At the YMCA’s Early Learning Center, we create a warm, safe space where your child can learn, grow, and thrive.
Through hands-on play and newfound friendships, your child will develop the skills they need for school while learning the values we all share here in Kandiyohi County: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
The YMCA Early Learning Center features four classrooms for four different age groups.
Capacity: 8
Capacity: 14
Capacity: 20
Capacity: 10
The YMCA Early Learning Center is built to be a place of trust and security for Willmar area families.
More than just a licensed program, we are a family of caregivers deeply committed to quality—a promise backed by our 4-Star Parent Aware rating.
Monday - Friday
6:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
2200 23rd St NE Suite 0070
Willmar, MN 5620
Phone: 320-403-2259
Email: caseyi@kandiymca.org
Our Early Learning Center program is a licensed Child Care Program that is committed to quality. Our program is designed to meet the developmental needs of young children ages 6 weeks through 6 years (or until enrolled in Kindergarten). We offer a Kindergarten readiness program to ease the transition from Preschool to Kindergarten. We are proud to be a Parent Aware 4-Star program.
We provide experiences that enhance and enrich each child's cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development. We believe that experiences during the early years of life influence how children view their world, how they relate to others, and their ability to succeed as learners.
Within the center's daily schedule, each child has opportunities to create, to explore the environment, to develop problem-solving and personal interaction skills, and to develop concepts through experiences.
Children develop a positive self-concept through a balance of self-directed activities and teacher-assisted activities. Staff serve as positive role models and provide care that is supportive, nurturing, warm and responsive to each child's needs. Lesson plans and daily reports are shared with the parents weekly and daily. Parents are provided weekly email newsletters to stay current on weekly events and family events planned in the future.
This allows parents to become even more involved in their child's classroom experience. We operate under all licensing regulations set forth by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Division of Licensing. In addition, we implement criteria created from the Minnesota Parent Aware rating scale and aim to receive the highest level rating possible as well as incorporate guidelines developed by the YMCA of the USA.
The Y uses The Creative Curriculum® as the foundation for creating the best programs for children. The result is a comprehensive curriculum with a clean organizational structure and a particular focus on routines and learning experiences. Developmentally appropriate programs foster joyful and purposeful learning while they address specific needs.
Regardless of your financial status, neighborhood or your culture, the YMCA has a quality Child care solution for you.
We offer weekly rates (up to 45 hours of care) and extended weekly rates (45 – 55 hours) to fit the needs of most families.
We participate in the state Parent Aware Rating program and are fortunate to serve our community as a 4 star rated facility. This meaningful designation provides opportunities for our families that qualify to benefit from financial subsidies to help offset the costs of child care.
Our Early Learning centers also accept local county Child Care Assistance payments and offer in-house scholarships, thanks to generous community support of our Y Partners Annual Campaign. Click the Links below for more information:
Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Parent Aware Scholarship Information
| Ages | Ratio (Leaders:Children) |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks - 16 months | 1:4 |
| 16 - 36 months | 1:7 |
| 36 months - Kindergarten | 1:10 |