Child Care Frequently Asked Questions

We provide care for children up to age 12.

We offer two key programs: Early Learning and Care and Before & After School Care.

Early Learning and Care is divided into four programs: Infant (ages six weeks to 18 months), Toddler (ages 18 months to 30 months), Nursery School (ages 30 months to 44 months), and Preschool (ages 30 months to 44 months). Nursery School is a half-day program that operates from September to June. Preschool is a full-year program. 

Before & After School Care is divided into two programs: Kindergarten (ages 4 and 5) and School Age (ages 6 to 12).

Staff-to-child ratios differ by program. 

Infant program — 1:3

Toddler program — 1:5

Preschool program —1:8

Kindergarten program — 1:13

School Age program (ages 6 to 8) — 1:15

School Age program (ages 9 to 12) — 1:20

Most of our educators are Registered Early Childhood Educators, while others hold qualifications such as Ontario Certified Teacher, Social Service Worker, Child and Youth Worker, and Recreation and Leisure services.  All educators are required to have Standard First Aid with CPR-C and provide a valid Police Record Check.

The Y offers child care programs at over 300 locations across the Greater Toronto Area. Programs currently operate in Dufferin County, Durham Region, Halton Region, Peel Region, City of Toronto, and York Region. Visit our Find a Y locator to find the centre closest to you.

Our standard hours of operation are 7:30 am–6 pm. Some locations offer extended hours to accommodate the needs of the community. Visit our Find a Y locator for the hours of operation at the centre closest to you.

Children in full-day programs receive nutritious lunches and morning and afternoon snacks. Children in Before & After School programs receive nutritious morning and afternoon snacks. All meals and snacks are prepared by a caterer or onsite cook and follow the Government of Canada’s Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Six to 24 Months, Canada’s Food Guide: Healthy Eating Recommendations, and Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. All centres post menus for the current and following week.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto also offers camp and children’s registered programs.

Day camp programs for children ages 4 to 12 are offered during schools’ March and winter breaks. Overnight camp programs for ages 5 to 16 are offered during the summer break. Learn more at our Camps & Outdoor Centres page. 

Children’s registered programs include Health & Fitness programs, such as swimming, basketball, soccer, karate, and dance, and youth workshops like Canadian Red Cross Babysitting and Red Cross Stay Safe. Learn more at our Children & Youth Programs page. 

The YMCA of Greater Toronto has offered licensed child care programs since 1968 and has grown to become the largest provider of licensed not-for-profit child care in Ontario.

To register your child for a licensed child care program, complete our Child Care Inquiry Form or contact a YMCA Child Care centre directly. Visit our Find a Y locator to find the contact details of centres closest to you.

Find the centres closest to you by using our Find a Y locator.

The YMCA strives to accommodate all registration requests as quickly as possible. There may be times, however, when space is unavailable in the program or at the location you have chosen. In that case, you will be offered a place on our waitlist.

Children are added to waitlists in sequence, based on the date and time your application is received and other factors. To learn more about considerations and exceptions that affect waitlist placement, please refer to our Parent Handbook.

YMCA of Greater Toronto’s Child Care admissions review process aligns with the charity’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging strategic goals.

Yes, you may join the waitlist at more than one centre.

No, placing your child on a waitlist is free of charge.

Unfortunately, we do not hold child care spaces. If you want to keep an active registration, you must pay 100% of your child care fees whether or not your child attends.