Young Children's Preschool

We are currently enrolling! For more information, please reach out to our preschool director, Diana Borjas at dborjas@smvymca.org.

Every child deserves a great start. Financial assistance and third-party subsidies are available—so cost never stands in the way of your child’s education.

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Diana Borjas

Preschool Director

Bree Alvarez

Preschool Coordinator

Kayla Neal

Lead Teacher - Caterpillar Group

Neidy Ramirez

Lead Teacher - Butterfly Group

Testimonials

"As a parent, choosing the right preschool can feel overwhelming—but enrolling my son at the YMCA Preschool has been one of the best decisions I have made. From the very beginning, the teachers have been nothing short of amazing. Their warmth, dedication, and consistent support have made such a difference in my child’s life.

Since starting at the YMCA, my son has truly blossomed. I have watched him grow into a smart, confident, and curious learner, and I know that’s a result of the nurturing environment the teachers have created. I am so grateful to be part of a preschool that genuinely cares. My son loves all of his teachers and so do I. Not only do they support him, they have supported me throughout many changes in the last 2.5 years."

-Mary B

"I am an alumni myself of the YMCA preschool program and I enjoyed my time greatly there as a child so much that I believed it was the best program possible for my child! Throughout Riley’s time with the YMCA he has been able to grow and experience friendship, love, compassion, empathy, and all kinds of adventure! Riley loved his classmates as well as his teachers and school staff! The YMCA is an amazing and loving program that I believe all children should experience!"
-Anton L

"I want to start by thanking the YMCA Preschool for providing such a safe and welcoming environment for my son who’s been apart of the school since 2023. This program has taught him so many new things like how to write his name, he can count in order and backwards, and he constantly sings songs that he learns at school! He even says a few words in Spanish now which he learned from his teachers as well. I also appreciate the monthly newsletters a lot because it lets me know of any upcoming events and as a busy parent I need all the reminders I can get!

The teachers communication with the parents is top notch and I love seeing pictures they take of the class and getting updates on the Remind app group chat. I am really going to miss being apart of the YMCA and I know my son can’t wait to come back for summer camp so he can visit his teachers again. The YMCA is an amazing school and I highly recommend it to everyone."

-Chloe M

"Our time with YCP has been amazing! The teachers here cultivate such a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for the children to grow! I'm so happy knowing my daughter is in an environment where she has been able to receive personalized care and learning, encouraged to let her individualities shine through, as well as support to help her build upon her emotional intelligence and communication among her peers. The love and dedication the YCP teachers put into our children's early education really shines through for me. Especially with every pickup when I get to hear first hand the excitement and joy from my daughter on the fun learning activities they did during the day. In addition to the wonderful teachers and great learning curriculum, the preschool program offers many family activities and is supportive of family participation in the classroom. They also offer extracurricular activities like educational field trips, swim lessons, and holiday festivities to name a few. If I could keep my daughter enrolled in this program straight through High School, I absolutely would."

-Khaeli & Mason H

"From the moment we toured YCP, we got a great vibe. It immediately felt like the right fit for our family, and that first impression helped us decide to enroll. Since then, our child has truly thrived in more ways than one. She has grown socially, emotionally, and developmentally. The environment is warm and welcoming, and it genuinely feels like a safe, nurturing space where kids can grow and be themselves. The staff is easygoing, approachable, and consistently communicative, which gives us peace of mind every day. We’re also incredibly grateful for the fee assistance, which made it possible for us to be part of such a supportive and enriching community."

-Kelsee S

"YCP Preschool has been such a gift to our family. After moving to the area, Ronan was quite shy and unsure of how to connect with his peers, but the incredible staff at YCP helped him come out of his shell and feel truly comfortable. We were so touched by how attentive they were to his individual needs and how they made us feel like they genuinely cared not just about Ronan, but about our whole family. Their warmth, patience, and dedication created a space where he could grow socially and emotionally, and we couldn’t be more grateful"
-Denise V

"My daughter Mila came to the Y Preschool when she was just 2.5 years old. Mila had come from a home-based daycare, and we wanted to transition to a center-based program. Choosing an environment to start her education was something I held close to my heart. I wanted Mila to have structure, I wanted her to feel safe, and I wanted her to thrive. From the moment I toured the facility, I knew in my heart Mila would love it as much as I did. The teachers welcomed us with such kindness; Mila’s transformation was almost effortless. The classroom(s), lessons, and materials are well thought out and planned with intention and care. The learning activities are play-based, hands-on, and multisensory. Mila has learned to identify colors, write her name, spell other words, pronounce words in different languages, communicate her emotions to me, and so much more. The outdoor classroom has inspired Mila to garden at home because she loves seeing something she planted grow into something beautiful. It truly encompasses the excitement she experiences while at preschool. The teachers have shaped her brain to learn as much as she can, and I can never thank them enough. The YMCA incorporates family into many of their projects/lessons. They celebrate all aspects of culture, holidays, and traditions. The preschool provides the ability to participate in field trips, lunches, and many special events. It is so rewarding to be included, and Mila cherishes ALL the memories we create. Mila has created many friendships that have given us the opportunity to have play dates and attend gatherings outside of the classroom – and those relationships we have kept to this day. Friends have sincerely become family. I have loved our time here so much; I look forward to enrolling my 2-year-old! Having a good educational start for your toddler in a safe learning environment is worth so much and something so important to invest in. The YMCA will forever have a special place in our hearts and hour home."
-Alicia M

"Our daughter has been at the YMCA preschool for over two years and has truly blossomed. The kind and patient teachers have created a safe, supportive environment where she could grow at her own pace. We’ve seen her come out of her shell and genuinely enjoy her time at school.

