Oak Park Y Early Center NOW ENROLLING!
Welcome to Oak Park’s Child Care Center!
The Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center staff work together collaboratively to plan, implement, and maintain a learning environment that supports the philosophy and goals of the program and that helps children manage their behavior and transitions. The staff choices reflect an understanding of children’s developmental characteristics and individual needs and interests. The environment is safe, stimulating, predictable, and organized. Children’s work is regularly displayed (at child eye level when possible) and used to revisit and extend their learning. A caring community of respect for the needs, abilities, and interests of each person (children, staff, and families) is of utmost priority. Teaching staff works to create and maintain a setting in which children of differing abilities, home and community contexts, and values are respected and integrated to form a cohesive community of learners. Teachers work to create, offer, and explore opportunities for children to participate in and respect.
Teachers individualize behavior management and learning plans and involve parents in decision-making on behalf of each child. One of the program goals is to create an environment that is home-like, aesthetically pleasing, and orderly. Classroom arrangements include areas for small group, large group, and individual activities. Each classroom contains soft seating elements and an area where a child can go to be alone when needed or desired. The Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center believes that children need an orderly environment and careful placement of materials to develop responsibility and independence.
Philosophy
The Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center believes that each child is unique and has his/her own way of learning. Our program will provide a high-quality environment that will enrich the developmental needs of children through a variety of learning experiences. Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and age-appropriate environment that encourages individual growth. Our vision is to provide high-quality, affordable early education so all children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Curriculum
As an early care and education program, the Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center strives to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children. In all the classrooms we use a research-based, whole-child approach to education. By fostering all aspects of the child, we prepare them for success in school and life. Teachers individualize instruction to meet the needs of all learners, and encourage meaningful partnerships with families.
The Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center is committed to the development of individual children, families, and communities. Creating an environment for preschoolers, infants, and toddlers that matches their developing abilities and interests requires careful observation and thoughtful planning. The goal for teachers is to thoughtfully plan the environments that send a message to the child, “This is a place where I can play, have fun, and be happy.”
Children will have space to store their artwork and personal possessions. The classroom is arranged into learning areas and may include: library/quiet area, blocks, art, table toys, sand and water, math, cooking, science, music and movement, dramatic play, literacy, and computer science. Materials are arranged on low shelves so your child can easily and independently select them. Picture labels are placed on containers and shelves so your child will learn where materials belong. Interest areas offer a carefully selected variety of learning materials so that no matter where your child chooses to play, they are learning.
Weekly lesson plans are posted in each room to inform families of the range of fun, age-appropriate activities designed to challenge and support growth in learning domains (social/emotional, cognitive, language, dramatic play, art, and gross and fine motor skills). Consistent daily routines help support a child’s emotional comfort and promote opportunities to learn in a hands-on, play-based environment.
How to Enroll
Children may be enrolled at the Oak Park YMCA Child Care Center throughout the year. Children aged six weeks to five years are accepted for care on either a full-time or part-time basis.
- Full-time care is defined as care that is delivered four or five days per week.
- Part-time care is defined as care that is delivered two or three days per week.
Children are selected for enrollment on a first-come-first-served basis when they submit an enrollment form (with the required fee) for vacancies within the appropriate age/development groupings. To learn more about admission and all other policies at the Oak Park Child Care Center, download our Family Handbook at the link below.
Spring-Summer 2025 Enrollment Forms
Oak Park YMCA
900 Long Blvd
Lansing, MI 48911
(517) 827-9696
oakparkchildcare@lansingymca.org