Programs > Childcare and Camps > Early Care > Toddler & Preschool

Toddler & Preschool

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Research shows that when it comes to childcare for toddlers, a whole-child approach to education programs—one where children have opportunities to develop not only math and literacy skills but also social–emotional, physical, and cognitive skills—is developmentally appropriate and better prepares children for life well beyond their time in a classroom. The YMCA chooses the Creative Curriculum to offer a comprehensive and research-based program for toddlers. It focuses on exploration and discovery as ways to learn.

Our trained staff focus on teaching the responsive care, routines and experiences that are essential for this age group. Self-help skills, including toilet training, are highly individual and complex. YMCA staff will work closely with parents through this experience.

The YMCA Children’s Academy works to increase your child’s kindergarten readiness while promoting social-emotional development in an inclusive environment. Toddler and preschool programs are one step on the pathway to your child’s educational success.

* Source: The Creative

YMCA Children’s Academy Toddler and Preschool is currently offered at the locations listed on this page.

Toddler – 18 months to 35 months

Toddlers are busy and learning at an incredibly fast pace. Our daycare, for 18 month olds through 2 year olds, with our comprehensive Creative Curriculum focuses on responsive care and the routines and experiences that are essential for this age group. Our learning programs for 2 year olds focus on self-help skills, including toilet training, are highly individual and complex. YMCA staff will work closely with parents through this experience.

Preschool – 36 months to 5 years

The Creative Curriculum for preschool helps children in our programs for 3-year-olds through 5 become creative and confident thinkers through hands-on activities based on research. Our learning programs for toddlers include programs for 4-year-olds with a focus on ten content areas social-emotional, language, physical, cognitive, early literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, the arts, and English language acquisition.

School Age Program – 5 to 12 years

Select YMCA locations offer school-age programming in the summer months for parents who need a curriculum-based program for their children to attend. Locations offering this program: Texas Medical Center, and W.D. Ley Family YMCA. Registration links can be found in the location information below.

YMCA Children’s Academy programs for toddlers & programs for Preschoolers are currently offered at the following locations.

Scroll to: YMCA Children's Academy at

YMCA Children’s Academy at Avenue Center

A 4 Star Program with Texas Rising Star
A College Bound from Birth program site

  • 3517 Irvington, Houston, TX 77009
  • 713-692-3457
  • 6:30 am-6 pm

Ages: 6 weeks to 5 years.
Director:
Jena Mosqueda
Food:
Breakfast and lunch provided by the Houston Food Bank.

YMCA Children’s Academy at Texas Medical Center

A 4 Star Program with Texas Rising Star
A College Bound from Birth program site

  • 5614 H. Mark Crosswell Jr. Street, Houston, TX 77021
  • 713-747-2173
  • 6 am-6:30 pm

Ages: 6 weeks – 5 years. Summer and holiday camp for school age children.
Director:
Delisa Carver
Food:
Lunch and snack provided

Wendel D. Ley Family YMCA

A 3 Star Program with Texas Rising Star

  • 15055 Wallisville Road, Houston, TX 77049
  • 281-458-7777
  • 6:30 am-6:30 pm

Ages: 12 months to 5 years. Summer and holiday camp for school age children.
Director:
Kim Drake-Wyche
Food:
Parent provides lunch and center provides snack. Breakfast and lunch provided by the Houston Food Bank.

YMCA Children’s Academy at Wisdom High School

A 4 Star Program with Texas Rising Star
United Way Bright Beginning Program

  • 6529 Beverlyhill Street, Houston, TX 77057
  • 713-787-1700 (school office)
  • 8 am-4 pm

Ages: 6 weeks to 3 years
Program Manager:
Margarito Cervantez
Food:
Parent provides meals and snacks

Located on the campus of Wisdom High School, this program is for high school students who desire to complete their high school education. Faculty and staff of Wisdom and nearby HISD schools are also eligible to attend this program. This program follows the HISD academic calendar.

The Woodlands Family YMCA at Shadowbend

A 4 Star Program with Texas Rising Star

  • 6145 Shadowbend Place, The Woodlands, TX 77381
  • 281-681-6716
  • 6:30 am-6:30 pm

Ages: 6 weeks to 5 years. Summer and holiday camp for school age children.
Director:
Michelle Zymowski
Food:
Breakfast, lunch and snack provided by Houston Food Bank

Swim Lessons and Tiny Tots offered for an additional fee. The programming for Pre-K 1 and Pre-K 2 includes Spanish lessons.

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General Information:

For policy and payment information and answers to wide-range of frequently asked questions, please review our Early Childhood Development Parent Handbook.

To begin the registration process:

  • You must be a YMCA impact member or facility member to register your child for early care.
  • After you have become a member, we ask that you create an online account, so that you can register for early care.

Additional information:

  • If your child has any special needs or will need special accommodations while in our care, please contact your local Y prior to starting the registration process.

Your child will not be enrolled in child care until we receive the following:

  • Signed registration form
  • Completed and signed General Liability Waiver
  • Received or scheduled payment

We ask that you have the following information available when you begin the online registration process:

  • Your child’s shot records
  • Emergency contact information for someone other than yourself (not a parent or guardian)
  • Your name, address and phone number
  • Release of contact information
  • Insurance information
  • Physician’s information
  • Hospital information
  • Payment information

The goal of early childhood development programs is for children to be well prepared to enter school. Our programs are licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Care Licensing. Contact a YMCA Children’s Academy location closest to you for more information.

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