We’re so grateful for the gentle encouragement and support that has helped our daughter thrive."
-Lorisa S

"I cannot speak highly enough of the SMVYMCA preschool program. It has exceeded my expectations in every way and played a pivotal role in laying a strong foundation for our child’s future.I am forever grateful to the exceptional teachers for their unwavering dedication and passion. The emphasis on character development and fostering a sense of community is another aspect that sets it apart. Our child has learned invaluable values such as kindness, empathy, and respect, which are instilled through various activities and interactions with peers and teachers.I wholeheartedly recommend this preschool to any parent looking for a nurturing, enriching, and loving environment for their child’s early education journey."

-Brittany G

"After an extensive search to find the right preschool for our son, my husband and I concluded that the Y preschool was the best fit. Not only is the curriculum impeccable, but the qualified, responsible, respectful, and caring staff made us feel like a family. My son built strong friendships, and he continues to have play dates with his Y friends even though he is no longer attending. We feel confident our son will do great in TK as a result of his experience at the Y. My son's first language is Spanish, and it was impressive to see him grow from not knowing any English to now knowing how to express himself in this language. We can't thank the Y preschool enough for giving our son the proper tools to begin his education journey in a good way."

–Claudia D

“We love the Santa Maria Valley YMCA Preschool!!! The teachers and staff are the absolute best and the quality of the program is unmatched in this area. They organized amazing special events for the kids and families and even had a huge truck full of snow delivered for the kids to play and have a snow day. Plus the outdoor classroom is every preschooler's dream. My daughter graduated from preschool fully prepared for TK, but she says she wishes she could stay and play forever at the YMCA. We are forever grateful to the Y for loving and supporting our daughter and they will always hold a very special place in our family's heart.”

–Lauren A

“I love when my daughter comes home singing all these fun songs with all these cute little motions. She enjoys teaching me these new songs just as much as I enjoy learning them.”

–Christina R

“I absolutely love the YMCA Preschool! It is a place where I trust my daughter’s care into the hands of the most helpful, nice and caring teachers. I know she is in a place where it is fun, yet the learning environment is challenging. This is my second child who is attending the YMCA Preschool and I recommend it to everyone!”

–Christie O

“We had a really wonderful experience at preschool and we are grateful for the entire staff.”

-Brian E

“Program and staff are great. My child is learning, engaged and enjoys school.”

-Rachel M

“I am very thankful to the leadership of the staff. They are very creative and thoughtful in all they do for the children. They seem to genuinely love children and are always researching a new, creative way to teach the kids in fun, ‘out of the box’ ways.”

-Juliza H

“My child loves coming to school, she is always happy to get dropped off. I like that I am always invited and welcome to the school.”

–John R

“Great program! I refer them to people looking for childcare. The financial assistance they offer combined with the quality of childcare makes allowing my child to attend an easy decision!”

-Samantha V

"Our son started at the Y in August 2024 when he was two years and nine months old. It was his first time in a daycare/preschool setting. He transitioned very well and we have seen tremendous growth in the last year. The staff are wonderful. The facility is wonderful. There truly is no other place that we would want our son to attend preschool. We are so happy we found the Y are grateful for the excellent care they provide."

-Doherty Family

About Our Preschool

It is the philosophy of the Y to provide preschool children with a safe, positive, fun and educational experience. The goal is to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of each child through quality, creative, values-oriented activities which prepare children for Kindergarten. The program promotes parent involvement, healthy lifestyles, and academics. This program provides literacy development, social skills, enrichment activities (art, music, dance, etc), character development, and countless other activities.

Proudly serving children ages 2.5-5 years.
Must be fully potty trained.
Teachers specializing in early childhood education
All staff are first aid/CPR certified
Monthly themes with activities revolving around literacy, math, science, art and music
Full-time and part-time licensed preschool
Hours of operation 7 am-6 pm

Tuition

Butterfly Class (Pre-K, ages 4 - 5):

Butterfly Full Time 5 Day: $980.00/ month
Butterfly Part Time 2 Day: $588.00 / month
Butterfly Part Time 3 Day: $735.00 / month

Caterpillar Class (Toddler students, ages 2.5 - young 4):

Caterpillar Full Time 5 Day: $1170.00/ month
Caterpillar Part Time 2 Day: $702.00/ month
Caterpillar Part Time 3 Day: $877.50 / month

Scholarships and third-party subsidies available to help make Y preschool more affordable!

Outdoor Classroom Project

As of October 2018 we are categorized as an Outdoor Classroom Project Demonstration Site. The philosophy of the Outdoor Classroom Project is that all children need and benefit from more time outdoors. This benefit affects development and learning. It is critical for physical health. Nearly every activity that can be done indoors can be done outdoors. Some activities can only occur outdoors. Other activities occur best outdoors. For children ages 0 to 5, development and learning outdoors is often easier and more beneficial than it is indoors. Full development and integration of outdoor and indoor programs creates the optimal learning and growing environment for young children. Children will get approximately 3 hours of outdoor play per day unless weather conditions and/or air quality pose as a health risk.

For more information please contact our Preschool Director, Diana Borjas at dborjas@smvymca.org or by phone (805) 937-8521.

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday
7:00am – 6:00pm