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Drop-In Care

AGES 6 Weeks-7 Years

Our Child Watch program offers an opportunity for infants and children to grow, learn, and explore while meeting the need of their parents and family members who participate in Y programs and activities. While keeping children safe in a nurturing and caring environment, Child Watch provides your child additional opportunities for social experiences and learning through play, all while fostering values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Each site will have a weekly theme to further enhance your child’s learning experience through stories, songs, creative movement, and/or art activities. See our weekly themes below!

Children are welcome in Child Watch for up to three hours per day. Parents must remain in the building while their child is under our care. Register at the Business Desk for our convenient unlimited Monthly Pass for Y members or an hourly rate card.

Monthly Draft Form

Information & Policies

​CHILD WATCH HOURS*

Monday – Thursday | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 4:00-7:00 PM
Friday & Saturday | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday | CLOSED

*Hours vary by branch. See your branch page for current hours.

December 31 – January 6 | All About Me
January 7-13 | My Family
January 14-20 | Your Neighborhood
January 21-27 | Nursery Rhymes
January 28 – February 3 | Fairy Tales
February 4-10 | Colors
February 11-17 | Valentine’s Day
February 18-24 | Dental Health
February 25 – March 2 | Read Across America Week
March 3-9 | Shapes
March 10-16 | St. Patrick’s Day
March 17-23 | Spring
March 24-30 | Number Fun
March 31 – April 6 | Easter
April 7-13 | ABCs for You and Me
April 14-20 | Earth Day
April 21-27 | Observing Weather
April 28 – May 4 | Cinco de Mayo
May 5-11 | Mother’s Day
May 12-18 | Plants
May 19-25 | Flowers
May 26 – June 1 | Fruits & Vegetables
June 2-8 | Trees
June 9-15 | Father’s Day
June 16-22 | Summer
June 23-29 | Insects

June 30 – July 6 | 4th of July
July 7-13 | Outer Space
July 14-20 | Pets
July 21-27 | Animals at the Farm
July 28 – August 3 | Animals in the Zoo
August 4-10 | Animals in the Forest
August 11-17 | Animals in the Air
August 18-24 | Animals in the Water
August 25-31 | Dinosaurs
September 1-7 | Grandparent’s Day
September 8-14 | Construction
September 15-21 | Fall
September 22-28 | Simple Machines
September 29 – October 5 | Transportation
October 6-12 | Fire Safety
October 13-19 | Community Helpers
October 20-26 | Staying Healthy – Nutrition
October 27 – November 2 | Harvest/Halloween
November 3-9 | 5 Senses
November 10-16 | Emotions
November 17-23 | Thanksgiving
November 24-30 | Staying Healthy – Physical Activity
December 1-7 | Staying Healthy – Other Healthy Habits
December 8-14 | Winter
December 15-21 | Christmas
December 22-28 | New Year’s

Attire Policies & Bathroom Procedures

CLOTHING

Proper clothing and undergarments are required in Child Watch. The temperature inside may vary so prepare by dressing your child in appropriate clothing.

FOOTWEAR

  • All mobile children must wear shoes or socks. Bare feet are not permitted in Child Watch.
  • Wet shoes or boots are not allowed in Child Watch. Please bring a dry pair of shoes to change into during inclement weather.

BATHROOM PROCEDURES

  • Children who are being toilet-trained will be directed to use the bathroom.
  • Children should be able to use the bathroom without assistance.
  • Staff will give minimal assistance with bathroom functions and with changing or adjusting clothes.
  • Parents will be called to assist their child with any difficulties.

DIAPERING

  • Please bring your child in a clean, dry diaper.
  • Disposable diapers will be changed for children as needed.
  • Please bring diapers and wipes for your child. We will retrieve you if you do not have diapers. We cannot apply diaper rash cream of any kind.
  • We encourage the use of disposable diapers, but cloth diapers are allowed. However, we are unable to rinse soiled diapers or rubber pants: all soiled items will be placed in a bag and returned to you.
  • Diaper bags must be labeled on the outside.

Donations, Volunteers & Financial Assistance

VOLUNTEERS

Opportunities to volunteer are available in many areas of the YMCA. Ask for an application at the front desk.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

We believe in providing membership and program services to all who desire to participate. The YMCA’s financial assistance program, supported in part through contributions to our Annual Campaign, provides membership and program scholarships for those in need.

