Child Care

Our YMCA is the largest provider of child care in Grey Bruce

Our YMCA is the largest provider of child care in Grey-Bruce and Canada’s largest not-for-profit provider. 

We know the early years are when the seeds of future success are planted. That’s why our programs are based on a curriculum that fosters the physical, mental and social development of your child. We ensure your kids are kept safe and happy while you’re at work or taking some much-needed time for yourself.

Our Y offers high-quality programs for toddlers, preschool and school-aged children. At our centres, our highly trained Registered Early Childhood Educators partner with parents to support each child’s development and provide families with the security of knowing their child is in a safe and nurturing environment during these formative years.

For millions of children, child care is where they will learn to get along with others. It is where they will learn to socialize, share and play and it is where they will form friendships, grow and develop. The quality of this setting cannot be overvalued. It will significantly impact your child’s development and well-being, their educational opportunities, even their future career success. Our goal is to encourage your child to be a lifelong learner.

With our dedication to offering high-quality, research-based programs that are fun and enriching for your child, there are many reasons why YMCA Child Care is different.

YMCA Child Care programs are developed by a core group of early childhood education experts across Canada. We ensure we are always reflecting on current research and standards, including provincial frameworks. Our programs meet provincial licensing requirements and we annually evaluate our programs to ensure our own YMCA program standards are met.

Research has shown that play is the natural way children learn and this serves as the foundation for all YMCA Child Care programs. When children play, they are having fun, exploring their interests, trying new things, using their imagination, problem solving and developing new skills. Our programs and centres are designed to allow children to participate in independent or small group play while YMCA educators support their learning.

Warm, caring and dedicated; our staff have a passion for nurturing each child’s potential. They are qualified professionals and lifelong learners themselves, supported through ongoing in-house training. Our staff are held accountable for the implementation of our curriculum, our standards for communicating with parents and adherence to YMCA policies and procedures, including child protection policies. All staff are required to submit criminal records checks.

YMCA child care teacher with students

Child Care

An integral part of all licensed YMCA Child Care, our YMCA Playing to Learn™ curriculum prepares children ages 1-6 for school and life-long achievement.

YMCA child care teacher with school age student

Before and After School Program

Our YMCA A Place to Connect™ curriculum brings a high-quality approach to how we deliver Before and After School Care programs for children 5-12 years old.

We’re driven by the child’s interests

In both our YMCA Playing to Learn and YMCA A Place to Connect curriculums, there are no pre-determined lesson plans. What happens in each program is driven by what children are showing an interest in at any given time and staff will work with the children to grow their interest and learning about the topic. Materials, props and activities are introduced to enhance these experiences providing opportunities for learning and development.

Have questions? Feel free to reach out to us to speak with a supervisor directly. Contact information for our accounts and billing, and each child care location can be found on our Contact Us page.

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Giving Tuesday November 28, 2023

It’s Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity.

Our community relies on the YMCA, and the YMCA relies on donors like you.

Support your community today. Every act of generosity counts.  

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