YMCA Early Education
Our Early Education Centers offer an enriching and positive environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. Our highly skilled staff provides gentle, nurturing care, ensuring your child feels safe to explore, discover, and develop school readiness.
The Y's mission is to inspire children and families to achieve their full potential in spirit, mind, and body. Our programs reflect this philosophy by offering a strong educational foundation that integrates the core Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We are committed to helping kids make new friends, have fun, and develop a lifelong passion for learning.
Upcoming Open House at Eastgate
Join us for a free, fun-filled open house! Drop in to tour the classrooms, meet teachers, learn about our programs, and ask questions while your kids enjoy age-appropriate activities like sensory tables, arts and crafts, and more!
- Thursday, December 5 | 4:00–7:00 pm | RSVP
RSVPs are not necessary but are helpful so we know how many families to plan for. If you can’t attend an open house, please contact us to schedule a tour! We look forward to meeting and welcoming you.
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The Y Grows with your Family
From infant to pre-K, our early education centers are enriching and positive places to learn, grow, and thrive.
Programs
Y Early Education provides child care that supports and strengthens families and nurtures the healthy, successful growth and development of every child though age-appropriate infant, toddler, preschool, and pre-Kindergarten programs.
Locations
Situated in communities across King and south Snohomish counties, Y Early Education centers (infants 6 weeks through pre-k) are located in Auburn, North Seattle, Redmond, West Seattle, and Woodinville, plus two Seattle Preschool Programs (preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners ages 3 to 5).
Quality Early Education Matters
Research overwhelmingly supports the benefits of early education programs on a child’s growth and long-term well-being.
Cognitive Development
Children progressively build the cognitive skills to evaluate, analyze, remember, compare, and understand cause and effect, laying the foundation to be life-long learners.
Emotional Development
During a child's earliest years, it's crucial that they experience, learn to regulate, and express a range of emotions while also developing close, satisfying relationships with other children and adults.
Academic Achievement
Children who participate in early education programs have been shown to have higher test scores from preschool to age 21, higher grades in reading and math, and a better chance of staying in school and attending college.
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Get Started Today
Learn more about our centers, inquire about fees and financial assistance, set up a tour, begin the enrollment process, or be added to our interest list for future programs!
Contact Us.
The Leader in Youth Development
In our early education programs, kids receive a foundation of learning while integrating the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We are committed to helping children become lifelong learners, have fun, and make new friends.
Affordable for All
Every kid deserves the benefits of quality youth programs and family financial situations should not be a barrier to this. The Y accepts Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) and City of Seattle Child Care Assistance Programs (CCAP) subsidies at many locations. Our early education monthly program fees are income based on a sliding scale. Use this online form to learn more.
Whole Child Development
Our early education programs utilize Creative Curriculum®, a play-based curriculum. We're dedicated to ensuring our kiddos learn how to make healthy food choices and enjoy physical activity through our Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) guidelines. And, we partner with Sanford Harmony to incorporate social-emotional learning into every activity.
High Quality Staff
Our licensed, highly skilled staff love what they do and it shows in the gentle care we provide. In addition to 30 hours of STARS program training, Y staff participate in annual trainings, continuing education, development days, on the job training, and learning modules. Y child care programs frequently exceed Washington State staff to student ratio standards.
Birth to Graduation
From toddlers through teens, the Y provides a caring community with programs that support kids as they grow with early education, youth sports, healthy living, camp, academics, and more. As a trusted partner with community organizations, school districts, PTA groups, and local municipalities, the Y helps kids develop to their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization by educating ourselves, having hard conversations, reducing barriers, supporting staff, and unleashing potential for all. We are focused on addressing the needs of our community and dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Learn more about our Equity & Justice Center of Excellence
- Begin your journey towards becoming an anti-racist
A Cause-Driven Organization
The Y is a non-profit with a mission to build a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body. Our core values of respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty are integrated in everything we do.
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Stay Engaged with the Y
Family Room
Bring the Y's education and enrichment activities home! Try intentional moments to calm the soul, STEAM projects to keep minds moving and learning, and family games to share laughs and smiles.
Camp & Outdoor Leadership
The YMCA has been the leader in Summer Camp for over 130 years. Over this time, we’ve fine-tuned our programs to meet youth and their families wherever they are in their journey with the outdoors.
Join the Y!
With a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, improving health and well-being, and supporting our neighbors, your membership will not just bring about meaningful change in yourself, but also in your community.
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