Welcome to YMCA Home Child Care

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a longstanding charitable organization dedicated to delivering top-notch licensed child care and education services for children aged 0 to 12. With over 50 years of experience, we've been a cornerstone of support for families across the GTA. 

Every child and their families are special and are made up of multifaceted identities and experiences. As educators of young children, we know that each child has great worth and potential. We know that every child is unique in their growth, culture, experience, biology, nationality, appearances, development, religion, and abilities. We appreciate each child and families’ unique experience and needs. We take an intersectional approach by viewing child growth and development in a holistic manner to create vibrant home care environments where every child can shine. 

At the YMCA, we understand that children learn through play. Play by definition is enjoyable, spontaneous, active, and undertaken without external goals and sanctions. This means children are self-learners and do not require an adult to choose what or how they should learn. When the child’s natural activity of play is supported by caring and responsive professionals in positive, developmentally appropriate learning environments, capacity, curiosity, and potential will be maximized. 

Each child can reach their full human potential through play. We endeavour to meet the play needs of all children and must do whatever possible to support the natural urge to play. 

Play helps the child to be both engaged with everyday realities and to be absorbed in an ecstatic self-forgetfulness. It ensures involvement, enjoyment, and various forms of success. Play can be powerful or profound, but it is always purposeful. 

Play is a vehicle that propels learning and development. Play and development are intertwined; neither precedes the other. All domains of development are supported by play, and play has the additional benefit of being self-initiated and therefore a joy rather than a chore. Play makes discovery pleasurable, but it also propels the child into the vast realm of learning. Play provides a way for children to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit. 

Play fosters skill development. It offers opportunities for gaining new skills as well as refining existing ones. 

Play is directly linked to the child’s learning. His or her cognitive development and academic success are enhanced by the play experience.

Play is physical and can increase activity levels, fitness, balance, gross motor skills and fine motor actions. It can encompass a wide range of scientific, mathematical, perspective-taking and other cognitive processes in discovery and other types of play. 

Play is social and aids in language learning while supporting social skills development. Self concepts and emotions are better understood through play, as is the building of emotional intelligence. Important self-regulatory skills may be acquired and reinforced through play. 

Play builds resilience and can help children manage stress. There are often therapeutic benefits to play. Typically children direct their play in ways that address their own socioemotional issues.  

YMCA Licensed Home Child Care programs follow the framework of “How Does Learning Happen?” which promotes a shared understanding of what children need and what can be done to help them grow and flourish. It is not a checklist of tasks to complete or a template for a “one-size-fits-all” approach, and it is not a rating scale for measuring quality. Rather, “How Does Learning Happen?” emphasizes how important positive relationships are to the success of Licensed Home Child Care programs. The four foundations of this document, which Licensed Home Child Care Providers practice, are Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement, and Expression. 

The term quality means different things to different people. In “How Does Learning Happen?” quality refers to the kinds of programs that, according to research and practice from around the world, contribute to positive experiences and outcomes for children. 

The term pedagogy refers to the process of understanding and supporting learning. In addition to meeting children’s basic health and safety needs, Licensed Home Child Care Providers: 

• Build positive and responsive relationships;
• Focus on children’s social, emotional, physical, creative, and cognitive development in a holistic way;
• Provide environments in which children learn through exploration, play and inquiry
• Engage families and value their strengths, contributions, and unique perspectives; 
• Use pedagogical documentation to study, interpret, make visible and help inform children’s learning and development, and
• Support children as they learn along a developmental continuum and allow for smoother transitions from one program to another 

Minister of Education’s Policy Statement on Programming and Pedagogy 

https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/programCCEYA.pdf 

How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years 

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/pedagogy.html

Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) 

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/oelf

Keeping children healthy and safe is a priority in YMCA Licensed Home Child Care programs and we understand that the well-being of their child is a parent’s/guardian’s number one concern. Therefore, we have developed comprehensive, research-based procedures to support children and their well-being.

