Licensed child care for children ages 6 weeks–6 years (pre-K). Our off-campus site in northwest Missoula.
Learning Center Child Care
Ages 6 weeks–6 years (Pre-K)
Welcome to the YMCA Learning Center! As early educators, we value and develop each child's individual strengths, interests, skills, and abilities.
The Learning Center is a Level 3 STARS to Quality participant and licensed by the state of Montana.
Registration is required. Best Beginnings scholarships accepted. Request a tour to get started!
We are an approved Child Care Aware provider. Eligible military families may be able to receive tuition assistance through Child Care Aware.
Our Philosophy
- We believe in educating and developing the whole child. We understand effective teaching encompasses the social, emotional, and cognitive needs of each individual child.
- We believe in equal learning opportunities. Our teachers provide age-appropriate curriculum and activities that allow children to explore, develop, and grow.
- We believe environments should support curiosity and exploration. We strive to create classroom environments where all students feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. Children learn through play and their experiences of touching, moving, listening, and observing.
- We believe in fostering partnerships with families. We look to parental involvement as we work together to develop and nurture a positive attitude toward school and learning.
- We believe in valuing diversity. We value the diversity of each child and enable them to understand and acknowledge their own unique ability, interests, and background, as well as those of others.
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
- Best Beginnings scholarships accepted
- YMCA financial assistance available
- Learning Center families enjoy 1 free month of Y Family Membership and 50% off all following months
Ages 6 weeks–24 months
We are committed to supporting each child's growth and development by:
- Supporting breastfeeding mothers (breastmilk storage available)
- Building relationships with children and families
- Building secure attachments between caregivers and children
- Supporting each child's development through individualized daily schedules before age 1
- Ensuring development of the whole child through daily back and tummy time, music, reading, bonding, and variety of toys and materials for learning through play
- Offering outdoor play time for children ages 1+; safe and sturdy large-motor play materials inside classrooms for physical development
- Providing calm, nurturing, and inviting environments
Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)
$1,239/month
Sample Daily Schedule:
Ages 2–3
We are committed to supporting each child's growth and development by:
- Providing relationship-based education by building strong relationships with children and families
- Facilitating positive social-emotional development
- Daily outdoor and/or large-motor play
- Offering themed-based curriculum and play-based learning
- Providing whole-group, small-group, and individual activities
- Helping children begin to have a sense of responsibility and community through classroom jobs
- Assisting with potty training
- Providing warm, inviting, child-centered classroom environments with beautiful and sturdy furnishing
Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)
$914/month for 3 days of care/week
$1,121/month for 5 days of care/week
Sample Daily Schedule:
Ages 4–6
We are committed to supporting each child's growth and development by:
- Providing relationship-based education by building strong relationships with children and families
- Preparing children for Kindergarten
- Offering themed-based curriculum and play-based learning
- Facilitating the social, emotion, physical, intellectual, and creative development of every child
- Providing whole-group, small-group, and individual activities
- Helping children begin to have a sense of responsibility and community through classroom jobs
- Teaching self-help and problem solving skills
- Providing family-style meals
- Offering a rich variety of learning materials to explore educational interest areas (following developmentally-appropriate practices)
- Providing warm, inviting, child-centered classroom environments with beautiful and sturdy furnishing
Monthly Tuition: (Effective January 1, 2024)
$914/month for 3 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 childcare 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.