Child Activity Center Leader
About The Position
The Child Activity Center Leader supports the YMCA’s mission of strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The role creates positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents, caregivers, and staff. It supports each child’s potential, encourages peer connections, and implements programming focused on holistic child development. The position provides children and families with an experience centered on achievement, belonging, and relationships. The leader supervises children, organizes the environment according to their ages and developmental needs, supports positive behavior, and helps plan and deliver culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate activities. The role also maintains program safety, cleanliness, equipment, and records; observes children and communicates about their development; engages parents and caregivers; and follows YMCA policies, applicable regulations, and required safety and reporting procedures. The position is part-time, up to 29 hours, based at the Burbank YMCA in Burbank, California, with an evening shift. Work takes place indoors and outdoors throughout the year and includes water-related activities.
Requirements
- At least 16 years old when serving as a third team member included in the CAC ratio, or at least 18 years old.
- Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate activities in a drop-in care setting.
- Strong character values, including respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring.
- Strong communication skills and emotional maturity.
- Current approved First Aid, AED, and Adult, Infant, and Child CPR certifications.
- Complete child abuse prevention training before the first day in the program.
- Ability to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation, including the physical, visual, and auditory abilities required.
- Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
- Ability to lift 30–35 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- Completed semester units in child development, human services, or related fields.
- Previous experience working with children—including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and/or school-age children—in a group setting.
- Previous experience with diverse populations.
- Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.
Responsibilities
- Nurture children through purposeful programming that builds achievement, belonging, and relationships among youth and families.
- Maintain close visual supervision of children and ensure children are not left unsupervised or alone with a staff member.
- Organize the environment to meet the ages and developmental needs of children present.
- Help children manage behavior through positive approaches, proactive strategies, redirection, and constructive discipline.
- Support inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act where appropriate.
- Assist with planning and implementing culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate activities that align with YMCA values and guidelines.
- Follow program safety and cleanliness standards, maintain program equipment, and keep required records.
- Observe each child on an ongoing basis and communicate with a supervisor about child development.
- Build positive relationships and communicate effectively with parents and caregivers; engage them as volunteers and connect them with the YMCA.
- Participate in family events, program activities, staff meetings, and trainings.
- Follow YMCA policies and procedures related to medical situations, restroom usage, discipline, child abuse prevention, emergencies, safety, supervision, mandated reporting, and risk management.
- Follow current federal, state, and local regulations and YMCA policies and procedures.
- Model relationship-building skills, including Listen First, in interactions with parents, YMCA team members, members, guests, and volunteers.
- Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character and YMCA Core Values in all dealings.
- Develop competencies in mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
