The YMCA the largest and most trusted provider of high quality child care services in the
Niagara region. Our Child Care programs deliver stimulating learning experiences in a safe environment that will enhance your
child's social, intellectual, physical and emotional development. We stimulate children's natural curiosity and encourage
personal expression so that they develop into confident, caring, happy individuals. Children need role models. They model
themselves after their parents first, their peers second and their teachers third. Your child needs to know that you have
confidence in us so that he likewise will have confidence.
Getting to Know Us
Caring, Qualified Staff
Our dedicated staff are carefully chosen and have the appropriate educational background to ensure quality care. They have
personal qualities of friendliness, warmth and the ability to relate openly to children and adults.
Our Child Care staff participate in Quality Child Care Niagara training. Selected school age centres participate in the CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) program which is designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices. Children learn that nutrition learning and physical activity is fun. Our preschool staff are trained in YMCA Playing To Learn, which provides an understanding of how play provides the foundation for learning.
Continuous evaluation of staff and programming ensures the ongoing high quality care for your children.
Parent Participation and Communication
At the YMCA, we believe strongly that child care must be a shared responsibility between parents and Child Care staff. A
variety of opportunities will be provided to ensure effective communication between you and our teachers.
Parent-Teacher Sharing
YMCA Child Care staff have a commitment to provide an environment that fosters your child's growth and learning. If you feel
that your child's needs are not being met, we encourage you to express your concerns to your Child Care Supervisor.
Family Events
You are encouraged to visit and participate in our program whenever possible. Families are encouraged to participate in
special events like Family Socials and Open Houses throughout the year.
Newsletter
Periodic newsletters are distributed. Your suggestions and comments are welcome!
Parent Advisory Focus Groups
We understand that parents wish to express their opinions, concerns and suggestions about our child care services. The
purpose of the Parent Advisory Focus Group is to provide feedback to the YMCA and to advise us on ways to enhance the quality
of service for the centre. The Parent Advisory Focus Group is not involved in any management decisions.
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Programming
Our program at the YMCA Child Care Centre concentrates on active learning on the part of the child, both
physically and mentally. Our curriculum is based on children's self-directed exploration, discovery, play, real work,
building relationships, and gaining a sense of oneself as powerful and competent. Our child-initiated curriculum emerges out
of experiences in the lives of children, families, and teachers in our program.
Children have ample opportunity to explore and experiment at their own level of knowledge. Their
activities are both interesting and satisfying to them and teachers are aware of their need for challenge and success, and
for room to grow. Full involvement in, and satisfaction from one's work is of prime importance for social and emotional
growth.
Child Guidance
A positive approach is used to guide the children; each situation and child is dealt with individually. Under no
circumstances will corporal punishment be used for behavioural management.
Methods used include:
- Redirection: guiding a child into acceptable options when engaged in an unacceptable activity
- Logical and Natural Consequences: endeavour to make children aware of results of their actions
- Limit Setting: boundaries are developed by the teacher for the children as a group and for individual children according
to each situation
- Modeling: demonstration of appropriate ways of interacting
- Providing Choices: appropriate choices are outlined and children are encouraged to make decisions for themselves
- Anticipating trouble: planning and preparing the environment
- Ignoring: some inappropriate behaviour can be ignored with more emphasis given to appropriate behaviour
- Positive Reinforcement: use of encouragement
The Daily Routine
You are invited and encouraged to bring your child for a visit during the week prior to their first day.
This gives him/her an opportunity to become familiar with the centre, our staff and to meet the other children in the
program.
During the initial period of adjustment, tears are a very natural occurrence for our younger children. Our
staff have specialized skills to help your child over a difficult time. We suggest that you settle your child into an
activity, say goodbye and then leave. Our staff will assist you both as you say goodbye.
A routine that is consistent from day to day gives children a specific way to understand time. Once your
child has participated in the sequence of the daily routine a number of times he/she will begin to understand time as a
predictable sequence of events without depending upon an adult to tell what happens next.
Our daily routine includes active and quiet times, time with friends and time to play alone. Many
opportunities are given your child to interact individually or as part of a group. Arts and crafts, music, science, language
activities, and dramatic play ensure a well balanced day that combines learning with fun.
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