A Change For $25/day Early Learning Child Care Centres 

As of April 1, 2021, the Government of Alberta's $25/day Early Learning Child Care program is ending. For information on current and upcoming YMCA Child Care rates, please visit our Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, or Wood Buffalo pages.

If you have questions about this program or a YMCA Child Care program, email our team at childcare@northernalberta.ymca.ca.

Early Years Program Highlights

• All staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification.
• Playing to Learn Curriculum.
• Access to outdoor activities.
• Access to facility gymnasium (where available).
• Two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups).
• Some programs provide lunch (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups) - contact the program director for availability at your centre.
• All field trips and special programming are included.
• All programs include community involvement activities.
• An entirely independent registered charity since 1907 and all 70 of our child care centres (we are the largest in Western Canada) are completely not-for-profit.

YMCA Playing to Learn

YMCA Playing to Learn is a national curriculum that helps children in YMCA licensed early years programs to discover learning through creative play. This curriculum combines three decades of experience in child care delivery, with the latest body of knowledge on how the brain develops and how children learn. We believe YMCA Playing to Learn is the best approach to ensure a child’s continued enthusiasm and capacity for life-long learning. Educators in your child’s classroom will develop activities based on the children’s interest which will provide them with the foundations of language and literacy, mathematics, science and technology, and the arts, including music, visual arts and dramatic arts. Through this curriculum, your child will develop knowledge, skills and attributes which will help facilitate a smooth transition into the school-age environment. Please speak with your centre Director for more detailed information on this exciting curriculum.

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Kindercare Program Highlights

• All staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification.
• Physical Literacy programming.
• Access to outdoor activities.
• Access to facility gymnasium (where available).
• Two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups).
• Some programs provide lunch (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups) - contact the program director for availability at your centre.
• All field trips and special programming are included.
• All programs include community involvement activities.
• An entirely independent registered charity since 1907 and all of our 70 child cares (we are the largest in Western Canada) are completely not-for-profit.

Before and After School Program Highlights

• All staff hold Alberta Child Care Certification.
• Physical Literacy programming.
• Access to outdoor activities.
• Access to facility gymnasium.
• Two snacks provided daily (minimum two Canada Food Guide Groups).
• All field trips and special programming are included.
• All programs include community involvement activities.

YMCA Child Care Objectives

• To provide a warm, caring environment that will develop your child’s potential creative, intellectual, emotional, social and Physical Literacy Skills.
• To provide a safe environment that is a natural progression from home to school.
• To ensure that your child is cared for and is supervised at all times.
• To hire educators that are experienced and well trained to provide the best care and enrichment for your child.
• To provide a communication system that ensures parent to educators contact throughout the program year.
• To set fees that allow the Centre to operate on a full cost recovery basis.

YMCA Child Care Values

• YMCA Child Care is available to everyone regardless of race, sex, religion or economic circumstances.
• Parents have the right to pursue work or education with peace of mind, and children have the right to a secure, safe and developmentally appropriate program.
• YMCA Child Care families can access additional programs and services that the YMCA provides to support them.
• Parent participation is important to YMCA Child Care.

YMCA Quality Statement

Parent evaluations, current research, and over 20 years of experience in delivering child care programs have helped us to define our Quality Checklist:

• Children are happy and involved.
• Educators have a caring attitude,
• Centre, equipment and toys are accessible, clean and safe,
• Children participate in small groups in stimulating activities with the teacher.
• Food is nutritionally balanced.
• Parent-educator communication is promoted, and parents feel welcome in the centre.
• Sufficient play materials are available.
• Outdoor play activities are taking place in well-maintained play areas.
• Educators are good role models and have ongoing and appropriate training.
• Parents have regular feedback about their child.