Unique Y program encourages strong core values

The YMCA staff strives to create a safe and engaging atmosphere for the children in their care at our Before & After School Fun Club program sites. At one location in particular, two staff members have demonstrated their energy and creative drive by implementing unique activities for the children.

At Scotland Elementary, Lauren Leon (pictured on right) and Allison Mione lead activities such as cooking events, like making chocolate pretzel clusters or “dirt” pudding, and other distinctive games involving trust activities and team challenges.

In one such program (similar to the television series Fear Factor), teams of elementary students participated in various challenges: “Guess that Food” while blindfolded, blow as many bubbles as possible with one piece of gum in a certain time frame, and see how long they could hold an ice cube in their closed fist. The children hardly stopped laughing for the entire duration as they competed.

The fun and games were used for multiple purposes, one of which was highlighting the core values of the YMCA: respect, caring, honesty and responsibility. Lauren and Allison remind children the core values as they play every day. If teams get too competitive or speak rudely to one another, respect is reinforced to keep the peace.

At the beginning of the school year, Lauren (pictured on left) developed a behavior incentive program for the Scotland site based on rewarding kids when they demonstrate the core values. The children receive cards with their value that they demonstrated. Each card is worth a certain amount of points they can trade in for prizes.

After every gym game, the staff has the teams line up and give each other high fives, encouraging peers with “Good game,” or “Great teamwork!” These incentives and practices keep kids excited to behave, and rewards them for being a role model of the core values.

Creative activities and teaching the importance of the core values are just two of many aspects of the Before & After School Fun Club program. That set the YMCA apart as a leader for child care in the community.