At the YMCA, we understand that young children flourish in all areas of development when they are in positive and responsive relationships with adults. Licensed Home Child Care Providers build a foundation of trust and establish a sense of belonging with children by being available, sensitive, responsive, and caring. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers create an inclusive and respectful environment to foster positive, equitable, and collaborative relationships. When children feel safe, secure, valued and a contributing member of their world they can explore, discover, try new things, grow, learn, and develop. 

To support each child’s care, growth and development, Licensed Home Child Care Providers interact and communicate with parents/guardians on a daily basis, sharing observations, and play highlights.

The YMCA believes that it is the role of the adult in a child’s life to support them to learn how to interact effectively with the world around them including other children, adults, the environment, and by promoting self-expression. Generally self-regulation involves gaining a degree of control over one’s bodily functions and impulses, managing one’s emotions, changing one’s behaviours, and maintaining focus or attention on something or someone. 

"The better a child can stay calmly focused and alert, the better he integrates the diverse information coming from his different senses, assimilates it and sequences his thoughts and actions." - Shanker (2012)

"Caring consistent relationships with adults, provide external supports that serve as the basis for developing self-regulation."  - Gillespie & Seibel (2006)

Some of the approaches implemented by Licensed Home Child Care Providers to set the stage for positive interactions among children include: 

• Small group experiences that allow for more individualized adult attention
• Role modeling inclusive, respectful, and collaborative interactions with children and other adults
• Ensuring the learning environment is flexible so they can respond in the moment and build on or scaffold the children’s interests
• Ensuring toys, equipment, and materials are always plentiful and available to children
• Children are given freedom to make choices
• By engaging as a play partner with children, Licensed Home Child Care Providers can demonstrate pro-social skills including promoting discussion, problem solving when conflict arises, and understanding how their actions affect others while engaging with children
• Encouraged to attend trainings that address self-regulation and resilience 

Children are born with a natural sense of curiosity and wonder. They play naturally. 

As parents/guardians and Licensed Home Child Care Providers, we watch children explore their world through their senses, repetition of tasks, imitation, asking questions, pretending. But what are children really doing? Children are putting together all the pieces of how the world works through exploration, play and inquiry. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers understand the importance of play. They foster, expand, and build this natural talent called “play” by being:

• active participants
• architects of the play scape
• keen observers
• planners
• reporters
• collaborators
• reflective practitioners 

Observing a day-in-the-life of a YMCA Licensed Home Child Care premises, you will note that most activities are directed by the children. Children decide where, when, what and how they wish to play. Their decisions are based on their interests and curiosity. The Licensed Home Child Care Provider responds by adapting the environment by adding new toys, materials, and equipment, posing questions, and being a play partner. This sets the stage for further play, inquiry, discovery, and learning. The Licensed Home Child Care Provider’s role is to support play so that learning and development flourishes.

Children and parents/guardians are warmly greeted upon arrival. After a brief check-in to share news from the evening before; the children get down to the serious business of playing. 

Home is set up with a variety of activities that support the observed interests of the children. The children might join some friends at the creative art table to work collaboratively on a collage, or they might work on a Lego structure they safely stored to complete the next day.

There are no expectations imposed by the Licensed Home Child Care Provider or curriculum on where children play, or whom they play with, or how long they play at one activity. That is for the child to choose based on their interests. 

You may overhear a child or children dressed in costumes acting out a scene of being “at the doctor’s office". The Licensed Home Child Care Provider has been assigned the role of “doctor” by the child and takes this opportunity to ask the child questions that expand their understanding of what happens at a checkup. 

Tomorrow the Licensed Home Child Care Provider supports the children’s interest by adding books about doctors and hospitals to the play environment hoping to build on the children’s interest and spark more questions and play – resulting in more learning.  

YMCA Licensed Home Child Care premises are in a variety of facilities including single family dwellings and multifamily dwellings (townhouses, condominiums, apartments, etc.)

At the YMCA we understand that the parent/guardian is the child’s first teacher. The Licensed Home Child Care Provider is the second teacher. And the learning environment is the child’s third teacher. 

The YMCA’s unique approach to planning and creating learning environments supports children’s play so that early learning and healthy development is maximized. 

