A YMCA Playing to Learn Curriculum
The YMCA-YWCA of Guelph uses the "Playing to Learn" curriculum, developed by the YMCA of Greater Toronto. This is based on the fact that child’s play provides the foundation for language and literacy, for mathematics, science and technology and the arts. Play is the way children learn and provides insight into what a child is capable of learning at any given time.
Our staff have the skills to encourage quality learning experiences and to help children learn more. Your child will do all the things they want to do including story time, playing with blocks, opportunities to count and compare, to make pictures, to sing and to make-believe. They will experience, explore and investigate. When your child shows an interest in something, the educators will focus on that interest and teach your child about that particular subject. Early childhood educators will ensure they are providing a safe environment for your child, prepare spaces that are conducive to learning, carefully determine what your child is ready to learn, actively participate in your child’s play experiences, observe and document the milestones in your child’s life to ensure age appropriate development.
Each child will have a developmental checklist completed periodically throughout the year accompanied by a portfolio. This developmental checklist allows the Early Childhood Educator to track each child’s development while ensuring that they are reaching their age appropriate milestones. This also provides parents with the opportunity to follow their child’s development within our program. Each child has a daily journal which gives the parent a highlight of what their child did each day.
Documentations related to the children’s play experiences are completed weekly by each educator. These anecdotes show a typical daily experience derived from an expressed interest of the children. These documentations give parents an idea of different play experiences that take place throughout the day and provide them with documented support of their child’s development and learning experiences.
Meals & Snacks
Depending on the program, children are served hot lunches and/or nutritious snacks. A 16-day menu is planned in accordance with the Day Nursery Act and Health Department, and prepared in our modern, clean kitchens. If a child has food allergies or special dietary requirements, parents are to provide appropriate food substitutes as necessary. Due to the severity of nut allergies, all of our programs are Nut Safe Zones.
Absence
Parents must let the child care staff know when a child will be absent. A call to the child's centre is very important.