Infant & Preschool Child Care At The YMCA
We believe that every child is a unique individual and we are committed to promoting each child’s physical, emotional, and social development. Our Y employees are highly skilled and trained to provide your child with a loving and positive environment. Infants will have daily physical and motor development activities.
We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success. That’s why at the YMCA Child Development Center we provide care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years in a safe, nurturing, educational and enriching environment. Our research-based curriculum is implemented in all of our classrooms and extends to the Y’s core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
The curriculum is applied to our young children through age-appropriate activities, lessons, and daily routines.
- Classrooms are fully equipped with learning materials that promote child-centered learning, critical thinking, as well as positive and effective social relations.
- Daily routines include 60 minutes of gross motor play, 50 minutes of cognitive/social play, 20-30 minute instructional interactive lessons in multiple development areas.
- We coach and encourage the use of problem solving techniques and support our children to make use of their creative form of thought.
- All child care staff are required to undergo CPR and First Aid certification as well as child development training.
- We offer center events, and real life experiences that enhance a child’s natural way of skill building in an educational setting.
Creative Curriculum
At the Y, children will learn through self exploration and guided discovery with the Creative Curriculum. The philosophy of the Creative Curriculum is that young children learn best by doing. The Creative Curriculum is built on theories of development in young children, that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in learning.
Through collaboration with parents and families we provide support and strive to meet the developmental needs and temperament of each child. As part of our home-school partnership, we will be introducing the ASQ-3 developmental screening tool to assist us in identifying your child’s strengths and areas to further support. This partnership will ensure that each child receives the support he/she need to reach their full potential.
Grow NJ Kids
Research shows that children who are in quality child care and early learning programs when they are young are better prepared for kindergarten with better reading skills, more math skills and larger vocabularies. Grow NJ Kids is a state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey.
Healthy Eating, Physical Activity (HEPA)
Kids thrive when their physical, cognitive and social-emotional development is nurtured. By creating more healthy choices, the Y’s Healthy Eating Physical Activity (#HEPA) Standards lay the foundation for a positive youth development journey.
Growing Stronger Families Together
We impact families and our community by encouraging healthy choices and togetherness through our “Growing Stronger Families Together” initiative.
All Strengthening Families programs are built on quality. A major priority of Strengthening Families programs is to deliver high-quality childcare services and early learning experiences that go beyond the basic health and safety concerns addressed in state childcare licensing standards for early childhood programs.
Second, all Strengthening Families programs embrace a framework of five protective factors, found by extensive research, to promote optimal development and strong families.
The five interrelated protective factors are:
- Parental Resilience
- Social Connection
- Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
- Concrete Support in Time of Need; and
- Social and Emotional Competence of Children
Strengthening Families programs support child development by building strong partnerships with
the parents and the families of the children in their program. Your Strengthening Families program is not only there for your child—it is there for you
Youth Development Branch
Child Development Center
16-20 Jefferson Avenue
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908-355-3061
Contact: Senior Director of Child Development
Programs Available
- Infant Child Care
- Preschool Child Care
If you are in need of care, Contact Us
For additional Location Information & Hours, please Visit Here
Five Points Branch
Child Development Center
201 Tucker Avenue
Union NJ 07083
908-688-9622
Contact: Director of Child Development
Programs Available
- Infant Child Care
- Preschool Child Care
If you are in need of care, Contact Us
For information on Public Preschool Programs, please Click Here
For additional Location Information & Hours, please Visit Here
Child Care Registration is completed with the Child Development Director. Please Contact Us if you are in need of care.
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and, as a reminder, each school year requires a new registration. Registration is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork and necessary payments.
Early Registration Special Ends 8/31/24
Register for Child Care 2024-2025 attending 5 days a week and paying via bank draft by 8/31/24 (All paperwork must be completed and registration accepted), receive a Full Privilege Youth Membership valid through 8/31/25 provided your child continues to attend 5 days a week and pay via bank draft.
Child Care Information
Please include an email address that you check regularly when setting up your child’s account with us in order to receive emails directly from the Director throughout the school year. Please sign up for our regular Y email updates to ensure you receive notifications and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GatewayFamilyYMCA
Child Care Registration will be completed in 2 parts:
- All registration paperwork must be filled out, or updated, if returning, online:
- Complete the Online Child Care Registration Form
- Registration must be completed in person at the Elizabeth or Five Points (Union) branches of The Gateway Family YMCA.
Please be prepared with the following to complete the Online Child Care Registration Form:
- If returning or a current participant, you will need Your/Your Child’s Login and Password for www.tgfymca.org (If you have forgotten your password, please use the “Forgot My Password” tool)
- Your child(ren)’s information, including school, doctor, any medications or medical needs
- Contact information for all authorized drop off/pick up individuals
- Any authorized Pick-Up/Drop-Off contacts who do not have an active YMCA Membership should Join the Y as a Free Community Member. This will enable us to take their photo and verify ID on the first visit to the YMCA. Download the Mobile App to check into the facility on subsequent visits.
Completing the online registration paperwork does NOT register your child for the program, or hold a spot. You must visit the YMCA in person to complete the registration for the new school year.
Please be prepared with the following for in person registration after you have completed the online registration paperwork:
- An Active YMCA Membership for your child is required in order to register. Please JOIN THE Y in advance of registration to expedite the process, or join the Y in person at your branch. Families may choose to upgrade to a family membership by contacting your YMCA branch or completing the membership upgrade form online at any time.
- Any applicable payments (membership, joiners fee, one-time registration fee for new families)
- Automatic Bank/Credit Card Draft payments. Parents must complete the Authorization form at registration. If using a checking account, a voided check is required. If using a credit or debit card, you will need to have the actual card with you at the time of registration.
- First Month Payment will be due in full at the time of registration. Any exceptions require approval by the Director prior to registration.
- For current participants that do not participate in the auto draft current school year, the August tuition and outstanding balances will need to be paid prior to registering for next school year.
Office Hours by Appointment are available for questions, signatures or third-party agreements. Any parent needing payment arrangements must contact the Director prior to registration. Please contact your branch to schedule an Office Hour Appointment.
If you receive any type of subsidy, please reach out to your case worker in advance to make sure your contract is active through the beginning of the school year and all agreements have been completed and provided to the YMCA.