YMCA Licensed Home Child Care premises are designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the children, including children with individualized plans. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers create environments that are calm and provide accessories that intended to make children feel comfortable and safe. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers understand that children learn holistically not in one area of development at a time. We understand that riding a tricycle involves gross motor and fine motor skills, but the play children engage in while riding a tricycle involves many more - communication skills, social skills, etc. 

Therefore, you may find books, paper, and crayons in the same areas as the blocks because children are using these items to figure out how to build a bridge from one shelf to another. Or you may find play dough in area where children are making pizza. And on a beautiful day you may see indoor furniture move outdoors to take advantage of the weather.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers design a daily schedule that meets the needs of the children and provides for a balance of activities throughout the day.  

Consideration for the care requirements, age, developmental level, energy level, and interests of the children are included. 

Generous blocks of time for children to explore, play, and inquire are included both indoors and outdoors. 

Periods of active and quiet play are interwoven throughout the day both indoors and outdoors. 

At the YMCA we do not let the weather stop us from having fun in nature. The children love to bundle up in warm dry clothes and head out to jump in puddles or make snowballs. In very poor weather active play takes place indoors so that children get the physical activity their bodies require. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers are trained to keep transitions from activity to activity to a minimum, so children get to play more. 

However, young children thrive on regular schedules and feel secure when they can predict what will occur throughout the day therefore snacks and mealtimes are consistent as is the rest period in the afternoon for young children.

At the YMCA we understand that a parent/guardian is the most important person in a child’s life. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers play a supporting role while parents/guardians go to work and school. Licensed Home Child Care Providers and parents/guardians communicate daily about children’s activities and health. 

Getting to know family members is critical as a Licensed Home Child Care Provider and including family members in program helps a child to feel a greater sense of belonging.

Other strategies to engage parents/guardians and gain input include: 

• Celebrations & events 
• Parent/Guardian surveys
• Displays of children’s artwork, sculptures, and creations
• Photographs of children at play
• Sharing planning documents that include observations of children’s interests and activities introduced by Licensed Home Child Care Providers  

The YMCA works closely with local community agencies and partners to support the children and families in our programs. We view the community as a valuable resource and Licensed Home Child Care Providers plan learning opportunities to engage the community within our programs. 

The YMCA actively seeks out opportunities to share our knowledge and to learn from others in the community through networking opportunities, community planning tables and conferences.

The YMCA is committed to the ongoing professional development of all our Licensed Home Child Care Providers. 

What Licensed Home Child Care Providers learn will benefit the children and families once the information is passed along. It will reinforce for the Licensed Home Child Care Providers and the program what has been learned. 

YMCA provides opportunities for Licensed Home Child Care Providers to attend external learning events and conferences. The YMCA Home Consultant is responsible for the leadership, mentorship, coaching and development of the Licensed Home Child Care Providers. Based on the learning needs of the Licensed Home Child Care Provider, the YMCA Home Consultant may meet with Licensed Home Child Care Providers to suggest strategies or to focus on a particular area.

The YMCA Home Consultant will conduct regular visits to reflect and plan, invite Licensed Home Child Care Providers to regional meetings and invite speakers from other YMCA departments or community agencies to provide workshops, or provide materials including links, articles, and various readings to supplement the Licensed Home Child Care Provider’s professional learning.

Quality assurance documentation includes: 

• Monthly unannounced visits are conducted and documented to ensure quality control in all areas of the Child Care Early Years Act
• Quarterly Standard Home Visitor Checklist completed in the Licensed Home Child Care Provider’s home
• Licensed Home Child Care Providers contracts are reviewed after the first three months and thereafter annually 
• Annual licensing and other regulated inspections
• Programming reflects children’s interest, activities, and developmental learning goals 
• Interactions between the Licensed Home Child Care Provider, children and family members are monitored 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers participate in a continuous cycle of observation:

• Observing children’s play
• Determining the children’s interests 
• Planning activities that support the interests
• Reflection that informs the planning activities and the learning environment 

This process of continuous program assessment is called reflective practice. At each visit, YMCA Home Consultants are observing and engaging with Licensed Home Child Care Providers and children and evaluating the effectiveness of the learning environment to build on the children’s interests. Licensed Home Child Care Providers review the planning process to look back on what did and did not work and then plan for the future. They also work on supporting children’s learning and development through their activities and interactions.

