The YMCA’s core early childhood belief is that children learn best through play, which is the legitimate and genuine work of young children. When children are engaged in purposeful play, they are discovering, creating, improvising, and expanding their learning. Our programs are structured so that children are active participants in their own development and learning. We observe and respond to children, help support their current skills, and help scaffold them to reach the next milestone in their developmental journey.

We use the Creative Curriculum, which balances teacher-planned and child-initiated learning, emphasizing responsiveness to children’s strengths, interests, needs, and learning styles. The curriculum includes activities such as dramatic play, language, science, math, social studies, music, art, and large and small motor development.