Child Activity Center Leader
About The Position
The Child Activity Center Leader supports the YMCA’s work to strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The role builds positive, nurturing relationships with children and cooperative relationships with parents and caregivers, staff, and peers. It supports children’s potential and implements curriculum focused on holistic child development, achievement, belonging, and positive relationships among youth and families. The position plans and facilitates developmentally appropriate activities in a drop-in care setting, maintains children’s safety and supervision, and follows YMCA program standards, policies, and applicable regulations. The leader communicates with families and supervisors about children’s development and participates in program activities, family events, meetings, and trainings.
Requirements
- Must be at least 16 years old as a third team member included in the Child Activity Center 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 functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including physical, visual, and auditory abilities.
- 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 positive relationships among youth and within families.
- Maintain close visual supervision of children and ensure no child is left unsupervised or alone with a staff member.
- Organize the environment according to the ages and developmental needs of the children present.
- Help children manage behavior using proactive strategies, redirection, and constructive discipline with natural and logical consequences.
- Support inclusion and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act where appropriate.
- Assist with planning and implementing culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate activities consistent with YMCA values and established guidelines.
- Adhere to safety and cleanliness standards; maintain program spaces and equipment, and keep required program records.
- Observe each child on an ongoing basis and communicate with the supervisor regarding child development.
- Build positive relationships and maintain effective communication with parents and caregivers; engage them as volunteers and connect them to the YMCA.
- Attend and participate in family events, program activities, staff meetings, and trainings as needed.
- Follow YMCA policies and procedures concerning medical matters, restroom use, discipline, child abuse prevention, emergencies, safety, supervision, mandated reporting, and risk management.
- Follow reporting procedures and respond proactively to situations to help ensure a safe environment.
- Comply with current federal, state, and local regulations and YMCA policies and procedures.
- Model relationship-building skills, including Listen First, in interactions with children, families, members, guests, volunteers, and coworkers.
- 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