Licensed Home Child Care is licensed through the Ministry of Education. Licensing requires a yearly renewal with the Ministry which includes home inspections by a Ministry Program Advisor. These inspections include: 

• Ensuring proper ratios are met
• Child Care Early Years Act requirements and regulations are met 
• Licensed Home Child Care Providers are delivering quality programs  

Unannounced visits are conducted by a YMCA Home Consultant. During these visits, the YMCA Home Consultant conducts an assessment provided by the Ministry of Education to ensure overall quality indicators are met. The YMCA Home Consultant completes a monitoring visit report to support the Licensed Home Child Care Provider with feedback, suggestions, recommendations, or positive reinforcements and is shared with the Licensed Home Child Care Provider and the Ministry of Education.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers with an early childhood education diploma or equivalent qualifications degree must be current members of the College in good standing.

The College of Early Childhood Educators is the professional self-regulatory body for registered early childhood educators (RECE) in Ontario. The College’s role is to protect the public interest by setting requirements for registration to practice as a RECE, setting ethical and professional standards and holding RECEs (Registered Early Childhood Educator) accountable for their practice. RECEs are trained in child development and the planning and delivery of play-based learning in child care environments. RECEs must renew their membership with the College on an annual basis.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers who are teachers and/or social workers adhere to the College of Teachers, the College of Social Workers, or the College of Social Service Workers. Licensed Home Child Care Providers with a diploma or degree must hold a current, clear membership with their college. Licensed Home Child Care Providers are responsible for renewing their membership annually.

Licensed Home Child Care promotes opportunities for personal growth, community involvement and volunteerism. Students and volunteers are welcome in our Licensed Home Child Care premises. All volunteers and students participate in an orientation and review of all relevant policies and procedures. All Volunteers over the age of 16 must obtain a vulnerable sector check through police services. 

Students and volunteers at no time have unsupervised access to children in any of our YMCA Licensed Home Child Care programs and are supervised by the YMCA Home Consultant.

The YMCA believes that it is the role of the adult in a child’s life to support them to learn how to interact successfully with the world around them including other children, adults, and the environment. Self-regulation is a skill children develop over time and involves learning how to respond efficiently and effectively to one’s bodily functions, impulses, emotions, and to maintain focus or attention so they can learn. Calm, caring, and consistent Licensed Home Child Care Providers and a child’s family or guardians provide external supports that serve as the basis for a child developing self-regulation. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers set the stage for positive behaviour by implementing the following approaches: 

• Building dependable, positive, and nurturing relationships with children and their families
• Fostering healthy social connections with other children
• Responding to each child’s individual developmental needs through observation and reaction to cues
• Small group experiences which allow for more individualized adult attention\
• Role modelling inclusive, respectful, and collaborative interactions with children and other adults
• Ensuring the learning environment is flexible and materials are always plentiful and available to children 14 • Providing children with the freedom to make choices
• Engaging as a play partner with children, to demonstrate pro-social skills including promoting discussion, problem solving when conflict arises and understanding how our actions affect others  

A prohibited practice is any behaviour by a YMCA Staff, Licensed Home Child Care Provider, volunteer, or placement student that discriminates and puts children at risk or that can inhibit a child’s growth, self-esteem, or healthy development. All YMCA Staff, Licensed Home Child Care Providers, volunteers, and placement students are aware that the following practices are unacceptable at the YMCA. 

• Corporal punishment
• Physical restraint of a child, such as confining the child to a high chair, car seat, stroller or other device for the purpose of discipline in lieu of supervision, unless the physical restraint is for the purpose of preventing a child from hurting themselves or others. Is used only as a last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent
• Any form of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual or neglect)
• Depriving a child of basic needs including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or bedding
• Inflicting any bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will
• Leaving children unsupervised
• Deliberately using harsh or degrading measures or threats, use of discriminatory and/or derogatory language directed at, or used in the presence of a child that would humiliate, shame or frighten the child or undermine his or her self-respect divinity or self-worth
• Locking the exits of the home for the purpose of confining a child or confining a child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such confinement occurs during an emergency and is required as part of the licensee’s emergency management policies and procedures
• Using a locked or lockable room or structure to confine a child when separating them from other children
• Interacting or relating to children or vulnerable person outside of a YMCA program activity (e.g. babysitting, online chatting)
• Discrimination

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is central to our work at the YMCA. We are committed to ensuring equitable practices, and to creating an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and barriers to participation. We believe that all children and families should have an inclusive and respectful experience in our programs. 

