CHILDREN AGES 3 to 5 YEARS

Program Hours: Differ by location, please call for information on specific sites.

The Preschool program offers a warm, safe and secure environment for your child to grow and learn. Our caring staff guide each child through experiences that focus on their mental and physical development.

Our Preschool program incorporates the Developmental-Interaction Approach to learning. This philosophy stresses the inseparability of the child’s emotional life from his or her intellectual and physical development. Children’s understanding of information is carefully documented and represented in many forms. Portfolios are maintained by staff as a means of assessing children’s areas of strength and need.

In the Preschool program, social experiences are viewed as the key to later academic success. We consider it vital that children learn to be aware of their emotions, to identify and discuss them, become aware of their needs and be able to negotiate resolutions with other children and caregivers.

Registration for the YMCA Toddler Care is ongoing on a space-available basis.

To learn more call or email:

White Plains 
Ana Garcia, Assistant Director White Plains Early Learning Center
elcwp@ymca-cnw.org (914)949-8030 ext. 216

North Salem *This Location closing June 2024*
Shana Jack, Assistant Director of Early Child Care Services
sjack@ymca-cnw.org (914)276-2398 ext. 224

Valhalla
Margarita Pineiro, Director of Early Learning Childcare Services
mpineiro@ymca-cnw.org (914)949-8030 ext. 204

Please bring the following items with you on the first day of school

  • –2 Pack of Jumbo Pencils (Dixon Ticonderoga Wooden Pencils)
  • – Primary Composition Notebooks (2)
  • -1 Box Washable Thick Markers
  • -1 Box Crayons
  • -Jumbo Glue Sticks pack of 2
  • – Tissue Box (2)
  • – Pack of Lysol Wipes or Disinfecting wipes (2)           
  • – Ziplock bags gallon size
  • – Face mask
  • – Baby wipes
  • – Change of clothes –  In the event of an accident (Shirt, pants, socks, underwear) please have all clothing labeled with first and last name.
  • -Bedding (small blanket and crib size sheet)
  • – Water bottle with name on it

Thank you for helping our classroom!

ELC Additional Pages

Hello Ms. Shana

I’m just reflecting today on what an excellent, loving, enriching preK experience my children had at the Learning Center and I wanted to reach out to all of you amazing teachers. I hope you have been doing ok during the pandemic. I would love an update on how the staff are doing. We still have the book you prepared for G and C when they moved and it is so touching.

We have been in four different preKs in Texas and haven’t found anything close to the quality you delivered. I am truly grateful beyond measure. G is going into 2nd grade and tested into a math and science magnet school program. C was reading fluently at age 4 and is now going into Kindergarten reading as well as G. It’s amazing. G still loves art. He has taken to pulling things out of the recycling bin and using them in at-home art projects. C loves to run and has become a strong defender in soccer. 

Please let me know how you’re all doing and if there’s anything I can do to continue to support your work and mission.

xoxo, N”