There's so many reasons to choose one of the Y's early learning programs for your child! We have highly-trained and certified staff who care about the well-being and development of our child.
They understand the stages of development for children our care and structure the experience to help them meet the necessary milestones.
Check out our early learning video to learn about our specific programs.
Our toddler program nurtures and encourages your child’s natural curiosity in a fun and active learning environment. Highly trained teachers plan daily activities that encourage an enthusiastic exploration of the world. Within the consistent structure toddlers crave, children enjoy a daily balance of quiet activities, spirited music, movement, and plenty of outdoor climbing, running, and jumping.
Children transition through the early stages of development toward more advanced skills they need to succeed in elementary school and beyond! Caring staff leads children in activities that introduce Kindergarten-readiness skills while supporting children’s natural curiosity about the world around them through dramatic play. Teachers encourage pro-social behavior and provide opportunities to increase self-care skills.
The Y’s Before & After School Enrichment (BASE) Program helps fill a gap for working families by keeping kids safe when not in school. Through a combination of recreational and teacher-led activities, we are able to complement what kids are already learning in the classroom. School-age kids balance learning and fun while developing social skills and engaging with positive adult role models.
The PHLpreK program offers free, high-quality preschool to children who are 3 or 4 years old who reside in Philadelphia County. There are no income or employment requirements. Interested families can apply for placement in this program.
Wondering what to do with your kids when school is closed but you still have to work? The Y provides care when your child’s school is closed, including most in-service days and holidays. Your child will engage in social and educational activities along with plenty of physical activity while at the Y.
*Completed forms must be obtained prior to attending. Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens August 15.
The Y aims to offers affordable options for your family to get access high-quality child care. Plus, our passionate staff will make you feel at ease when your child is in our care.
Find pricing for the programs offered through your local school district by clicking the button below, and get started with your registration!
All Y Early Learning Centers feature the following measure to ensure the safety and well-being of our participants:
In a typical day, children are provided with hands-on, playful, developmentally appropriate experiences both indoors and out. Instruction builds upon prior learning and developed skills as children age up through the program, ensuring readiness for learning and entry into Kindergarten.
Children go outside every day, when the temperature is between 25 – 90 degrees, and there is no active precipitation or advisory to stay indoors.
Daily communication is provided through Tadpoles, a home and school app that supports two-way communication and sharing of resources, information, and photos.
All staff meet or exceed state requirements and have access to continuous education and training.
Please provide any necessary personal care items for your child, including: diapers, wipes, a change of clothing and naptime bedding. For infants, please supply a crib sheet. Please contact your local center for additional details, including snacks and meals.
Our tuition rates vary based on which offering you select. Please contact us at gpychildcare@philaymca.org or (215) 220-9199 to learn more about our offerings and pricing.
We believe that everyone in our community should have the opportunity to benefit from Y programs. Our financial assistance program is central to our mission. Learn more about financial assistance.
Learn more about our before and after school program offerings and locations to find the right program for your family.
When you are ready to register, login to your Y account online.
Please note: when you register for child care online, you will be registered for a child care package that includes the entire year of care and any applicable registration fees.
Please note: Each program will show how many children are registered out of the maximum number allowed for the program. If a program is at maximum capacity, you will only be able to add your child to the program waitlist.
The YMCA accepts funding from the Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) in Pennsylvania, Burlington and Camden Counties Community Action Partnerships in New Jersey, as well as Child Care Aware for military families. Please contact us with your Caseworker Name and ID number so that we may add this to your account.
Financial Assistance: If you plan to apply for financial assistance through the Y, please apply before registering for child care. Learn more about financial assistance:
Learn More about Financial Assistance
Outstanding Balances: If you have an unpaid balance on your account, you will be unable to register for child care. To settle any outstanding balances, please call our team at (215) 965-4316.
Thank you for choosing the YMCA for your family’s child care needs and we look forward to serving you and your family throughout the school year!
Payment Receipt: You can access your orders and payments at any time online in the My Account section > Payment & Balances for receipt details or to see a list of payments.
Additional Paperwork: The primacy account contact will receive a confirmation email from the Y within a few minutes of your registration that will include a link to My Forms, which is accessible directly in your Y account. You can complete all the required forms and waivers, including immunization records, emergency contact forms, and health history information. This paperwork must be completed before your child’s first day of care (estimated time to complete is 30 minutes). For more information, view our Forms Help Guide.
Payment Receipt: Once your registration is processed, you will be sent a receipt to your primary email address on file. You can also access your payments at any time via your online account in the My Account section > Payments and Balances (for receipt details).
Additional Paperwork: Completing your required forms is now easier than ever! You will receive a confirmation email from the Y within a few minutes of your registration that will include a link to My Forms, which is accessible directly in your YMCA online account. You can complete all the required forms and waivers, including immunization records, emergency contact forms, and health history information. This paperwork must be completed before your child’s first day of care and we estimate the paperwork will take about 30 minutes to complete.
For more information view our Forms Help Guide.
Your child can expect a day of fun and learning!
Sample Schedule
Check-in and Welcome Activity
Snack (Provided by the YMCA)
Homework Assistance
Outdoor Play (weather permitting)
Enrichment Activity 1
Enrichment Activity 2
End of Day Small Group Interest Centers
Activities Included: Arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Leadership Development, Literacy, Service Learning, Health and Wellness
Your child will be guided by our trained, caring, and dedicated staff.
At the Y, we believe that our staff is our greatest resource. Our team all have prior experience working with children and have school-age-specific training to ensure they not only provide your child with a fun experience but a safe and educational one as well.
To ensure your child is in safe hands, all staff members must also pass through a rigorous series of background checks including FBI Fingerprinting, National Child Abuse Registry, National & State Sex Offender Registry, and full reference checks.
All staff providing before and after school care receive training on key topics like child abuse recognition and prevention, CPR and first-aid training, character development and group dynamics, diversity and inclusion training, and SO much more!
We believe that everyone in our community should have the opportunity to benefit from Y programs. Our financial assistance program is central to our mission. Learn more about financial assistance.
Our child care team is happy to work with school administrators to bring high quality programs to new schools. School administrators who want to take steps to having Y programs at their district can click the button below to submit interest.
Have additional questions about child care or registration? Reach out to our team!
Phone: 215-220-9199
Email: GPYChildCare@philaymca.org