YMCA programs are designed to develop children in spirit, mind, and body. We believe every child is a unique individual and adds value to our programs. YMCA staff and Licensed Home Child Care Providers strive to ensure the environment and programs are adapted to meet the needs of all children and will seek our community partners to enhance our ability to support children.

YMCA staff and Licensed Home Child Care Providers are committed to connecting, partnering, and engaging parents/guardians to provide the best possible care for each child. Daily conversations benefit the child, family, and the Licensed Home Child Care Providers. They help provide consistency for the child, support Licensed Home Child Care Providers to understand the child and therefore plan for their success and give families the opportunity to be part of their child’s day. 

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to take an active role in our Licensed Home Child Care programs and regularly discuss what their child(ren) are experiencing with our Licensed Home Child Care Providers and YMCA Home Consultants. As supported by our program statement, we support positive and responsive interactions among the children, parents/guardians, Licensed Home Child Care Providers and YMCA staff, and foster the engagement of and ongoing communication with parents/guardians about the program and their children. Our YMCA Home Consultants are available to engage parents/guardians in conversations and support a positive experience during every interaction. 

All issues and concerns raised by parents/guardians are taken seriously by the YMCA Home Consultants and will be addressed. Every effort will be made to address and resolve issues and concerns to the satisfaction of all parties and as quickly as possible.

Issues/concerns may be brought forward verbally or in writing. Responses and outcomes will be provided verbally, or in writing upon request. The level of detail provided to the parent/guardian will respect and maintain the confidentiality of all parties involved. 

An initial response to an issue or concern will be provided to parents/guardians within 24 hours or 1 business day. The person who raised the issue/concern will be kept informed throughout the resolution process. 

Investigations of issues and concerns will be fair, impartial, and respectful to the parties involved. 

If at any point a parent/guardian, Licensed Home Child Care Provider and/or YMCA staff feels uncomfortable, threatened, abused, or belittled, they may immediately end the conversation and report the situation to the YMCA Child and Family Development Admin office.

Everyone, including members of the public and professionals who work closely with children share a responsibility to protect children and vulnerable persons from harm¹. The YMCA recognizes its responsibility to promote safe environments and practices to protect children and vulnerable persons. 

Licensed Home Child Care Providers and the YMCA are: 

• Trained to recognize the indicators of neglect and abuse. 
• Legally required to report any suspicions that a child may require protection. 
• Ensures all reports are kept confidential including only discussing with the family that a report has been made if the child protection agency authorizes them to do so. 

The child protection agency investigates and determines if there is proof of abuse or neglect and implements support for the child and the family. 

No staff/student/volunteer or parent/guardian shall advise someone not to report suspicions of abuse, nor try to stop the person from reporting or consulting with a child protection agency. 

¹ Duty to Report is defined under section 72(1) of the Ontario Child and Family Services Act and sets out what must be reported to a child protection agency (e.g. Children’s Aid Society – CAS)

If a family member has been unable to resolve their issue/concern through the informal process described above, a formal complaint may be made in writing (by mail or email) to:

Mailing Address: 

YMCA of Greater Toronto Contact Centre 

90 Eglington Ave. East, Suite 300   

Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3 

Email Address: memberservices@ymcagta.org

Please provide contact information, as the YMCA will not respond to anonymous complaints. If you are unable to submit a formal complaint in this manner due to a disability, you may contact the YMCA to request accommodation, which will be provided in keeping with the YMCA’s Accessibility Plan.

The YMCA is committed to a fair process when dealing with complaints. Families will be treated with respect and kept informed of the status of their complaint. The YMCA will respond within 10 business days to confirm that your complaint has been received. The YMCA aims to resolve all complaints within 30 days of receipt. If this timeline cannot be met, the family will be informed of the reasons and given a revised timeline. Upon completion of a review, a decision relating to the complaint, and reasoning will be provided which will complete the formal complaint process.

