7 lessons your child will learn and love at YMCA Licensed Child Care Club

02 August 2024 - by Sasha Smith

With updates from Tia Chung on August 2, 2024

School might be out for summer, but that doesn’t mean your child has to take a vacation from learning.

YMCA Licensed Child Care Club is a program designed to help children ages 4 to 12 learn life lessons and develop essential skills through various engaging activities.

Here are seven valuable lessons your child will gain through the Licensed Child Care Club program:

1. Don’t sit still. Get moving!

Today’s children are less fit than previous generations. According to ParticipACTION Report Card only 39% of Canadian children and youth get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Encouraging your child to unplug from technology and engage in fitness can teach them that being active is as fun as playing any video game.

A child in a black hat with daisies, a grey graphic cartoon t-shirt, and pink shorts runs down a ramp at a Y child care centre during an obstacle course activity with bowling pins and a sitting scooter board.

From playing soccer outdoors to tackling obstacle courses with bowling and other drills, children improve their eye-hand coordination and motor skills while enjoying sports and games.

2. Learning is a lifelong adventure

Learning extends beyond the classroom. By providing a rich environment that sparks curiosity, children can explore subjects they find fascinating and develop a lifelong love for learning.

A curious child in a pink top looks up at an educator holding a tie-dye colour bottle in a YMCA child care classroom.

Encouraging your child to see the world as full of opportunities to ask "why?" and "how?" nurtures their intellectual growth and curiosity.

3. Confidence and independence

Participation in summer programs can boost children’s self-esteem and confidence according to the American Camp Association. Trying new activities and stepping out of their comfort zones helps them build self-reliance and confidence in their abilities. A supportive environment that celebrates unique achievements fosters a sense of accomplishment and independence.

A child in a snapback hat and bright red top sits on a scooter board playing on an outdoor obstacle course with bowling pins at a YMCA child care playground.

4. Problem-solving skills and decision-making

Challenges help children think on their feet. When projects or plans don’t go as expected, children learn to adapt and find creative solutions. These experiences enhance their problem-solving and decision-making skills, preparing them for future challenges both in and out of the classroom.

5. Social skills and teamwork

Building friendships and learning to work as a team are crucial life skills. Encouraging your child to engage in group activities and cooperative games improves their social skills, making it easier to form positive relationships.

Three children dressed as chefs with yellow construction paper hats, two children select straws to place in cups for the classroom cafe. A cup of mango bubble tea on a desk in a YMCA child care classroom.

They learn the importance of communication, empathy, and collaboration with peers from diverse backgrounds. For example, educators and children at a Y child care centre created a classroom café, working together as they assumed various roles and responsibilities. This helped the children enhance social skills and try new things, expanding their learning and open-mindedness.

6. Creativity and leadership

Nurturing creativity through music and art allows children to express themselves and explore their imaginative potential. Activities such as making tie-dye T-shirts and experimenting with bubble-making ignite creativity.

A child's hands add tie-dye colour to a white t-shirt in a white bin. A child in a blue sun hat and black top blows bubbles.

Encouraging children to take on leadership roles in these activities helps develop useful, lifelong skills. They learn to guide their peers, make decisions, and take responsibility, fostering a sense of leadership and initiative.

Two children write on an easel whiteboard with the classroom cafe menu notes while an educator looks over their work.

A whiteboard menu for the cafe reads: Ice cream, Juice: orange, pink lemonade, lemonade, mango, only 2 refills. Lollipop is $5. Bubble tea is $10 (only mango). Small is $5, Medium is $10, Large is $15. Special offer bingsu is $20 in a bigger red font.

7. Making memories and connecting with nature

Every day is an opportunity to create lasting memories. Exploring local parks or participating in outdoor activities helps children develop a greater appreciation for nature. Discovering the wonders of nature with a friend makes these experiences even more memorable.

A child uses a popsicle stick to dig into a shrub. A child in a dark blue hat, pink top, and skirt plays next to a smiling child as they observe nature. A child scoops mud into a small blue cone.

These experiences not only enrich their summer but also instill a lifelong love for the outdoors and environmental stewardship.

By focusing on these seven areas, you can help your child have a summer filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s through structured programs like YMCA Licensed Child Care Club or other enriching activities, the benefits to your child’s development are invaluable.

Does YMCA Licensed Child Care Club sound like the right program for your children? Visit Y Guide to register them for a summer of fun, friendship, and adventure.