Upper Main Line YMCA
Offering New Opportunities for Early Learners

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georges Seurat, Albert Einstein, and Jan Brett — all innovators in their respective disciplines — all part of the Upper Main Line YMCA’s Preschool/Enrichment curriculum. This fall, the YMCA is introducing children from two and a half to six years to interactive programs that incorporate, music, art, science and literature through age-appropriate activities.

The program runs on 10-week sessions throughout the school year. Classes are held in the afternoons and generally run two to three hours. From September 19 through September 23, the YMCA is offering trial classes for free.

According to Sue Gualtieri, the Senior Director who oversees the YMCA’s Childcare and Preschools, enrichment programs are building blocks for further education. “Through activities centered on literature, music, science and movement, our classes introduce materials that help early learners develop a knowledge base that will help them throughout their life.”

The Y developed the program in an effort to expand its place in the community as not only the place for sports and fitness, but as a place for the arts. There is no better time to imprint on young minds than during the informative three to six year range.

Within the ten-week session, children will explore many facets of a subject through crafts, stories, music and games. “Its all fun,” said Karen Reid, one the YMCA’s teachers. “It is fast paced—we try to present material through the eyes of the children.” Reid added, “Our kids learn cultural aspects of the world through fun, hands-on activities.”