Every issue and concern will be treated confidentially, and every effort will be made to protect the privacy of parents/guardians, children, Licensed Home Child Care Providers. Other persons in the Licensed Home Child Care premise, staff, students, and volunteers, except when information must be disclosed for legal reasons (e.g. To the Ministry of Education, College of Early Childhood Educators, law enforcement authorities or a Children’s Aid Society).

A summary of all formal complaints, including number and type, will be provided to the Board/Board Committee on an annual basis.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers are independently contracted and have the flexibility and control to determine the terms of their services, opening hours, as well as the number and ages of the children (always adhering to the Child Care and Early Years Act). Depending on the Licensed Home Child Care Provider, the program can be available seven days a week: 

• Full and part-time care and non-traditional hours available for those working shifts
• Flex care or on call
• After-hours care
• Weekend care

At the YMCA we know how important it is to you as a parent /guardian to have all the details of your child’s day. Licensed Home Child Care Providers will communicate with you about your child’s day such as naps, meals, diaper changes, play highlights, and any changes in health observed. 

Daily face to face communication with families will occur upon arrival and departure and some Licensed Home Child Care Providers may use another platform to communicate such as a daily report, text messages, email, or social media (i.e. Facebook group).

By packing a few essential items for your child and providing any specific details about your child’s health, rest, feeding, and activity, you help the Licensed Home Child Care Provider to deliver individualized care for your child. 

We have provided a short list of items that you should bring, but recommend that you speak with your Licensed Home Child Care Provider to determine whether you should be bringing anything else. Please ensure that all of your child’s belongings are clearly labeled with their name.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers can only have a maximum of 3 children under the age of 2 years in the home. 

• Diapers, wipes and any creams or lotions labelled with your child’s name and written instructions for application
• Bottles/sip cups
• Formula and baby food (labelled with your child’s full name, the date prepared or expressed milk labelled with your child’s full name, date milk expressed) and written instructions for feeding (whole milk will be provided by the Licensed Home Child Care Providers)
• Changes of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Blanket and/or sleep toy for rest (children over 12 months)
• Appropriate indoor footwear  

• Pull on diapers or training pants (for toilet training)
• Change of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Blanket and/or sleep toy for rest time
• Appropriate indoor footwear

• Change of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Refillable water bottle
• Appropriate indoor footwear

The YMCA of Greater Toronto has signed into the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement and will be pleased to offer fee reductions as part of the agreement to families in Durham and Peel. 

YMCA Base fees will be reduced by 52.75% as to a minimum of $12.00. 

To check if you are eligible and/or to learn more about the CWELCC program, check out our FAQ page.

The safety and well-being of all children participating in licensed home child care programs is of utmost importance to us. Parents/guardians are encouraged to notify the Home Child Care Provider to report any absences by their scheduled time. At the home providers first opportunity, they will communicate via email, text, phone call or other means, with a family to confirm the absence. Families may choose to opt out of the notifications by indicating in writing to the Home Child Care Provider. 

The YMCA will ensure that any child receiving care at the home premise is only released to the child’s parent/guardian or an individual where the parent/guardian has provided authorization. 

Please ensure that the Home Child Care Provider is aware that you have arrived or that you are departing with your child. Arrival and departure times are recorded by the Home Child Care Provider prior to parents/guardians leaving the home child care premise. 

If a child is participating in extra-curricular activities, written instructions from the parent/ guardian should include the activity, location, date, time, and whether the child will go directly to the activity or the home child care premise first. 

In extenuating circumstances, parent/guardian may request that a child over the age of 10 be released without adult supervision. This request will be considered pending an agreed upon written plan that includes instructions regarding the release and the time of dismissal of the child.

