For many families, enrolling a child in an Early Childhood Learning Center marks the first time their little one is away from primary caregivers. This transition can be both exciting and emotional. At the Metro YMCA of the Oranges, our top priority is helping children feel safe, secure, and loved from the very beginning.
Research shows that forming secure attachments with caregivers—both at home and in child care settings—has a lasting impact on a child’s emotional and social development. Children with strong early bonds tend to:
Secure attachments help children feel safe enough to explore, take risks, and engage in learning. When their emotional needs are met by responsive adults, children begin to see the world as a welcoming and trustworthy place.
The relationships children form in their earliest years serve as the foundation for their future. Secure attachments provide children with a sense of safety and trust that helps them explore, take risks, and learn with confidence. When young children know their needs will be met by caring, responsive adults, they begin to see the world as a safe place where they belong.
Many children enter child care with diverse backgrounds and experiences that shape how they connect with others. Factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and increased screen time have disrupted typical bonding and social development.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to choose a child care center that prioritizes emotional safety and connection.
At the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, our approach to early childhood education is rooted in four core values:
Caring: We create a warm, consistent, and compassionate environment where every child feels valued.
Honesty: We maintain open communication with families to support each child’s emotional and developmental journey.
Respect: We honor each child’s unique background and pace of adjustment, meeting them where they are.
Responsibility: Our educators use the Nurtured Heart Approach® (NHA) to celebrate positive choices and model empathy, self-regulation, and respectful communication.
Play is a child’s love language, and one of the most powerful tools for building attachment. When teachers join in play, offer praise, and model positive social interactions, they strengthen a child’s sense of belonging. These moments of connection, whether during center time, outdoor play, or quiet reading, lay the groundwork for lifelong social and emotional skills.
Creating an environment that is predictable, consistent, and nurturing helps children learn to trust. Over time, this trust allows children to co-regulate with caregivers, manage big emotions, and develop resilience. When children feel emotionally safe, they are more open to learning, exploring, and growing. Choosing a Child Care Center that Prioritizes Relationships When families choose a Metro YMCA Early Childhood Learning Center, they are choosing a place where relationships come first. Our teachers understand the profound impact they have on a child’s life, not just for a school year, but for years to come. Each day offers opportunities to build confidence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning through meaningful connections.
Secure attachments in early childhood lay the groundwork for confidence and resilience. At the YMCA, our caregivers provide consistent care, trust, and encouragement, helping each child grow with a sense of safety and belonging.
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