Following state and local safety guidelines, we offer quality early learning opportunities and child care for infants through preschoolers, enabling parents and family members to go to work knowing their children are in safe, stimulating environments.
Childcare at the Y.
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Infants & Toddlers
A child’s learning and development changes rapidly during the first three years of life. Our Curriculum promotes responsive interactions and flexible experiences that encourage individual children to pursue their own interests and to stretch toward what they do not yet know or cannot yet do.
Activities for infants and toddlers are organized into three age groups: Birth-12 months, 12-24 months, and 24-36 months. The activities are sequenced according to the way infants and toddlers typically develop particular skills and knowledge.
Contact Charlene M. Millias, Director of Childcare, for more information.
(P) 838-900-5815
(F) 518-848-3463
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Preschoolers
Our Preschool curriculum provides a broad approach to helping young children succeed in school and in life. The curriculum promotes foundation skills in eight areas of learning and development. The social and emotional domains of development, including self-regulation, receive as much attention in the curriculum as language/literacy, mathematics, and related academic skills.
We embrace developmentally appropriate methods of interacting with children. The curriculum uses a wide range of active learning strategies recommended by NAEYC and supported by research evidence. Children are encouraged to actively pursue their interests. Guided play experiences are valued in this program.
Contact Charlene M. Millias, Director of Childcare, for more information.
(P) 838-900-5815
(F) 518-848-3463
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Child Watch Program
Looking for childcare while you exercise? We offer a drop-in Child Watch Program while you make use of the Y’s fitness facilities. Child Watch is included with a YMCA Family membership. Parents/guardians must remain on premises the entire time while a child is in our care.
Available for children ages 6 weeks-10 years. Children must be checked in and out upon each visit.
Child Watch Hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-12PM and 4-8PM, and Saturday 8AM-12PM.
Child Watch is available to members for a maximum of 2 hours per day.
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School Aged Child Care (SACC)
Open to students in any district. Bus transportation available for youth in the Greater Johnstown School District.
We also offer care on non-school days, such as school breaks, superintendent days, half days, and some holidays.
AM Program: begins 6AM-7:15AM (when bus arrives)
(Breakfast will be provided each day)
PM Program: 3:20PM (when bus drops off)-6PM
(Healthy snack provided) Homework help offered, gym and playground play, plus games, crafts and activities.
Contact Kaylee Hunt, SACC Coordinator, for more information.
Early Learning Matters Curriculum
The Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum is a highly accessible and adaptive program that supports optimal learning and development of children from birth to five years of age. At the heart of this program is 50 weeks of activity plans that build on children’s pathways to development in five areas for infants and toddlers, and in eight areas for preschool-age children.
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can be efficiently used by staff with different levels of professional preparation and experience.
reflects high-quality research on child skills that matter and program practices that work.
promotes responsiveness to children’s actions, understandings, and interests.
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is full of developmentally appropriate experiences that support a broad range of skills linked to school readiness and life success.
offers easy-to-use activity plans that emphasize active learning, including guided play.
includes tools and strategies to help staff adapt and individualize learning experiences.
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includes numerous implementation suggestions in a set of developmentally sequenced learning plans.
supports staff as experts in adapting planned activities to meet the needs of children.
eliminates the challenges of developing or finding research-informed learning activities and coordinating different curriculum resources.