I found the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center Daycare through a coworker. I needed interim care for my 19 month old toddler because we lost our other sitter to a day job, and we were still on a waiting list for a daycare/preschool closer to home.
The Y had an opening, and we went.
Well, I am really glad that we did. The carers are awesome, they all made a fuss over my son everyday, which was great. They have a little report card they give you at the end of the day so you have some idea how your kidlet ate, napped and generally did during the day. The staff are fun, friendly and have a really good sense of humor, which I really appreciate. They made sure all the kids were fed often, and were prompt to change diapers. My son never had any issues with rashes or other diaper stuff.
Pros: The staff are great, very engaged with the kids, and my son was always relaxed and happy at the end of the day. They got to play a lot of games, there's a big space and not too many kids (15 total) for the number of caregivers (3 at any time). They have the same people there, so the kids have consistency in caregivers too, which I really like. They did different activities, painting, drawing, singing, and just playing.
Cons: the only con was that the outdoor area isn't ideal. It's in an office building so the outdoor space is concrete. There are foam pads on the ground, so the kids won't get scrapes when they fall, and there's lots of toys, but it's still concrete. I think given the location, and the awesome staff, that isn't a terrble thing for me.
Overall, I do recommend YMCS downtown daycare. They are really convenient, really nice and reasonably priced, too! read more