YMCA Early Learning Center

Our Curriculum is Creative!

Your kids are discovering all kinds of exciting worlds. At YMCA Child Care, we carefully design every activity to expand their imaginations and encourage lifelong, positive values. We follow The Creative Curriculum® and focus on kindergarten readiness skills.

Our programs utilize the nationally recognized Creative Curriculum. Weekly lesson plans and daily schedules are posted in each room/area. Our lesson plans are reviewed by our program coordinator prior to being posted. Our curriculum meets the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Ohio’s Step Up To Quality Initiative and is aligned with the Ohio Department of Education’s Early Learning Content Standards and Infant/Toddler Guidelines.

Our Program 

The Early Learning Center Center believes children grow individually through active learning. This philosophy is evident in our environment, teachers, and curriculum.

The environment is inviting for children to make choices and explore new ideas. Activity centers are evident in all classrooms. The environment represents the children’s interests. Their creativity, pictures and words are valued and displayed throughout the classroom. This also offers them the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and findings.

The teachers co-play with the children and act as a role model by facilitating positive problem solving skills. Teachers plan and provide a variety of activities each day to promote individual growth in the following areas of development: social/emotional, cognitive/intellectual and physical. The teacher makes observations of the group and also individually in their interactions with them. These observations assist teachers with weekly curriculum planning as well as individual assessments.

Professional Staff 

Well-trained and experienced staff are a critical element in high quality child care programs. The YMCA employs Center Directors with degrees in Early Childhood Education or a related field and several years of experience in childcare administration to provide leadership in program operation and development. Each classroom features a Lead Teachers with a degree in Early Childhood Education/Education or a related field, experience and extensive in-service training hours in topics relating to Child Development. Our Assistant Classroom Teachers have experience and specific training in child development or early childhood education. All center staff members participate in continued professional growth through education workshops and conferences. There are always staff members on-site trained in First Aid, CPR, Communicable Disease and Child Abuse Prevention and Recognition.

All three early learning centers are licensed by the state of Ohio, accredited by the National Association for the education of young children (NAEYC) and are all star rated in Ohio’s Step Up to Quality Star Rating System.

NAEYC Accreditation is a nationally recognized designation of the highest quality early education programs. 

Ohio’s Star Rating System for licensed early childhood programs. Star-rated programs have low staff-to-child ratios, highly trained staff, early education programming and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Right Start

The Right Start video series highlights programs and practices that support and advance early learning. The YMCA Hilltop Educare Center staff strives to maintain professional standards that promote learning and the social-emotional development of children in their care. Brought to you by the Broadcast Educational Media Commission, the Ohio Department of Education, and WOSU Public Media.