CENTENARY EARLY LEARNING CENTER
Voted Best Central Jersey Child Care in 2024 Community Choice Awards
HOURS OF OPERATION
| Mon - Fri | 7:00am - 6:00pm |
| Sat - Sun | CLOSED |
CONTACT INFO
Child Care Director
Melinda Wilson
melinda.wilson@ymcaofmewsa.org
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INFANT CARE (6 Weeks - 12 Months)
Infant Care at the Y provides responsive, individualized care for infants in a safe, developmentally stimulating environment. Every infant is assigned a primary care giver with who the child learn to build a trusting relationship. Your child's primary caregiver provides one-on-one interaction and monitors your child's social, physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Daily communications are provided, including information about your infant's day (meals, moods, diapering, naps, activities, and developmental milestones).
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TODDLER CARE (12 Months - 3 Years)
Our Toddler Program fosters the beginning of independence while ensuring that children succeed in their environment. Primary caregivers help toddlers learn how to adapt to a daily routine and respond appropriately socially, manage their own emotions, broaden their receptive and expressive language skills, and develop more refined gross and fine motor abilities. Using the Creative Curriculum, activities are play-based which encourages stimulating interaction with toys and people and allows for individual children to learn and grow at their own pace. Experienced teachers promote learning through active exploration and creative movement as well as continually engaging toddlers in thoughtful conversation as they try new activities and experiences.
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Preschool (Ages 3-5)
In a structured, academically enriching environment, our Preschool Program is designed to help children build upon their ever-expanding cognitive, social-emotional, and motor abilities in preparation for Kindergarten. Such skills include developing a strong foundation for independence, self-esteem, taking responsibility for one's actions, as well as problem solving and critical thinking. Using the Creative Curriculum, experienced teachers also emphasize continuing children's language development by increasing vocabulary through more focused conversation and consistent pre-reading and writing activities.
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Transitional Kindergarten
New at Centenary Early Learning Center, join us for transitional kindergarten! This program bridges preschool and kindergarten with a play-based, nurturing approach that builds key skills for school success. Transitional Kindergarten is available for children who just made or missed the cut-off for kindergarten. Students must turn 5 by December 31, 2025.
KINDERGARTEN
Our Kindergarten Programs prepare children for a seamless academic and social transition to 1st Grade. Our program builds confidence and positive self-esteem while emphasizing the foundational academic skills necessary to take that next big step into elementary school. Kindergarteners enjoy a comprehensive hands-on learning curriculum enhanced with social emotional activities to support your child’s whole development.
Child Care Resources
Financial Assistance For Child Care and Programs
The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy believes that everyone, regardless of age and their financial situation, deserves access to our services to help them live healthier lives and a chance to realize their full potential. At the Y, no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. Assistance is awarded based on household income, size, extenuating circumstances and the availability of funds on a first come, first served basis. Our Financial Assistance program is made possible through our YMCA’s Annual Support Campaign, special events and donors.
Community Child Care Solutions
https://communitychildcaresolutions.org/
Local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) organizations help parents take the guesswork out of choosing care – giving them referrals to local child care providers, information on state licensing requirements, availability of child care subsidies, and other pertinent information. CCR&Rs provide guidance by phone, in person, and in other ways, such as internet, that are tailored to each individual family.
Department of Children and Families
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families is the state’s first Cabinet-level agency devoted exclusively to serving and supporting at-risk children and families. It is made up of about 6,600 staff who are focused on and committed to assisting and empowering residents to be safe, healthy and connected.
Grow New Jersey Kids
There are many things to think about when you’re looking for child care – you want to find a program that’s convenient, open when you need it and within your budget. But most importantly, you need child care that makes sure your child is safe, healthy and learning. Grow NJ Kids can help you find quality child care in your area.
Child Care Help Line
Connects families to the local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies to help families determine if they are eligible for New Jersey’s Subsidy Program, find and locate quality child care services and other child care options.
Department of Education Pre-K Programs
The focus of the Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) is to enhance social, emotional, physical, and academic development of New Jersey's children -- preschool through third grade -- by providing leadership, resources, and professional development in support of high-quality early childhood programs within a comprehensive, collaborative program.
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network
Supporting families as advocates and partners in improving education, health, and mental health outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth.
New Jersey Department of Health Early Intervention Services
https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/for-families/when/
Early intervention services are designed to address a problem or delay in development as early as possible. The services are available for infants and toddlers up to age three.
Request a tour
The Y believes that early education is extremely important. That is why our programs are Grow NJ Kids rated. Grow NJ Kids is a state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey. Grow NJ Kids gives child care and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of programs and make the best choices for their child. The goal is to create a system that encourages ongoing improvement.
Grow NJ Kids is part of a national effort. More than 40 other states are at some stage of launching their effort to improve quality. All types of programs can participate in Grow NJ Kids – a child care center, a school- or center-based preschool program, a Head Start program, as well as a registered family child care provider, who cares for children in his/her home.