At the time of enrollment, you will be asked to provide the names and contact information including telephone numbers and addresses of any adults 16 years of age or older that you authorize to drop off/pick up your child or come to the Licensed Home Child Care in the event that you cannot be contacted when your child is ill or has been involved in an emergency. The YMCA does not permit children 15 years of age or younger to escort younger children home. If you need an alternate person to pick up your child not on the list, please give this information to your Licensed Home Child Care Provider. Any new visitors to the Licensed Home Child Care premises who come to pick up a child will be asked to provide photo identification.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers are counting on you to be on time to pick up your child at the end of the day so that they can meet their personal and family obligations. We understand that weather and traffic accidents happen, but we appreciate you calling the Licensed Home Child Care Provider to tell them you will be late or arranging for an alternate adult to pick up your child. Child care services may be terminated by the Licensed Home Child Care Provider for frequent late pick up.

The topic of divorce or legal separation can be difficult for children, and everyone involved. Ensuring that the YMCA and the Licensed Home Child Care Provider have a clear and legally binding custody plan in place is imperative for all parties. The parent/guardians or custody plan should clearly outline who has sole or joint custody for drop off, pick up and communication purposes. 

Please note: The Licensed Home Child Care Provider cannot deny access or information to any legal parent/guardian without the current legal court documents.

Licensed Home Child Care Programs are closed on all statutory holidays during the year. Please note when a statutory holiday falls on a weekend the YMCA will recognize this closure date on the following business day. Fee payment is required for all statutory holidays. 

Please speak with your Licensed Home Child Care Provider, if you require care on those days, as possible accommodations may be available.

We recognize the importance of the trusting relationships your child builds with our Licensed Home Child Care Providers, and we work very hard to maintain these connections. However, there may be occasions when a Licensed Home Child Care Provider may need to take time off and use their Back up Provider to fill in for them. Not all Licensed Home Child Care Providers have a back-up, and parents/guardians should ensure they have someone lined up if their Licensed Home Child Care Provider cannot offer care. 

Back-up Providers are screened by the YMCA and require the following before they can be left to supervise the children:

• Current Police Records Check including a Vulnerable Sector Check
• Food Handlers certification
• Current First Aid and CPR certification
• Up to date immunizations
• Policy and Procedure review

In some instances, the YMCA Home Consultant may be able to assist parents/guardians to find alternate care arrangements at another YMCA Licensed Home Child Care program.

Licensed Home Child Care Providers can only have a maximum of 3 children under the age of 2 years in the home. 

• Diapers, wipes and any creams or lotions labelled with your child’s name and written instructions for application
• Bottles/sip cups
• Formula and baby food (labelled with your child’s full name, the date prepared or expressed milk labelled with your child’s full name, date milk expressed) and written instructions for feeding (whole milk will be provided by the Licensed Home Child Care Providers)
• Changes of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Blanket and/or sleep toy for rest (children over 12 months)
• Appropriate indoor footwear  

• Pull on diapers or training pants (for toilet training)
• Change of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Blanket and/or sleep toy for rest time
• Appropriate indoor footwear

• Change of clothing
• Seasonal outdoor clothing
• Refillable water bottle
• Appropriate indoor footwear

The YMCA of Greater Toronto has signed the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement and is please to offer fee reductions as part of the agreement to families in Durham and Peel regions. 

The following are the base fees for all YMCA Licensed Home Child Care premises offering child care programs. Currently, the YMCA does not charge non-base fees. We will provide 30 days’ notice informing you if this changes in the future.  

YMCA base fees have been reduced upon registration by 52.75% as of January 2023 to a minimum of $12.

Early Learning Fees (Infant, Toddler and Preschool)

Durham Region

Care provided over 9hrs will be charged at a premium rate.

Before & After School Fees (Kindergarten and School Age)

Peel Region School Age Program Fee Reductions

As part of a Peel Region-funded program, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is pleased to offer fee reductions for families registering their children in a YMCA School Age program between September 4, 2023 and June 28, 2024. For the period of September 4, 2023 to June 30, 2024, YMCA base fees will be reduced by 50% upon registration. As of July 1, 2024, base fees will be charged.

View full fee chart here

Child care payments are processed on the 1st monthly by pre-authorized payment, credit card/debit visa card. Any family that starts after the 1st of the month, their first payment will be charged on their credit card/debit visa card on their start date all other payments will resume on the 1st of the month.. If families require payment arrangements outside of our current terms and conditions, please email the Child and Family Development Administration Office at LHCCregistration@ymcagta.org.

