Licensed Home Child Care for Families (Ages 0-12)

The Ministry of Education licenses private home child care agencies like the YMCA. These agencies then contract individual home providers who offer child care out of their home. These home providers may care for up to six children (including their own under the age of 4) from the ages of 6 weeks and up to 13 years of age, as set out by the Child Care and Early Years Act 2014. For more information, please email us LHCCregistration@ymcagta.org or call us at 905-943-9622 x 60357.

The YMCA Home Consultant will try to place your child with a home provider that is located near your home, school or work. Please visit our Find a Y page to see if there is a Licensed Home Child Care location near you.

Home providers are screened, approved, monitored and supported by YMCA Home Consultants who are Registered Early Childhood Educators and have many years of experience working with children and families under the age 13. They check that the child care home is safe for children according to child behaviour management, nutrition, health, sanitary practices, and the handling of serious occurrences as set out in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

The Child Care Early Years Act, 2014 requires a home consultant to visit once every three months, however the YMCA will be making unannounced visits monthly.

Child care fees vary depending on the age of your child; the type of care required and the region in which you live in. Our fees are indicated in our Home Child Care Parent Handbook.

Payments are by pre-authorized debit through credit card or debit Visa and paid on the first of each month. Families will receive a payment schedule upon registration confirmation.

Yes. Families using licensed home child care through our agency have access to child care subsidy through the municipality. For more information and contact information, please see our Parent Handbook.

When a space becomes available in a home that meets the family's needs, the YMCA will contact the family to inform them and provide the home child care provider's contact information. This allows the family to arrange an in-person interview or tour with their child. After the visit, if both the family and the home child care provider agree it's a good fit, the provider will have the family sign an agreement.

Yes, this is an advantage of choosing home child care. If the home provider has space, siblings will be kept together.

Some home care providers may offer Before and After school care, including summer and school breaks.

You will receive an email acknowledging receipt. Our team thoroughly reviews each submission to ensure the best fit for your family. While our homes can accommodate up to 6 children, with a maximum of 3 under age two, placements aren't determined solely by the order of submission.

We take several factors into consideration, including the location of available spaces, your child's age, and the required hours of care. We will either contact you to contact a home child care provider to arrange an interview/tour or place you onto our waitlist until a space becomes available that can accommodate your needs.

We try to accommodate the needs of families. Some home providers may offer extended hour care.

Home Providers follow all regulations set out in the Child Care Early Years Act, 2014 and all other regulations in the Municipalities they provide care in. Home providers personalize their program with regards to activities, variety of toys, community outings, and daily schedule. All licensed child care programs follow the Ministry of Education’s pedagogy for early years programming called How Does Learning Happen? Which is a resource about learning through relationships for those who work with young children. Children succeed in settings where they actively learn through exploration, play and inquiry.

Families with children still in diapers are required to supply all diapers and/or wipes as needed for their child. An extra set (or two) of clothes (plus outdoor wear according to weather conditions) in case of accidents or messy play for all ages is recommended.
Sunscreen, diaper creams, etc. are all the responsibility of the child’s family.

In most of our homes, the home provider will serve a morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack, following recommendations of the Canada Food Guide. Menus are shared with families, in case of special diets/allergies, parent/guardian may need to supply their own food.
Food and milk (bottles) for infants are supplied by the family.

We strongly encourage communication between the parent/guardian and their home provider. However, under certain circumstances, the YMCA Home Consultant should be called to mediate.

No, in our program, the home providers are contracted and regulated to care for children in the provider’s home.

There are caregivers in the community who care for children privately and are not affiliated with an agency. We only place children in a home provider’s home who contracts their services with the YMCA Licensed Home Child Care.

Review Types of Child Care for a complete description of Licensed Home Child Care versus unlicensed child care.

It is the responsibility of the family to drop off and pick up their child. School age children either walk or take the school bus. Some home providers may use their own vehicle. Home providers are only allowed to transport children if they have appropriate insurance, car seats (supplied by family) and the family’s permission.

Visit our licensed home child care provider page to learn all about the benefits of partnering with the YMCA. If you are interested, complete our Interest Form and a dedicated YMCA Home Consultant will connect with you directly once your form has been reviewed. All questions will be answered at that time.