The YMCA of Peterborough operates licensed childcare (licensed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services) programs for families in Peterborough and Lakefield for toddlers, preschoolers and school age children. Participation is available on a monthly and daily basis.
The philosophy of our licensed centres is to stimulate each child’s interest in the world around them by satisfying their need to discover, explore and socialize. This is done through our “Playing to Learn” curriculum, which provides an understanding of how play provides the foundation for learning. Play is the primary way all children learn and it is essential for healthy social and cognitive development.
The qualified staff at the centres provide the best possible care in a warm, loving environment. Our goal is to allow each child participating in our programs to grow in confidence and self-esteem, as well as to promote and encourage each child's creative expression and social and cognitive development.
The YMCA of Peterborough has licensed ChildCare facilities in Peterborough and Lakefield. Normal ChildCare hours in Peterborough are 7:30am to 6:00pm, and in Lakefield 7:00am to 6:00pm. Financial assistance is available.
Our Curriculum - "Playing to Learn"
Playing to learn is an interactive curriculum that reflects true play as the way a child learns, manipulates their environment, and fosters continued enthusiasm to learn. The cornerstone for this childcare curriculum is children's PLAY which is understood to be essential to the healthy social and cognitive development of all children. YMCA Playing to Learn provides the means for early educators to protect your child's need to play, ensuring a sound bases for healthy development and future academic success. Child's play provides the foundations for language and literacy; for mathematics, science and technology; and for the arts. Your child will be doing what they do best; time for stores, time to play with blocks, opportunities to count and compare, time to make pictures and to sing, time to make-believe, experience the world, explore and investigate. True play is the way your child will learn.
Toddlers:Our Toddler program cares for children ages 12 months (with Ministry approval and space in program) to 30 months. Our room fosters exploration and discovery. Toddlers learn by exploring their environment, establishing trusting and caring relationships with the educators in the room. Learning by doing, challenging their senses and concurring going physical, social and cognitive skills each child will grow to their fullest potential. We like to walk the neighborhood to explore and sometimes bring back interesting finds to share with the other children in the program. Our educators strive to strengthen each child’s skills to build on their social and emotional needs. Building strong relationships, feelings of security and having lots of fun leads to happy, secure and confident children.
Preschool: Our preschool program care for children 2.5 – 3.8 years of age. Educators in the program provide a stimulating, creative and challenging environments based on the observation and the interest of the children. Many times the preschool group are off on adventures looking for bugs, walking to Home Depot for supplies they need to create something, heading out for a neighborhood walk to see the birds building their new nest in the spring or having a picnic across the street to watch the construction work going on. Afternoon tea, playing princess, building a race car track, molding cakes, cookies and or spaghetti with the play dough are some of the natural play experiences that each child engages themselves in. Educators support experiences by being “Play Partners” and promote each child’s development to be confident learners in anything that they may do.
JK/SK: Our JK/SK program cares for children 3.8 -6 years of age. The children provide the curriculum ideas the educators in the room provide the tools and means for the children to explore their ideas of interest. We want to encourage and develop creative and confident thinker and we do this by following the lead of the children. Our environments both indoors and out provoke exploration, discovery, creativity, empathy, caring and trust. You will often find the JK/SK group out exploring the neighborhood, visiting the local library, off on bus excursions, creating and purchasing supplies for a project they are all working on. The educators in the room encourage each child to grow and feel confident in themselves and what they can accomplish. Establishing strong relationships with the children, encouraging them, celebrate their successes, developing goals and strategies for success each child will grow to their fullest potential.
Participating in the swim program and gym program once a week is an avenue for not only developing their physical growth but also social skills.
