Category: Blog

Whether it is for your first child or fifth, choosing childcare is no easy task. There are so many factors to consider that will go into your final decision on which childcare center will be the right one for you and your child.

Here are the top 10 things to look for when considering childcare.

1. Security & Safety. Ask who has access to the building, and how is it accessed. Key card? Buzzer? Consider the drop-off and pick-up procedures. Will everyone be asked to identify themselves when picking up a child? And check the safety features such as outlet covers, locked cabinets and cleaning chemicals and other dangers out of reach for your little ones.
2. Cleanliness. Is the room vacuumed daily? How clean are the restrooms? Is there soap and sanitizer available for – not only the children but the teachers and staff as well. A clean childcare facility is essential for the health, safety and well-being of your child.
3. Child to Staff Ratio. According to the National Resource Center that ratio depends on what ages are being cared for. It can range from 3:1 for 24 – 35 months to 10:1 for 6 – 8-year-olds.
4. Accreditation. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s rating system for early learning and development programs in school-age child-care. Early learning centers in the Keystone STARS program can receive a rating score from 1 – 4.
5. Communication Policy. How will the staff and caregivers communicate with you? Can you receive updates throughout the day or will you be able to call in at any time with questions? Do they have the latest technology to be able to communicate at a moment’s notice?
6. Healthy Snacks & Meals. What are your children being fed throughout the day? Are you required to provide their snacks and meals or can they be purchased or a part of the overall cost?
7. Enrichment/Activities.  Is the center’     s curriculum enhanced with enrichment programs? There should be opportunities for your child to move and play throughout the day. Studies show enrichment programs are vital to a high-quality early childhood curriculum. Also ask the staff if there will there be any field trip offerings to allow your child to experience places outside of their daily atmosphere.
8. Reviews/Word of Mouth. You’ve heard the saying before, word-of-mouth can be the best source of advertising. What are other moms saying about the childcare center? Are there Google reviews online or posts on social media? Follow up with the center if you find a concerning review that has you questioning whether it is the right choice.
9. Schedule Flexibility. Some childcare centers only offer certain days and certain times, so it’s important that the schedule fits your life and is most convenient for you and your child.
10. Play Areas. Fun is important too. Are there areas for play time both indoor and outdoor?

 Choosing a childcare center is no easy task, but taking these 10 things into consideration should help lower the stress on the decision making process.

By Raychel Adiutori

Raychel is a mom of two young school-aged girls in Erie, Pa.

You already spend 40+ hours every week with your co-workers, so why would you want to add any more time than required?

It sounds less than ideal, working out with your co-workers. However, it can have a different effect on your personal and professional relationships than what you’d expect. Whether you exercise with one workout partner from work, your office is full of wellness champions, or you attend classes with a fitness posse, here’s the ‘why’ and ‘how’ when it comes to exercising with co-worker

Check out this article from PeerFit Pulse to learn more.

Work relationships are incredibly important to employee well-being. It’s about more than just “getting along” with a co-worker. As humans, we crave contact and connection with other people. Unfortunately, for many employees, work can be a very lonely place. And while you’re probably familiar with the phrase, “I’m here to work, not to make friends,” it’s important for employers to understand just how important social connections in the workplace really are.

Check out this article from Forbes on how strong social connections make people happier and physically healthier – and how those connections translate into work performance.

The Y is a great place to spend time together as a family. Bring the kids and challenge your family with do-together workouts like:

Playing Family Fitness Bingo

Instead of sitting with a dauber and waiting for numbers to be called, this version of bingo requires each family member to complete five mini-workouts – like run one lap or do 15 sit-ups – to get a bingo. Or you can really kick things up by going for a blackout by completing every activity on the list.

Download a printable version here or stop by the Membership Desk to ask for this workout card.

Attend a Group Exercise Class Together

Members can take advantage of free group exercise classes – including these that are specifically designed for kids and their family members:

Family Obstacle Interval, Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Eastside Family Y
Family Cardio, Saturdays, 11 a.m. Glenwood Park Y
Family ZUMBA, Saturdays, 12 p.m., Glenwood Park Y

Take a Family Swim

Gather up the kids for water-based fun at the Y. In the water, your whole body is working – water is denser than air, which provides resistance for all movements. Family-friendly aquatics amenities include water slides and indoor lap pools. To enjoy the pool, all swimmers 5 & under must have an adult within an arm’s reach. All youth 17 and under must complete the YMCA Deep Water Competency Test which assesses swimming ability for deep water. Those that complete the test successfully will be given a green band; inexperienced swimmers are considered non-swimmers.  These bands help our certified lifeguards keep swimmers safe.

Wide Open Spaces

Our gyms are indoor playgrounds that burn winter energy. Some fun things to do in the gyms include anything with a ball (just Google “fun games with a ball”), relay races or bring the kids’ rollerblades!