Gateway Child Development Center
Being a part of the Peninsula YMCA Gateway Child Development Center is a great opportunity for children to feel emotionally and physically safe in their environment and to reach their highest potential. Children in our program will experience environments that encourage growth in social, language, cognitive and physical areas.
Languages other than English spoken in the center include Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Spanish and Portugese.
Administrative Staff:
Sylvia Taylor, Director of Child Development
Jeane DaSilva, Associate Director
Jenny Lam, Toddler/Preschool Coordinator
Kristen Bautista, Administrative Assistant
Located at 559 Gateway Blvd. in S. San Francisco, our center offers family memberships at the Peninsula Family YMCA, weekly Tumblebus visits, Soccer Shots, Lifetouch photo 3 times a year, web-cam accessibility, kindergarten prep, parent's night out, family activities, opportunities for volunteering, optional hot lunch, daily snacks, educational visits from community leaders, parent/teacher conferences, a large outdoor play area, and a portfolio of your child's work. The center is open to infants, toddlers and preschool children ages 3 months to 6 years, 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Now enrolling!
Cost per month:
Infants: $1,588
Toddlers: $1,349
Preschool: $1,107
Mission of YMCA Child Care
The mission of Y Child Care is to provide a supportive, nurturing environment that enriches the development of the whole child and helps to provide a foundation for the entire family.
Philosophy
We are dedicated to providing high quality professional care to infants, toddlers and preschool children in YMCA programs. Creating the strong emotional bonds between the child, families and other children is the primary focus. Children need to feel emotionally and physically safe in their environment to reach their highest potential.
We understand that children develop at different rates and incorporate that belief into every aspect of the program. We provide opportunities for children to engage in developmentally appropriate activities that focus on learning. Our program is values-based and incorporates hands-on learning experiences that teach the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Using the Reggio Emilia approach, our curriculum embraces the concept that in the early years of development children are forming who they are as an individual. Therefore, we have created a program based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment based on the interests of the children through a self guided curriculum.
For more information, contact the Child Development Director, Sylvia Taylor at 650.873.8145 or e-mail the adminstrative staff.
You can download the Registration Form here.
There are 3 infant rooms with 12 children in a family group setting. Each child will be assigned to a primary caregiver who will communicate daily with parents and be the primary person responsible for care giving routines and recording. Personalized schedules and caring interactions throughout the day encourage infants to discover, develop and advance in their own special way.
The infant suite is designed to provide a caring and stimulating environment for your child. Areas for sleeping, feeding, playing and changing are built into the suite. Your infant will experience plenty of caring attention and age-approprate activities throughout the day.
Developmentally appropriate materials help infants practice reaching, grasping and tracking objects with their eyes. Bright colorful toys and mirrors provide experiences for infants to touch and explore.
Parents are responsible for bringing in diapers and wipes to be kept in the center. Extra sets of clothing should also be brought in.
Toddlers experience the world in new and exciting ways as they begin to talk, walk and explore on their own. An enriching, stimulating environment helps toddlers learn and develop their own self-confidence, self-esteem and understanding of the world around them.
The toddler suite was designed to provide fun and balance for the children. Each room has an area where children can climb and tumble, learning body control and coordination. Imaginative and dramatic play provides an opportunity for creativity and independence and adventure in a safe caring space.
The toddler rooms are designed with daily learning plans that include a variety of age-appropriate activities that engage the child's interest. Activities include singing, dancing, jumping, playing, weekly Tumblebus visits, Soccer Shots, puzzles and story time.
During the potty training stage, we will work with the family to create a plan to match what is going on at home (e.g. pull-ups, etc).
Please provide breakfast/lunch/dinner for each day, eating utensils, a blanket and small sheet for naptime. Three additional changes of clothing should also be supplied in case of accidents.
An optional hot lunch program is available at a cost of $99 per month, Monday - Friday. This program is provided by Chefables and does offer vegetarian and allergy options.
Preschool programming encourages children to build reading skills, self-confidence and have fun. The suite and outside playground were designed for safe exploration, allowing children to have fun while learning. Each room has clearly defined learning centers offering a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities.
Preschoolers will have the opportunity to explore the art, science, manipulative, reading, music, blocks, puzzles, dramatic play and computer areas. Children also get to experience the weekly Tumblebus visits and Soccer Shots, nature walks, cooking activities and seasonal activities.
As the children grow through the preschool years the focus will turn from exploration to building a foundation in math, science, language, as well as an appreciation for art and music. The oldest or pre-K children will have more of an educational focus in their weekly plans and monthly themes. Letter recognition, story time, poems and songs all will help prepare the children for years to come. Counting, sorting and ordering are basic math components that the children will focus on through games and activities.
Each classroom will have a designated quite time, where children will rest for approximately 2 hours. Please provide breakfast/lunch/dinner for the day, eating utensils, a blanket and small sheet for rest time.
An optional hot lunch program is available at a cost of $99 per month, Monday - Friday. This program is provided by Chefables and does offer vegetarian and allergy options.