Anyone ever use the YMCA for daycare?

[connorlevismom]

I am talking about the actual daycare. Not the drop iff while you work care.

What was your opinion of it? Do you think it is a good daycare for a 4 year old? I guess it would be the preschool that he would attend, right?

Kristine

 

[ChristaDeVil]

My son (7) has attended YMCA school care since the summer before he started Kindergarten. Our YMCA doesn't offer daycare to anyone younger than 5. We've liked it...we've had a couple of problems, but mostly due to some of the "counselors"- they are mostly college students, and I've had some problems with how they've handled certain situations. Nothing so extreme that I thought about pulling my child out, mind you. DS was in a licensed daycare before going to the Y, and we have way less problems now than we did. (And it's cheaper!)

I'm totally here if you need to ask anymore questions about our experiences. Hope this helps!

 

[gibsontrio]

I was a daycare teacher at a YMCA for about 5 yrs. I can tell you, as a mom myself now, that for every 5 wondeful teachers, there may be one in the group that shouldnt ever teach. What exactly do you want to know. For the most part they are wonderful daycares ( worked at 2) Sometimes in the afternoon you will get lazy teacher assistants (most of the full time teachers leave at 3) but they usually are supervised by the "boss" Any other ?? let me know

 

[RMulieri]

I used to bring my niece there....she loved it , and her parents loved it too.

 

[mrs.beast]

I think they can vary drastically by site. They Y runs the day care at a few of our local public schools and some are great, some ok, and ours is not good. I have had a counselor throwing a ball against our classroom window, confronted him,and then had him lie and blame a kid for it. I would never let my own child go there (neither will any of the other teachers at our school-one did and she pulled him.) So it depends. You need to research that particular site. Ask for parent references.

 

[MSSANDRA]

ITA.

 

[Alesia]

Every YMCA is independent and programs offered, as well as the quality of those programs, will vary wildly. Your best bet would be to find someone who has used the daycare at your Y and ask for their opinion.

 

[Leader of the Club]

Every YMCA is independent and programs offered, as well as the quality of those programs, will vary wildly. Your best bet would be to find someone who has used the daycare at your Y and ask for their opinion.

I worked for the Y for many years and this is so true! I've been in centers where the kids sat and watched TV. I have been in centers where the teachers sat and watched TV. I have been in centers that completely rocked and the kids were engaged and active.

You best bet is to talk to parents. You bestest ( ) bet is to spend time observing the class. I would spend at least 10 hours observing at different times throughout a week. Take notes. Oh, read all of the child care lisencing rules or regs for your state. If they are accredited, read about the accreditation rules. See if they are following the rules, see if the teachers are interacting with the children on a positive level.

Only you can protect your child.

 

[mantysk8coach]

The one my daughter went to was wonderful. It was at my work site, just a few steps down from my office really, but it was run by the YMCA. She went there from age 2 - 3 1/2, and learned so much as far as counting, colors, shapes. She even had a teacher that worked with them on sign language. She grew so much socially, and it was great to see her make her own friends. And this was just a day care, not a preschool.

We recently took her out because we had a second child and I am cutting back to part time, and we have relatives that will be watching the kids. But I honestly was sad to have to pull her out, she did so well. Although being able to be home with them more is totally worth it!

But like others have said, I imagine program quality varies widely. But my experience was nothing but positive!

 

[debster812]

DS is 10, and has been attending YMCA afterschool care since he was 6, and Y Day Camp in the summer since then as well. We are very lucky to have a great facility right in our town, and our Youth Program Director is phenomenal. We've been thrilled with the care he's received, the programs they do, and how any issues have been resolved.

 

[lntsmom]

All I can say is, based on that experience I would make sure you have a plan B if you decide you need to pull your child out with little or no warning.

The one I used had agendas....huge agendas. They felt it was their job to fix the families who used their service. As in, I was called at work and lectured about Captain Crunch, milk, and yogurt not being an acceptable breakfast for a 6 year old.

There was a ton of bullying that went on there, from both children and teachers!

I tried talking to the teachers, but they were unresponsive. When I tried to talk to the director he sent me a nasty e-mail.

I would never consider using the Y again!

 

[Dean pharis]

All I can say is, based on that experience I would make sure you have a plan B if you decide you need to pull your child out with little or no warning.

The one I used had agendas....huge agendas. They felt it was their job to fix the families who used their service. As in, I was called at work and lectured about Captain Crunch, milk, and yogurt not being an acceptable breakfast for a 6 year old.

There was a ton of bullying that went on there, from both children and teachers!

I tried talking to the teachers, but they were unresponsive. When I tried to talk to the director he sent me a nasty e-mail.

I would never consider using the Y again!

My granddaughter was attending the daycare and the first incident my son went to pick her up and she was outside of the gate when they were outside I am not sure exactly how it is set up. 2 days ago her mother went to pick her up and she had two broken fingers very clearly fresh her nails were black and blue her fingers were swollen and they claimed they do not know what happened. No big deal if there was an accident and they addressed it but the worker actually asked Mom if it could have happened at home. Are they not required to report a child coming in there with injuries like that? My daughter-in-law notified the state and this could have been avoided by simply telling the truth there is no way she had done this without a blood curdling scream it looks as if she had her fingers behind a solid door and maybe somebody shut it on accident. They first implied that it could have been from her knitted blanket getting her fingers caught in there. My granddaughter sometimes cries when she bumps her head I can imagine she must have made a big scene when her fingers got crushed by whatever it was and I guarantee it did not happen at home her parents are Furious and so are her grandparents and uncles I would never ever trust my child with anyone who would lie about an incident. There are too many stories where you see people abusing children that were trusted to look after them. My advice to everybody is to inquire why they have no cameras in the room or just find another responsible daycare because these people do not have a good track record with us.

 

[stace1214]

I think that just like all preschools and daycares, they vary by site. I would get as many recommendations as possible.