The FOUNDATION For A BRIGHT FUTURE STARTS HERE

As a trusted leader in early childhood development, our programs provide high-quality, reliable, and safe childcare for your children. We prioritize building strong emotional bonds between children, families, and peers. By creating a safe and nurturing environment, we help children reach their full potential.

Our Philosophy

Our primary focus for our Early Childhood Education program is to create and strengthen emotional bonds between children and families. We believe 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 we incorporate that belief into every aspect of the program. We provide opportunities for children to engage in developmentally appropriate activities that support their whole development, including social-emotional, physical health, language and literacy, and cognitive development.

Our Curriculum Statement

We believe that children learn best when they are having fun and are given opportunities to explore, experiment, investigate, and problem-solve through developmentally appropriate activities. Our teachers follow a curriculum framework that aligns with this philosophy. The curricula we use are grounded in scientific research and evidence-based practices, as well as in best practices in early childhood education. We incorporate Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), the Program for Infant-Toddler Caregivers (PITC), the Creative Curriculum, and elements inspired by Reggio Emilia. These approaches are implemented in our programs through play, while also fostering a positive learning environment both indoors and outdoors.

Read our entire Early Childhood Education Curriculum Statement below:

Reliable and experienced staff

Our Early Childhood Education Centers are staffed by a caring, experienced workforce.

Our Child Development Program Directors hold degrees in Child & Adolescent Development and have multiple years of experience in childcare, teaching, supervision, and management. Our Assistant Directors/Curriculum Coordinators have degrees in Early Childhood Education or a related field with a minimum of three years of experience working with children.

Each member of the teaching staff, as well as the Director and the Assistant Director, holds a teaching permit from the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Our team members are selected based on their professionalism, skills training, and ability to work with children.

All personnel meet or exceed California’s Community Care licensing educational and experience requirements. A background check and fingerprinting (Live Scan) are completed before an individual is eligible to work at a YMCA of Greater San Francisco childcare center. We understand that a well-trained, stable staff that cares deeply about children is central to a quality program and learning environment.