Child Development

Going For The Gold!

Our Child Development Center at the YMCA of Sandusky County has earned the Gold Award (formerly five-star award) – the top award offered – from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth ! 
We provide a high-quality early care and education program that goes above and beyond Ohio’s licensing standards. By going for gold, the YMCA Child Development Centers help the children of our community develop in a warm, nurturing environment that fosters growth and a love for learning.
Learn more about preschool and childcare options

Now with two locations serving Sandusky County!

YMCA Child Development Center @ YMCA of Sandusky Center
1000 North Street, Fremont Ohio, 43420
YMCA Child Development Center @ Hayes Memorial UMC
1441 Fangboner Rd., Fremont Ohio, 43420

Benefits of Our Program

  • Weekly Swim Lessons (3-5 years only)
  • Field trips
  • Meals and snacks are provided during specific times*
  • Degreed teachers, knowledgeable staff
  • Daily gross motor skill activities
  • Chromebooks & Smart TVs in every classroom (Provided by Sandusky County Communities Foundation)
*Meals and snacks are provided at the Child Development Center located at the YMCA by Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Click HERE to view the anti-discrimination statement. 

Toddler/Preschool

Our program offers age-appropriate activities to enhance 2 1/2 – 5 year old’s development socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.

Toddler/Preschool for ages 2 1/2 – 3 years.
Preschool for ages 3 – 5 years.
Preschool for ages 4 – 5 years.

Our preschool program meets 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday – Friday with before and after care available at both centers

Preschool benefits include:

  • Improved social skills

  • Learning basics including alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, name recognition and more

  • Weekly swim lessons with certified instructor 

  • Educational field trips

  • Step up rooms to engage and focus on age appropriate learning activities

  • Ages & Stages Developmental screening tool to assess fine & gross motor skills, communication, problem solving and more

  • On-going assessments to evaluate each child’s progress

  • Alleviating separation anxiety when moving to kindergarten

School Aged

Our school aged program offers an extension of the elementary classroom. 

Our curriculum includes daily lesson plans taught by degreed teachers, age and developmentally appropriate activities, daily gross motor skill activities including swimming and recess in our outdoor playground!  

School aged benefits include:

  • Transportation provided to and from Fremont City & Bishop Hoffman Schools 

  • Program is open most non-school days  

  • Improved social skills

We also offer care for 2-hour delays, school cancellations and scheduled school breaks.

Our School-Age Summer program offers all the above plus daily swimming, weekly fieldtrips and nutritious meals and snacks. 

Learning technology at the YMCA of Sandusky County Child Development Centers has been provided by:
The YMCA of Sandusky County Child Development Centers are supported by:
Expansion of the YMCA of Sandusky County Child Development Centers has been made possible by: