The Y is America's largest nonprofit child care provider, serving over 500,000 children per day! With a history of stability, safety and values, YMCA services extend through the community reaching children of varied ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. YMCA school-age child care is available to all children, regardless of race, color, creed or nationality. Limited subsidy assistance is offered to those in need depending on funds and space availability.

You can feel confident knowing that your child is safe and well cared for by highly qualified, CPR and First Aid certified, staff. In addition, our YMCA Child Care staff also attend 12 hours of training before working with your child; these trainings include Licensing, Child Development, Child Abuse Prevention and Programming. They are also required to participate in at least 16 hours of training throughout the school year. Character Development is incorporated in all YMCA Child Care programs; instilling Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility and Faith in tomorrow's leaders.

The Y has many different aspects of Child Care, here are the basics.

• Stay & Play
• Preschool
• Toddler Care
• Early Adventures/Early Discoveries
• School-Age Child Care
• Y Camp

The Y's primary goal of before- and after-school child care is to provide a quality, safe place for children to go so that parents have the freedom to work or study, knowing that their children's needs are being addressed. Children have talents and skills to develop, energy to use and huge reservoirs of creativity to explore. Our flexible schedule allows each child to freely choose what he or she wants to do during this out-of-school time.

School-Age Child Care can be located on-site at the YMCA, or at your child's school. Click here for a list of schools we serve or download the YMCA Child Care Guide for locations and prices.

You must complete and print out all of the following forms to submit them to your program location before your child can begin. A registration fee will be charged as part of your reservation process and weekly fees will be due the Wednesday prior to the week of service.

• Child Care Application
• Medication Consent
• Physical Health/Immunization Form
• Birth Certificate

All forms must be filled out completely and submitted before child begins our School-Age Child Care program.

The YMCA also offers a fun-packed, full-day Holiday Camp on most days that school is closed. Additional fees are charged for activities during these days. Check with your local YMCA for more information.

• Homework assistance and supervision
• Arts and construction
• Science and math
• Cooking
• Character development
• Enrichment, music, drama
• Recreational sports
• Literacy and language
• Games and fitness
• Outside time
• Snacks
• Free time
• SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids)
• KidzLit (a reading program that combines a relaxed and playful after-school work)
• KidzMath (games that reinforce the math skills that are being taught in school)

• Increased enjoyment of literature and the desire to read
• Enhanced vocabulary
• Greater ability to express ideas
• Stronger relationships with peers and adults
• Greater understanding of self and others
• Stronger commitment to shared values

Math and Science are fascinating to young children. YMCA KidzMath gives youth an opportunity to play games that reinforce the math skills that are being taught in school. Science activities are also available so children can explore, experiment and discover!

Building strong bodies is part of the YMCA’s history. Strong bodies live longer! Strong bodies have organs that are healthy and work better! Our After-School program incorporates SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids), a fun program addition dedicated to improving the quantity and quality of physical activity for children. This, combined with daily outdoor activities, gives school-age children the time and opportunity to exercise and strengthen their still-growing bodies. This is the YMCA’s contribution to countering our nation’s growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

The Stay & Play program is designed for children ages 6 weeks to 7 years of age. This complimentary service is a benefit for YMCA “Family” members only. Offering an environment your child will enjoy, Stay & Play hours correspond with several fitness classes and popular workout times. Trained and certified YMCA staff will supervise your child for up to two hours, per day while you exercise. When your child enters Stay & Play, he or she can expect a cheerful daily greeting and open communication from a caring, enthusiastic and trained staff, clean facilities, age appropriate activities and a comfortable and safe environment. Hours of operation vary at each YMCA Family Center; please check with your local YMCA.

The Y offers a safe, caring environment in which toddlers can begin the path of lifelong learning. This full-day program, available only at the Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA, uses Creative Curriculum for Toddlers which emphasizes developing a strong self concept as well as social, intellectual and verbal skills. Children do not have to be potty-trained to attend this program. YMCA Member: $297 semi-monthly Prospective Member: $344 semi-monthly There is an annual materials fee of $50. Morning and afternoon snacks and weekly Swim Lessons are included in tuition.

Early Adventures and Early Discoveries are part of the state-wide Virginia Preschool Initiative program for at-risk four-year-olds. Our programs are unique because of the public-private partnership they represent. The programs exist through the collaboration of Chesapeake Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools and the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.

The primary purpose of Early Adventures and Early Discoveries is to prepare eligible 4 year-olds for kindergarten by ensuring that each child is “ready to learn”. We accomplish this through a safe, developmentally appropriate, learning environment that will allow the child to grow physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually.

Click here for information about Early Adventures (Chesapeake).

Click here for information about Early Discoveries (Virginia Beach).

The YMCA of South Hampton Roads licensed Preschool provides children a developmentally appropriate program in a self-initiated, hands-on discovery environment that allows children to explore, examine, manipulate and discover while thinking independently and solving problems. We recognize that each child progresses through the same stages of development, but at his or her own rate. Our program gives us the flexibility to accommodate these different rates through the use of learning centers.

We offer full-day programs at two locations, Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA and Salem YMCA Family Center. Children must be potty-trained to attend Preschool programs.