3-5 Child Care Program

A welcoming environment for your child to learn through activities and fun.

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3-5 Child Care Program

Program Description

Our 3-5 Child Care program offer environments that are safe and stimulating with our caring and supportive Early Childhood Educators who understand what makes your child special. Educators care for children through a flexible group schedule and children are nurtured, well-cared for and provided with vital learning opportunities through YMCA Playing to Learn®.

Ages 3 to 5 years
Fees apply (Financial Assistance available)
Group Program
Y Membership Required: No
3-5 Child Care Program
Program overview

YMCA BC's 3-5 program offer environments that are safe and stimulating with our caring and supportive Early Childhood Educators who understand what makes your child special.

Educators care for children through a flexible group schedule and children are nurtured, well-cared for and provided with vital learning opportunities with YMCA Playing to Learn®.

Program objective

As the largest provider of licensed child care in BC, we understand the critical role the early years play in a child's growth and development. Through our child care program we:

 

  • Offer values-based programs that recognize that each child is an individual and that each family has different needs, interests, and expectations
  • Offer a child focused approach that stimulates interaction, creativity and learning through active hands-on play and exploration based on children’s interests and developmental needs
  • ‍‍Follow our national YMCA Playing to Learn® curriculum that fosters the physical, mental, and social development of your child
Program benefits
  • Children follow a flexible group schedule
  • Program includes opportunities for exploring indoors and outdoors, music and movement, discovering creative and sensory materials and imitation play and learning to play with others
  • A significant play experience is written daily in each child’s journal
  • Opportunities for your child to explore indoors and outdoors, music and movement, discover creative and sensory materials and imitation play and learn to play with others
  • A significant play experience is written daily in each child’s journal
  • Educators write weekly documentations highlighting learning that occurred during a play experience

Important Announcement

Waitlist system updates notice

Please Note: System updates only apply to child care programs based in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast. There are no changes to the waitlist application process at this time for programs located in Northern BC and the Interior.

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To facilitate these system updates, child care waitlist submissions for programs will be paused starting on Monday, July 27, 2026.

 

While these system changes are being completed, please note that:

  • New child care waitlist applications cannot be accepted 
  • Existing child care waitlist applications cannot be updated or modified 
  • Families with existing waitlist applications will maintain their original waitlist application date once the child care waitlist has reopened

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Families interested in joining the YMCA child care waitlist during this period of time can complete this Expression of Interest Form (form will be available starting July 27).

 

This Expression of Interest Form is not a child care waitlist application and does not guarantee that a family will receive a child care spot.

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We are working towards having the system changes completed before September.

 

Thank you for your interest in joining our YMCA Child Care community.

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Register for
3-5 Child Care Program
Register for this program in your region

Our child care programs are offered across the regions listed below. Select the region you are interested in enrolling your child in.

Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley & Sunshine Coast BC Programs

Find a program in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley & Sunshine Coast BC Region

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Interior BC Programs

Find a program in the Interior BC Region

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Northern BC Programs

Find a program in the Northern BC Region

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Supporting Documents

Program guides and policies

Lower Mainland Family Handbook - Early Years

Find information you need to know while your child is in our care.

Northern + Interior BC Family Handbook - Early Years

Find information you need to know while your child is in our care.

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