Preschool and after school programs offered at YMCA
August 25, 2015
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Providing preschool children a creative environment and school-age youth with opportunities to continue to learn and engage in meaningful activities at the end of the school day can boost their academic success.
To help motivate and inspire kids to learn, the Tuscarawas County YMCA is offering a Certified Preschool program and an After-School program.
The Ys after-school program, for children attending Dover and New Philadelphia schools, combines academics with play and offers a caring and safe environment for youth who would otherwise be left unsupervised.
During the school year, 15.1 million U.S. children are left unsupervised after 3 p.m., according to the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness advocacy organization. In Ohio 23 percent of children are left alone and responsible for taking care of themselves.
With the start of the new school year, the Y encourages parents/caregivers to make sure children are involved in safe, educational experiences after school.
The combination of enrichment and extended learning opportunities is essential to increasing childrens success in school, said Etta Hilfinger, childcare director, Tuscarawas County YMCA. YMCA preschool and after-school programs promote a love for learning, social and emotional development, healthy choices, character and creativity and provide children with an extra support system through positive role models to help them achieve and reach their full potential.
Studies show participation in after-school programs helps boost school attendance and academic performance and reduces gaps in academic achievement among children.
In the Ys after-school program, youth receive help with homework, a healthy snack and time for play.
Financial assistance is available to those in need to ensure every child and teen has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y. The Y also provides a Day Off program for holidays or snow days when both Dover and New Philadelphia schools are off.
Providing peace of mind for parents during the expected day off and the unexpected is our goal, Hilfinger said. The Y is a family place and as family we are here to help.
The Ys preschool program offers children 3 to 5 years old a safe and fun environment where they can develop early academic skills, social skills and independence. Three-day and five-day programs are offered in both morning and afternoons. The five-day afternoon program includes a swim lesson.
For more information about the Ys After-School program or Certified Preschool program, contact Etta Hilfinger at 330-364-5511 or visit www.tuscymca.org