General Policies

  • Children must be signed in and out of Child Watch by an adult (18 & up).
  • Children need to be signed out of Child Watch by the same person who signed them in, unless prior arrangements have been made.
  • If you are babysitting another child, you may only bring that child with written permission from the parent or guardian. Rates will be assessed for that child dependent on whether his or her parent/guardian is a YMCA member.
  • A photo ID is required for pick-up of children from Child Watch.

Child Watch staff cannot accept a child in to Child Watch if they have had the following symptoms within the last 24 hours:

  • Fever
  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting
  • Communicable diseases (including pink eye)
  • Rash
  • Open sores
  • Yellow or green runny nose or eyes
  • Excessive cough
  • Has been in contact with someone suspected of or confirmed with having COVID-19 in the last 14 days

If your child appears ill, we will contact you and ask you to take your child home. If your child stayed home from school because he or she is not feeling well, they should not be in Child Watch. In order to return to Child Watch, a Doctor’s note may be requested at staff discretion.

Employees may not administer medicine, including diaper cream. Please do not bring prescriptions or over-the–counter medicine to Child Watch.

We ask that you notify Child Watch if your child has come down with a contagious disease and were in Child Watch during the incubation period.

Communicable disease notification will be posted in Child Watch for seven days to alert parents of possible exposure.

Open wounds or skin irritations must be covered while in Child Watch. Please ask an attendant if your child needs a bandage.

You will be notified immediately of any emergency or potentially serious injury concerning your child. You will be updated on any other situations when you pick up your child. Appropriate first aid or comforting techniques will be used for each particular situation.

If you repeatedly pick-up your child after closing time OR exceed the 1 hour time limit, you may be subject to suspension from Child Watch services.

Behavioral Expectations

For everyone in Child Watch to have a safe and positive experience, we utilize the following behavior management approach:

  • If a child is misbehaving, we will redirect the child to an appropriate activity. We will suggest several alternatives.
  • A Behavior form may be completed and discussed with the parent to address inappropriate behavior.
  • If inappropriate behavior continues and becomes a safety issue for your child or other children, we will ask that you remove your child from Child Watch for an amount of time determined by staff.
  • For the safety and well-being of all children using Child Watch, inappropriate behavior (i.e., spitting, biting, inappropriate language, harm to self, harm to others or property) may lead to a loss of Child Watch privileges for your child or family.

If a child is upset and inconsolably crying in Child Watch, staff will make every effort to calm and comfort the child and help them acclimate to the Child Watch environment. After 15 minutes of crying, the staff will locate the caregiver to pick up the child.

If your child has any special needs please inform the staff, coordinator or director prior to check-in. The YMCA will make every effort to accommodate your family. We recommend that the caregiver sit down for a conference with the Child Watch Coordinator and Camp & Family Director prior to the first visit to ensure a successful partnership between the staff and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

First come, first served basis. No reservations required, but measured capacity limits will be set. Three-hour time limit per child.

Snacks/food will not be distributed in Child Watch. We strongly discourage bringing toys and other personal items from home.

Our staff follow a strict cleaning protocol that ensures our facility and equipment remains clean and safe. High traffic areas, including check-in areas, playgrounds, changing areas, and restrooms, are cleaned on a frequent basis.

All plush toys have been removed and toys/personal belongings brought from home are not allowed in Child Watch.

To ensure the safety of all children in Child Watch, we follow the intake screening and assessment below:

  • Child’s temperature is taken at home
  • Parent/guardian confirms there is no illness
  • No medication has been given to suppress a fever

If a child becomes ill while in Child Watch, a parent/guardian is required to pick them up immediately.

Contact us

MUKWONAGO YMCA
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SOUTHWEST YMCA
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TRI COUNTY YMCA
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WAUKESHA YMCA
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WEST SUBURBAN YMCA
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MONTHLY PASS

A great value for YGWC members!* Unlimited visits per month. Convenient monthly bank or credit card draft available.
$10/Month (1 Child)
$15/Month (2+ Children)

*Monthly Pass only available for YGWC members.

HOURLY RATES

$3/hour, Member* (per child)
$4/hour, Program Participant (per child)

*Away members are eligible for member hourly rates.

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