Preschool | West Suburban YMCA

Child Care

Preschool Center for Youth Development

The West Suburban YMCA’s Preschool Center for Youth Development is committed to making a difference in the lives of every child and family who choose the Y.

Enrollment is ongoing. Children can currently enroll for classes starting in September

To enroll in the program for the 2023-2024 school year, please download and fill out 2023-2024 Preschool Registration Packet located to the right and return it to Heather Porder at heatherp@wsymca.org.

Program hours are 7:45 AM - 5:00 PM.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is a developmental one - meeting individual needs and giving equal emphasis to the cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical aspects of early childhood development. Our program is designed to nurture individual differences and the growth of the whole child. Our Preschool is inspiring - a place where young children learn, play and grow while developing self-esteem through the Y's core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

 

CURRICULUM

Our curriculum is well-balanced with planned learning experiences that support social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development. Students are challenged, respected and nurtured in a joyful climate. Our classroom is buzzing with individual, small and large group activities, including literacy; vocabulary; reading; introductory math concepts of numbers, shapes, and measurements; science; social studies; art; and sensory activities. We align our activities with the Common Core Standards and Massachusetts State Guidelines for Early Learning.

Program Highlights

  • Small cohorts that prevent mixing of groups

  • Safe teacher-child ratios

  • Ongoing professional development for our educators

  • Large, bright and open classroom with secure entrance, ensuring low-contact, safely distanced drop off/pick up

  • Outdoor playground and turf field

  • Supervised free swim in the Y's small pool

  • YMCA scholarships available and/or MA State Child Care Vouchers Accepted

Sample Daily Schedule
7:45 - 9:00 am Drop off & Child-Directed Learning Activities
9:00 - 9:30 am

Hand Washing & Snack

9:30 - 9:45 am Morning Meeting
9:45 - 10:45 am Teacher-Directed Learning Activities
10:45 - 11:00 am Clean Up Time & Bathroom
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Outdoor Gross Motor Time
12:00 - 12:45 pm Hand Washing & Lunch
12:45 - 1:00 pm Bathroom & Story Time
1:00 - 2:30 pm Rest/Quiet Time Activities
2:30 - 3:00 pm Hand Washing, Snack, & Table Top Learning Activities
3:00 - 3:45 pm Outdoor Gross Motor Time
3:45 - 4:00 pm Hand Washing & Closing Meeting
4:00 - 5:00 pm Child-Directed Learning Activities & Departure

PreK Handbook 2023

Preventing Child Choking in our Children

Financial Aid Request Form

To apply for Financial Assistance for Membership, Programs, Child Care and Camps, download this form and return it to the Y's Welcome Center. Please email financialaid@wsymca.org for more information.

Documents Available in Spanish, Russian, and Chinese

Do you need a West Suburban YMCA form or policy document in a language other than English? Download our most common forms and policies in Spanish, Russian, or Chinese.