Lynn Y Academy Early Learning Program
The Y Academy in Lynn offers educational and enrichment opportunities for toddlers to teens in their Early Learning, Out-of-School Time, and Youth Center programs. The Early Learning Program, located in the Demakes Family YMCA at 40 Neptune Blvd., delivers high-quality early education and care for children 2.9 years old to age 5. All activities focus on the development of the whole child with a concentration on gross and fine motor skills. Our programs offer a STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) curriculum and hands-on learning experiences. We support the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical of each child that recognizes their unique experiences and talents to help them confidently learn, grow, and thrive.
The Y Academy in Lynn offers its signature Early Learning and Out-of-School Time programs. Each program combines STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) curriculum with hands on learning – and the physical and social activities that are hallmarks of the Ys youth programs – for a complete educational experience that focuses on the whole child. Y Academy enrollment offers your child all the developmental tools they need to succeed with all the benefits of membership to the Y. This includes access to swimming, youth sports, and enrichment classes and discounts on YMCA of Metro North summer day camps.
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:30am-5:30pm
Schedule a TourY Academy Lynn Brochure
Y Academy Early Learning preschool programs equip your child with the essential intellectual building blocks for future academic success and preparation for kindergarten. Teachers ensure your child has independent and group activities, STEAM-based curriculum, and sensory play as well as plenty of physical activity
to develop healthy habits.
The Y Academy facility in Lynn includes indoor and outdoor play spaces, and access to the YMCA’s pools, splash pad, gymnasium, and adventure zone. Year-round swim instruction is included in the tuition. Your child’s daily schedule is filled with activities that provide a balanced range of educational and physical activities.
Y Academy teachers are passionate about education. They are certified child care professionals dedicated to nurturing curiosity, inspiring creativity and teaching children how to succeed. Each lesson plan is infused with the Y’s core values of compassion, honesty, respect, and responsibility and accounts for your child’s individual learning needs. Our classrooms are licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care and adhere to EEC’s curriculum guidelines.
At the Y, we know that a well-rounded education includes activities that stimulate a healthy body, mind, and spirit. With your enrollment in Y Academy, your child receives a free Youth membership to the YMCA with access to preferred pricing and priority registration on programs and summer day camps across the YMCA of Metro North branches.
You can opt to extend those privileges and more to your entire family by joining the YMCA as Family members. When you join as a family, you will save the price of your child’s Youth membership from your family membership, a savings of up to 20% off. Membership at the YMCA gives you unlimited access to group exercise classes, gym time, family swim,
special events, and so much more.
Everyone belongs at the Y. Financial assistance is available to qualified Y Academy applicants. This is possible thanks to the many generous donors who donate to the Y’s Annual Campaign. Financial assistance is also available through state child care circuit vouchers for those who qualify.
1. Does my child have to be potty trained?
We are able to work with families to potty train their children. Pull-ups are acceptable. Teachers are able change the children ever couple hours or as soon as they are wet. Once children are ready we work with them, and you, to transition them to underwear.
2. Are meals included?
The Lynn Y Academy Early Learning Program does provide breakfast. Families must provide lunch and two afternoon snacks for their child. We do not have the necessary equipment to heat meals up or refrigerate them. Our recommendation is putting a hot meal in a thermos to keep it warm or putting an ice pack with a cold lunch to keep it cool.
3. What do I bring for my child?
Please provide two extra sets of clothing, lunch and afternoon snacks, a blanket for rest time, and swimsuit/water shoes on swim lesson days.
4. How are the classrooms divided?
Students are broken into separate age groups for their learning time in classrooms. The rooms consist of ages 2.9-3.5, 3.5 to 4.0, 4.0-4.5, and 4.5-5.0.
5. What are the qualifications of the Y Academy Early Learning Program teachers?
All staff are EEC teacher qualified or EEC lead teacher qualified. YMCA childcare staff are also required to have 20 hours of professional development each year. It is also a requirement of the YMCA that staff are CPR certified.
6. What are your teacher to child ratios and classroom sizes?
We maintain a 10:1 ratio with our teachers and students at all times. Of the four classrooms we have there are three with 20 spots and one with 17 spots per day.
7. What are you hours?
The Y Academy Early Learning Program is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am-6:00pm.
8. What is the latest time I can drop off my child/children?
There is no official cut off time, however, we do encourage families to drop off at the program no later than 9:00am as essential learning takes place at this time and we don’t want any children to miss out.
8. Are toys from home allowed in the program?
We are not able to allow toys from home unless it is a comfort animal such as a stuffed bear. The Lynn YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items that children bring in from home.
