Daycare
Last Updated:Sep 30th, 2026
Daycare
Description
The Frankton YMCA child care program provides a welcoming, safe, and engaging place for children while supporting working families in our community. Through age-appropriate activities, play, social interaction, and consistent daily routines, children have opportunities to build confidence, independence, and positive relationships. Our staff focus on each child’s well-being and communicate with families to support their growth. An EARN Indiana child care intern will gain hands-on experience alongside experienced YMCA staff. The intern will help plan and lead activities, support daily routines, observe child development, practice positive guidance, and learn how to maintain a safe and inclusive environment. A supervisor will provide training, regular feedback, and opportunities for the intern to take on increasing responsibility as their skills develop. This position offers practical experience for a student interested in early childhood education, child development, or a related field.
Responsibilities
The Child Care Intern will work under the supervision and guidance of experienced YMCA child care staff to gain practical experience in youth development and early childhood education. Responsibilities will include:
- Assist with planning and leading age-appropriate educational, recreational, and enrichment activities.
- Help create a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment for all children.
- Support children during daily routines, including meals and snacks, transitions, rest periods, indoor and outdoor play, and structured activities.
- Interact positively with children and encourage social-emotional development, teamwork, independence, and positive behavior.
- Learn and practice appropriate child supervision and positive behavior-management techniques.
- Assist staff with preparing activity materials, organizing classrooms, and maintaining clean and safe program spaces.
- Observe children's development, interests, and individual needs and communicate observations with supervising staff.
- Learn and follow YMCA policies, child care procedures, emergency protocols, and health and safety requirements.
- Participate in staff training, meetings, and professional development opportunities.
- Practice professional communication with YMCA staff, children, and families.
- Assist with maintaining appropriate records and documentation as directed by the supervisor.
- Receive ongoing coaching and feedback from the internship supervisor and apply feedback to improve professional skills.
- Demonstrate the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
- Complete other supervised program-related responsibilities that provide meaningful learning and professional development.
Qualifications
The ideal Child Care Intern is dependable, enthusiastic, and interested in gaining hands-on experience working with children in a professional child care setting.
- Must meet all applicable YMCA and Indiana child care requirements for the position.
- Current student or recent graduate with an interest in early childhood education, education, child development, social work, recreation, or a related field preferred.
- Previous experience working with children through employment, volunteering, school, babysitting, mentoring, coaching, or similar activities is preferred but not required.
- Ability to interact with children in a patient, positive, caring, and age-appropriate manner.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Dependable, responsible, and able to follow directions and established policies and procedures.
- Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and develop new professional skills.
- Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team.
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Must successfully complete required background checks and screenings as applicable.
- Must complete required YMCA and child care trainings within established timeframes.
- CPR, First Aid, and AED certification preferred; training may be provided if needed.
- Ability to actively participate in child care activities, including standing, walking, bending, sitting on the floor, and participating in indoor and outdoor activities.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all children and families.
- Must demonstrate and support the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Learning Objectives
- Develop an understanding of age-appropriate child development and how developmental stages influence activities, expectations, and interactions with children.
- Gain experience planning and implementing educational, recreational, and enrichment activities that support children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
- Learn effective child supervision techniques and how to maintain a safe and engaging child care environment.
- Develop positive behavior-management and redirection techniques appropriate for different ages and individual needs.
- Strengthen professional communication skills when interacting with children, families, coworkers, and supervisors.
- Learn how to recognize and respond appropriately to children's individual needs while promoting inclusion and a sense of belonging.
- Gain an understanding of health, safety, emergency, and risk-management procedures within a child care setting.
- Develop skills in classroom and program organization, including preparing materials, managing transitions, and maintaining an effective daily routine.
- Gain exposure to the administrative responsibilities involved in operating a quality child care program, including documentation, attendance, policies, and program procedures.
- Develop teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, time-management, and professional decision-making skills.
- Learn the importance of confidentiality, professionalism, appropriate boundaries, and ethical conduct when working with children and families.
- Receive and apply constructive feedback from supervisors to identify strengths, establish professional goals, and improve job-related skills.
- Gain a better understanding of career opportunities in early childhood education, youth development, recreation, nonprofit organizations, and related fields.
- Demonstrate the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility through daily interactions and professional conduct.
At the conclusion of the internship, the intern should be able to demonstrate increased confidence and competence in working with children, contributing to a child care team, and applying classroom knowledge to a professional child care environment.