips and celebrations, make it easier for children and their parents to explore one another’s world.

Evaluation
We’re always receptive to feedback and recommendations for enhancing our child care programs.

Support Services
The YMCA has a history of responding to the needs of families, helping them through changes and difficult times and strengthening the quality of family life. We offer a variety of workshops aimed at building healthy families as well as comprehensive intervention services, as needed.

What Parents Think About YMCA Child Care
“[My kids’] teachers were kind and loving, the program was diverse in approach to teaching [and] interspersed just enough readiness skills with good old-fashioned fun.”
—Maggie Brodnick

“[My son] is not one to enjoy school or child care of any kind, but he loved [the YMCA kindergarten complement and afterschool programs]. He would ask if he could stay longer when we would come to pick him up each day, and I think that says a lot!”
—Suzanne Kobelja

“[My son’s teachers] have gone beyond the extra mile to give service and help and are a large part of our successful transition into first grade.”
—Cathy Pagano

The YMCA Builds Spirit, Mind and Body

Spirit
Self-esteem
Willingness to help others
Sense of fun
Positive energy

Mind
Learning
Problem solving
Using information
High expectations

Body
Health
Wellness
Physical fitness
Being active

Mission and Goals

The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington’s mission is to foster the spiritual, mental and physical development of people of all ages, faiths and cultural backgrounds grounded in the ideals of justice, equality and mutual respect. The YMCA values diversity as strength and provides experiences that help

• Develop self-confidence and self-respect
• Cultivate a faith for daily living
• Practice personal integrity
• Achieve physical and spiritual well-being
• Promote interracial, intergroup and ecumenical harmony
• Build capacities for enlightened leadership
• Contribute to personal self-reliance and societal well-being
• Lead to worldwide understanding and peace 

Financial Assistance

We believe every child should have the chance to enjoy YMCA programs. Financial assistance is available, as funds permit, to families who are unable to pay the full program fee. Funds for financial assistance have been made available through generous contributions to Building Bridges, our annual sustaining campaign.

We also actively recruit children whose parents receive subsidies from the Working Parents Assistance (WPA) and Purchase of Care (POC) by maintaining a long-standing referral relationship with agencies that administer these programs.

Special Needs Program (ALL AGES)

We strive to serve children of all abilities. If your child requires special assistance or accommodations, please call your local branch to make an appointment with the Child Care Director for evaluation and suitable placement.

Child Care Programs

DISTRICT

YMCA ANTHONY BOWEN
1325 W Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-462-1054
Infant, Preschool, School Age, Middle School

YMCA CALOMIRIS PROGRAM CENTER
1906 Allison Street, NE
Washington, DC 20018
202-526-4233
School Age

YMCA CAPITAL VIEW
2118 Ridgecrest Court, SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-889-5461