• Kids Zone reservations are required at Midtown. Same day walk-in appointments available if space permits.
• Kids Zone capacity is set at staff discretion. Children under the age of five are not permitted to play in the Midtown Kids Zone Youth Room.
• If your child has an allergy or medical condition that can affect play or a behavioral consideration, you must have a current family information form on file in our childcare area. One form per child.
• Kids Zone reservations are open to members only; please have your YWCA Minneapolis member ID ready to create a reservation log-in when signing up for the first time.
• Kids Zone reservations can be made on our website 3 days in advance and up to 2 hours before the reservation starts. Upon completing your reservation, you will receive an email confirmation.
• We will hold all reservations until 5 minutes after the start of the reservation. Anyone arriving late risks forfeiting their reservation.
• If you do not have a reservation, we will fill any open spaces on a first-come, first-served basis.
• If you cannot make your reservation, please cancel a minimum of 2 hours prior to your reservation start time. You can do this online or by calling YWCA Midtown at 612-215-4360 and leaving a voicemail.
• Three missed reservations in 30 days will result in the temporary suspension of all reservations for 7 days.

If a youth is not on their parent/guardian membership, please follow these procedures below at check in:

• Use a guest pass from the adult membership and follow the procedure or purchase a youth guest pass for $5.
• Once in the facility, the youth will have access to use Kids Zone, attend youth fitness classes (drop-in classes) and enjoy the aquatic center. Please follow all policies in each area.

At six weeks, infants can be added to your family membership and can use the childcare service. Until that time, there are options for your baby:

• Walk Baby in Climate Control: Stroller walkers are welcomed to walk the Midtown track Monday – Friday: 5:30 am – 4:00 pm; and Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 am – noon. For safety, we ask that infants are not carried on the track in any type of carrier.

You must label ALL of your items. Staff at YWCA Midtown do not feed babies.

Safety Policies

• Be prepared to show your member ID card at pick up for easy identification (any picture ID with name can be substituted).
• We are a nut-free zone. Be careful about bringing in products that may be made with or on the same equipment as nut products. You are welcome to bring your own snacks that meet this policy. Please only bring water for a drink.
• Parents must abide by our Exclusion of Sick Children Policy to ensure our space is as healthy as possible. We reserve the right to refuse care if we suspect illness and witness symptoms such as fever, flu symptoms, severe cough and/or a bad runny nose. Please refer to the full Exclusion of Sick Children Policy.
• Socks or shoes must be worn at all times. Bare feet are not allowed.

We strive to create a safe, fun and open space for children. Redirection will be used for children younger than two. Older children will get a set of chances. Staff will try a parent’s plan of discipline, within reason, once communicated.

• First offense: we will inform the child of the expectation
• Second offense: they must sit out and “Take a Break”
• Third offense or after repeated inappropriate behavior: child must be picked up by the parent/guardian

If a child intends to harm someone in any way, and they are aware of their behavior, the child must be picked up by the parent/guardian. If a pattern of behavior arises that affects the well-being of other children, the Youth Coordinator will discuss the situation with the parent, and a break from childcare may be required.

• Parents will be contacted if a crying child cannot be comforted after 5 minutes, or if a child requires more one-on-one attention than staff are able to give them.
• Diaper changes and some restroom help are the parent/guardian responsibility. Please plan accordingly and inform us what stage your child is at. Youth staff will step in, if only minimal restroom help is needed.

Only “comfort” toys that are necessary for your infant or toddler to transition are allowed in our childcare areas. Electronic devices such as cell phones, PSPs, Game Boys and iPads are not permitted.

YWCA Minneapolis reserves the right to change hours of operation, without notice, at the discretion of the management staff.

All children and youth, starting at 6 weeks old, will have to enter the building using their membership card, follow YWCA Minneapolis guest policy or pay the $5 youth guest fee to be admitted into the facility. There is not a separate fee to use our childcare areas.