Early Childhood Programs
We believe play is a child’s work
At the 14th Street Y, we believe in supporting the whole family.
Our early childhood education programs draw on children’s inherent curiosity and sense of wonder. We believe children are naturally competent, capable learners with a built-in ability to devise their own ideas and persist in tackling them.
Our approach to learning also emphasizes socialization. Here, children begin to build relationships with peers and with adults other than parents and caregivers, acquiring a set of skills they will carry through life.
Year-long Childhood Education Programs
We are distinguished from other New York City early childhood education programs by providing continuity and depth of care from pre-natal through early childhood within the 14th Street Y’s Early Childhood programs. This is a community every member of your family can count on, from child to caregiver to parent to grandparent. At the 14Y you get an entire community full of Arts + Culture, Community Events, Aquatics Classes, Fitness Classes, and so much more.
Additional Early Childhood Information
Fire safety requires all strollers be fully folded and parked in the designated lobby stroller parking area, not in the pathway. No strollers are permitted in the elevator. Please plan accordingly. 14Y assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged strollers.
Preschool families must take their strollers with them after dropping off their child. At no time are strollers permitted in the elevators or on the Early Childhood floors. No exceptions will be made unless there is a medical reason, which must be submitted to the appropriate program director (Aquatics, Early Childhood, or Membership). If approved, you will receive a special stroller tag.
We realize that this may be difficult in the case of sleeping babies, but our policy makes coming and going easier for everyone in the community and keeps our building safe in the case of a fire or other emergency. For families that have infants, we encourage use of a carrier or car seat that can be removed from the stroller base.