Licensed child care for children ages 6 weeks–6 years (pre-K). Located in southeast Missoula at the YMCA on South Russell.

Development Center Child Care

 

Ages 6 weeks–6 years (Pre-K)

Welcome to the YMCA Development Center! We believe that each child is an individual. As early educators, we value and develop each child's strengths, interests, skills, abilities, and knowledge to extend their learning.

The Development Center is a Level 2 STARS to Quality participant. We are licensed by the state of Montana.

Registration is required. Best Beginnings scholarships accepted. Request a tour to get started!

 

Our Philosophy

  • We believe that children learn through play. We provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, create, and imagine.
  • We believe in celebrating diversity. Children are unique with different interests, backgrounds, and developmental stages. We celebrate each individual child, enabling them to positively understand and acknowledge differences.
  • We believe environment plays a role in a child's success. An environment should take a child's social skills, communication skills, physical abilities or challenges, and learning styles into consideration. Environments should enhance children's interests in all developmental domains. Our classrooms feature individual Learning Centers that can be visited, explored, and revisited again and again.
  • We believe children should be given choices, responsibilities, and opportunities to initiate their own learning. Observations and assessments are done throughout the year. Observations give insight into the development, knowledge, and skill levels of each individual child, while helping our educators plan curriculum.
  • We believe families are a vital part of our programs. Parents and guardians are welcome in the classroom at any time. Observing their child's classroom firsthand helps parents and guardians know what to ask a child at the end of the school day.

 

At a Glance:

  • Year-round care
  • Offered Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • Breakfasts, lunches, and snacks provided daily following CACFP nutrition guidelines and best practices
  • Commitment to providing ongoing support to breastfeeding mothers
  • Best Beginnings scholarships accepted
  • YMCA financial assistance available
  • Development Center families enjoy 1 free month of Y Family Membership and 50% off all following months

 

 

Ages 6 weeks–24 months

At the Development Center, we focus on the five stages of development: Cognitive, Social and Emotional, Speech and Language, Fine Motor Skills, and Gross Motor Skills. 

  • We focus on building relationships and engagement
  • We do circle time where we sing, read books, do finger plays, and practice sign language and name recognition
  • We have tummy and back time
  • We dance with our infants ages 1+
  • We offer an assortment of toys for learning through play during Learning Centers
  • We offer outdoor play with climbing structures, swings, sand, and many other toys
  • We offer nurturing, loving environments for our littles

Care is offered Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, and snack are served family-style every day.

Our Y Development Center is committed to providing ongoing support to breastfeeding mothers. Breast milk may be stored in center's freezer or brought in fresh daily.

 

Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)

$1,239/month

 

Sample Daily Schedule:

 

Ages 2–3

At the Development Center, we focus on the five stages of development: Cognitive, Social and Emotional, Speech and Language, Fine Motor Skills, and Gross Motor Skills.

  • We focus on building relationships with families and the children we care for
  • We focus on teaching children independence through potty training and dressing themselves
  • We focus on problem solving and guiding children in finding their own solutions
  • We offer a themed-based curriculum and play-based Learning Centers
  • We have outside time twice daily with a large assortment of equipment for gross motor skills
  • We offer a safe, nurturing environment

Care is offered Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, and snack are served family-style every day.

 

Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)

$1,057/month for 4 days of care/week

$1,121/month for 5 days of care/week

 

Sample Daily Schedule:

 

Ages 3–5

At the Development Center, we focus on the five stages of development: Cognitive, Social and Emotional, Speech and Language, Fine Motor Skills, and Gross Motor Skills. 

  • We focus on building relationships
  • We focus on problem solving and social skills through Learning Center play
  • We emphasize writing, letter recognition, numbers, beginning phonetics, reading rhyming, and Kindergarten readiness
  • We focus on STEM and art
  • We have outside time twice daily with a large assortment of equipment for gross motor skills
  • We offer a safe, nurturing environment
  • We also offer several extracurricular activities—swim lessons and sports activities

Care is offered Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, and snack are served family-style every day.

 

Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)

$995/month for 4 days of care/week

$1,115/month for 5 days of care/week

 

Sample Daily Schedule:

 

The Missoula Family YMCA is committed to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards in all of its child care programs. Breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided through our participation with the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). To view CACFP's nondiscrimination statement or file a program complaint of discrimination, visit the USDA Program Discrimination webpage.  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.