Address: 501 W 11th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
At the Central YMCA, we believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. That’s why child care and early learning programs at the Y focus on holistically nurturing child development by providing a safe and healthy place to learn fundamental skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships and build self-esteem through the Y values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
REGISTRATION:
Please call the Central YMCA at (302) 254-9622 to register.
Schedule A TourProgram Highlights
The Central YMCA Early Education Center provides high-quality child care, preschool, and early learning for children ages 6 weeks through Pre-K. Located in Wilmington, our licensed program offers a safe, nurturing environment where children learn through play, build confidence, and develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need for kindergarten and beyond.
Ages: 6 weeks through Pre-K
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
Why Families Choose Us
- Licensed child care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
- Safe, nurturing environment with experienced educators
- Play-based curriculum focused on kindergarten readiness
- Weekly science, cooking, and hands-on enrichment activities
- Weekly Swimming for eligible age groups
- Daily early literacy experiences
- Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks included
- Clean, newly remodeled classrooms
2026 Central YMCA Early Education Fees:
- Infants (under 1 year): $1,525/month
- 1 – 2 years old: $1,310/month
- 2 years and older: $1,180/month
Curriculum
At the Central YMCA, we support youth development, promote healthy living and emulate social responsibility. Your child will learn and grow in a multi-faceted program that provides opportunities for self-expression, socialization and teacher-led activities. The children learn age appropriate developmental skills that will both engage and challenge them intellectually and physically.
Program Options
Bunnies and Ducklings (6 Weeks Old – 12 Months)
Our teachers are knowledgeable about infant development, and they interact and respond to your child’s needs. Our infant program offers experiences to infants that encourage them to explore their world by seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling and exploring their environment.
Lambs (12 Months – 20 Months)
Our teachers provide many opportunities for physical, intellectual, social and emotional development through interactive play with staff and other children their own age. Floor play enhances large motor skills that promote growth by assisting in the skills that are needed for walking and climbing!
Bears (Ages: 21 – 28 Months)
Our program in the Bears’ classroom provides children with many opportunities to play and interact with other children, which helps them build friends and develop social skills like taking turns and sharing. Our teachers create lesson plans that enhance and build language skills which are critical for cognitive development.
Kangaroos, Elephants & Giraffes (Ages: 2 – 4 Years)
Our Preschool program includes activities that introduce and enhance developmental growth in all areas of child development. Children paint, build with blocks, color, make new friends, and use their imaginations to create their own works of art. Children will be introduced to pre-kindergarten concepts that will help them as they get ready for school. The Downtown YMCA Child Development Centers also give children numerous opportunities to run, jump and build strong bodies!
Lions (Pre-K)
Our pre-k program prepares your child for their first formal year of school, kindergarten! Children learn upper and lower case alphabet letters and numbers, and they work on beginning word sounds and writing skills! Our pre-k program also concentrates on problem-solving techniques and how to seek peaceful resolutions