The Alternative Press

The Madison Area YMCA has expanded its Kids Central babysitting hours to include opening an hour earlier on Sunday mornings, effective immediately. The new hours are 8 a.m. – noon. This allows members who need babysitting the ability to participate in Sunday morning Zumba, one of the Y’s largest classes.

The rest of Kids Central babysitting hours remain the same: Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Kids Central Open Play for members and non-members (by purchasing a one-day guest pass) is available Monday through Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Sundays noon – 8:00 p.m. A parent must be present with child.

Kids Central also has a Drop & Go babysitting option available Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. that allows parents to drop off children and leave the building for two hours. Members must sign up at least 24 hours in advance in person at the Welcome Desk. Online registration is not available. Phone calls are not accepted. Current family information, including local emergency contacts, must be on file. Family membership holders may drop off children who are at least 3-years-old and leave the building for a maximum of two consecutive hours--$15 for the first child; $10 per additional child. Children must be potty-trained. This offer cannot be combined with regular babysitting time while members are using the facility. No snacks are permitted in Kids Central. The program is not available to non-members.

Kids Central is the Y’s newly renovated indoor playground for preschool/school-age children that features a cargo bridge, trolley glide, gym ring challenge and monkey bars. A dedicated toddler area includes stand-alone elements such as a hippopotamus beanbag, animal-shaped rockers, wall-mounted games and stationary sit-on cars/animals.

For more information about the Madison Area YMCA’s Kids Central, log onto www.madisonareaymca.org or call 973-822-9622.