YMCA Family Centers at Walt Disney World® Resorts

What innovative child development programming will be offered?

Innovative child development programming will be offered through a natural outdoor learning environment, physical fitness programming, conservation education and the use of technology as well as arts, music and language.

The Central Florida YMCA's teaching philosophy is based on these premises:

1.) Parents are children's first and most important teachers. Teachers and parents will work hand-in-hand in each child's learning. Parents are the key to children's success.
2) The years from birth to age five are a critical window of opportunity in a child's development. Each child is different and our goal is to meet the needs of every child.
3) From the time they are born, children learn all the time, everywhere. What and how they learn depends on the environment we create for them. Our goal is to create a comprehensive, seamless environment where all children flourish.
4) Children must feel safe, secure and loved in order to develop to their fullest potential.

The Family Centers staff will work to build strong relationships with the children and their families.

Learning at the Family Centers will:

1.) Pay attention to the whole child and family
2.) Focus on the developmental appropriateness for each child.
3.) Use a blended approach to curricula, drawing from the best resources available for each age group.
4.) Take place in a natural outdoor learning environment as well as in the classrooms.
5.) Incorporate technology when appropriate.
6.) Include physical fitness and health.

Children at the Central Florida YMCA Family Centers at the Walt Disney World Resort will experience:

1.) Active involvement in the learning process, with the teacher as facilitator.
2.) Cooperative activities to promote cooperative learning and social development.
3.) Many outdoor experiences.
4.) Time each day for free play, indoors and outdoors.
5.) Opportunities to make appropriate choices.
6.) Arts, music and language.
7.) Small group learning.
8.) An inclusive environment that reflects the home cultures of all children and staff.

In addition to traditional programming using arts, music, and language, innovative curricula will be offered through a natural outdoor learning environment, physical fitness programming, conservation education and the use of technology.

In the outdoor learning environment, the Family Centers will incorporate numerous natural outdoor elements including using child friendly plants and vegetation. The natural settings may include places for creative expression and imagination, such as a natural amphitheatre, garden spaces for seasonal projects, and a variety of places for active motor play.

Children's physical fitness and health are priorities of childcare center programming. Elements of the physical fitness and health program include a focus on the children's surrounding environment, physical education curriculum, extracurricular activities, health education, and caregiver training.

Programs will emphasize conservation. We believe teaching children about the environment promotes appreciation of its importance to their lives and awareness of how they can positively impact it. Providing children opportunities to experience the environment through fun and enriching activities enhances their comfort level and expands their knowledge to create a respectful and caring attitude about living things.

Children who have the opportunity to learn through a wide variety of experiences, including interacting with computers and other technology, gain skills that prepare them for living in today's world. Our expectations are that children will have the opportunity to learn using technology at the Family Centers and that technology will be incorporated when appropriate to enhance processes and communication.

Contact

		Back to FAQs What innovative child development programming will be offered? Innovative child development programming will be offered through a natural outdoor learning environment, physical fitness programming, conservation education and the use of technology as well as arts, music and language. The Central Florida YMCA's teaching philosophy is based on these premises: 1.) Parents are children's first and most important teachers. Teachers and parents will work hand-in-hand in each child's learning. Parents are the key to children's success. 2) The years from birth to age five are a critical window of opportunity in a child's development. Each child is different and our goal is to meet the needs of every child. 3) From the time they are born, children learn all the time, everywhere. What and how they learn depends on the environment we create for them. Our goal is to create a comprehensive, seamless environment where all children flourish. 4) Children must feel safe, secure and loved in order to develop to their fullest potential. The Family Centers staff will work to build strong relationships with the children and their families. Learning at the Family Centers will: 1.) Pay attention to the whole child and family 2.) Focus on the developmental appropriateness for each child. 3.) Use a blended approach to curricula, drawing from the best resources available for each age group. 4.) Take place in a natural outdoor learning environment as well as in the classrooms. 5.) Incorporate technology when appropriate. 6.) Include physical fitness and health. Children at the Central Florida YMCA Family Centers at the Walt Disney World Resort will experience: 1.) Active involvement in the learning process, with the teacher as facilitator. 2.) Cooperative activities to promote cooperative learning and social development. 3.) Many outdoor experiences. 4.) Time each day for free play, indoors and outdoors. 5.) Opportunities to make appropriate choices. 6.) Arts, music and language. 7.) Small group learning. 8.) An inclusive environment that reflects the home cultures of all children and staff. In addition to traditional programming using arts, music, and language, innovative curricula will be offered through a natural outdoor learning environment, physical fitness programming, conservation education and the use of technology. In the outdoor learning environment, the Family Centers will incorporate numerous natural outdoor elements including using child friendly plants and vegetation. The natural settings may include places for creative expression and imagination, such as a natural amphitheatre, garden spaces for seasonal projects, and a variety of places for active motor play. Children's physical fitness and health are priorities of childcare center programming. Elements of the physical fitness and health program include a focus on the children's surrounding environment, physical education curriculum, extracurricular activities, health education, and caregiver training. Programs will emphasize conservation. We believe teaching children about the environment promotes appreciation of its importance to their lives and awareness of how they can positively impact it. Providing children opportunities to experience the environment through fun and enriching activities enhances their comfort level and expands their knowledge to create a respectful and caring attitude about living things. Children who have the opportunity to learn through a wide variety of experiences, including interacting with computers and other technology, gain skills that prepare them for living in today's world. Our expectations are that children will have the opportunity to learn using technology at the Family Centers and that technology will be incorporated when appropriate to enhance processes and communication.