The admissions review process aligns with the charity’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging strategic goals. The YMCA strives to accommodate all registration requests, however there may be times when space is unavailable in our programs, and you may be offered to place your child on a waitlist. To address this, the YMCA has created a waiting list policy. 

• There is no fee for a family to be placed on our waiting list. It is important for you to keep  your contact information up to date with us.  
• Families transferring from other YMCA child care programs, YMCA Staff or siblings f children who are already registered will have priority for the next available child care space. 
• Parents/Guardians are informed that the Licensed Home Child Care placement is based on finding a good match rather than their position on the list 
• Placement of children in Licensed Home Child Care programs is not a first come, first serve basis as placement depends on many factors. Factors include but are not limited to: 
  • a) Location of the Licensed Home Child Care Providers that have available space 
  • b) Age of child and availability within a home for that specific age group 
  • c) Hours of care needed (i.e., Shift work, full day, part day, before and after school etc.)

The Licensed Home Child Care Provider will conduct an interview for you and your child, providing a chance to tour the home, discuss the program’s philosophy and curriculum, and address any questions. If both parties agree, the registration process will commence, and a registration package will be provided upon confirmation.

The registration package outlines the days and hours of care that you and the Licensed Home Child Care Provider have agreed upon. This is used for attendance and billing purposes. 

To register, parents/guardians must sign a copy of the registration package. All forms must be returned within 48 business hours of receiving the registration package from the YMCA Home Consultant to secure your child(ren)'s start date. All forms must be completed, including payment authorization, immunization record and emergency information.

Refunds for child care fees will not be processed for the following: missed days, vacation, sick days, or inclement weather closures. Operating costs are based on the number of children enrolled.

If you require changes to your current program registration these requests can be made by using the Licensed Home Change Request Form. Registration changes include family/child contact information, emergency contact information, and changes to program type (part-time to full-time). Please allow 10 business days for changes to the program type to take place.

Any changes to pre-authorized billing can be submitted online using the Licensed Home Change Request Form. If a new pre-authorized payment form is required, you can obtain this form  from your YMCA Home Consultant. Payment changes can take up to 10 business days for the changes to take effect.

Changes that result in an owing balance will be scheduled on the next schedule payment.

If you choose to withdraw your child from a YMCA Licensed Home Child Care program, 10 days’ notice of withdrawal is required by submitting the notice online using the Licensed Home Change Request Form. Payments will be adjusted upon receipt of the withdrawal notification. Withdrawal notifications received with less than 10 days’ notice will be charged for the 10-day period.

YMCA Licensed Home Child Care programs hold a purchase of service agreement with regional municipal offices. Families can apply for child care fee subsidy by contacting your local municipal office or visiting their website by clicking below:   

Region of Peel

Region of Durham

The YMCA strives to meet the individual needs of all children and families enrolled in our Licensed Home Child Care programs. However, situations do arise from time to time where it may be necessary for the YMCA to withdraw child care services for a child and/or their family. The YMCA does not take these decisions lightly and takes reasonable care to ensure a thorough assessment of the child’s needs, community supports available, and the Licensed Home Child Care Providers ability to support the child have been undertaken before withdrawing services. Examples leading to withdrawal of services may include: 

• Non-payment of program fees
• Frequent late pick up
• Parents/Guardians or children who exhibit violent or harassing behaviour towards the Licensed Home Child Care Provider, volunteers, students on placement, other children, or families
• Community resources for children with special needs are unavailable or have been exhausted
• Actions that negatively impact the health, safety, and well-being of others in the program
• Refusal by parent/guardian to meet with the Licensed Home Child Care Provider or consent to the use of support services for children

All YMCA Staff, Licensed Home Child Care Providers, volunteers, and placement students understand the importance of keeping all personal information in the strictest of confidence. The YMCA and the Licensed Home Child Care Provider will not share any personal information with outside agencies including school boards, and resource consultants for children with special needs without written parental consent. For a full version of the YMCA Privacy Policy please click here.