Arts & Entertainment
YMCA Solves 'Date Night' Dilemma with Affordable Saturday Night Childcare
The Newport County YMCA offers an affordable three-hour childcare program one Saturday night a month to give parents time for date night or quiet time.
Parents who miss Saturday nights out should take note: Every third Saturday each month, the Newport County YMCA in Middletown offers a fun filled childcare program for children ages 3 to 12 years old from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
Priced at just $10 for members and $15 for non-members, the program is set up specifically to give parents time for a night out without the high cost of a babysitter.
The children in the YMCA care for the evening enjoy playtime in the gymnastics arena, scootering on the basketball courts, arts & crafts, swimming (as long as enough lifeguards are available), pizza, snacks and get to take home a goody bag. The program group is limited to 20 children, with three childcare activities teachers on hand to plan and supervise the activities.
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Gymnastics Director Nina Milinazzo helps oversee the program and says that it's very popular and often fills up fast. Registration for both members and non-members opens one month prior to the event date. The only requirements are that the children be potty trained and that parents leave a cell phone number or emergency contact information.
Not only do parents get a night out and inexpensive babysitting, but the kids tend to be pretty exhausted and ready for bed after all the fun they've had.
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It's a win-win situation.
The next "YMCA Parent's Night Out" is this Saturday, Sept. 18.
Parents can register their children online or call (401) 847-9200.
More YMCA Parenting Tips:
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Milinazzo also noted that the YMCA has comprehensive Family Gym and Family Swim programs.
As the cooler weather arrives and activity planning becomes more challenging for parents, the Newport County YMCA offers open Family Gym sessions each weekday, plus two sessions on Saturday nights and four sessions on Sunday afternoons.
Family Swim is offered at coordinating times on the weekends so that families can do a gym and swim combination at designated times throughout the week.
A downloadable schedule is available here at Middletown Patch (see right). For more information on the Newport County YMCA programs and classes, see the attached fall schedule or go to www.newportymca.org.
