Mission & Purpose - Administration & Staff - Accreditation - CDC Handbook 

YMCA mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

The YMCA Child Development Center staff strives to meet age appropriate play experiences in a safe and healthy learning environment in which a child can develop his or her own individual and unique potential socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

The YMCA Child Development Center (CDC) believes the first five years of childhood are the most important in the development of learning.  The YMCA CDC provides a safe, caring, environment with a developmentally age appropriate program to set the foundation for learning experiences. We use the “Whole Child Development” philosophy, which means we provide a day of developmentally appropriate, fun activities where children can develop socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

The motto of the YMCA CDC is “Hands on Learning.” The learning experience is centered on a weekly theme that is used center wide. Children learn by doing, touching, smelling, and experiencing. To help facilitate the child’s learning experience, our classrooms are set up with a print-rich environment with learning centers such as blocks, home living, science, library, dramatic play, writing, and quiet area. The learning experiences are also taken outdoors. Outdoor learning experiences include large motor free play on a large playground, games, sand and water play, science, chalk drawings, paintings and dramatic play. Our staff realize that each child is unique and has different needs and interests. Therefore, the educational program is set up to allow children to develop at his or her own pace and developmental level. When planning play experiences, a child’s age and interests are given full attention.

Providing a caring, nurturing environment also gives each child the opportunity to develop positive self-esteem. We feel a parent interacting in their child’s learning experience is invaluable to the quality of their child’s life, so we welcome parents in our classroom at all times.

The institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  All of the policies are subject to change due to YMCA policies, state childcare licensing requirements and changes in the National Child Care Accreditation Standards with Director’s discretion.

Administration and Staff

Director: Sharbee Heinrichs
Office: YMCA Child Development Center
Address: 1500 Airport Road, Weatherford, OK 73096
Telephone: 580-774-0404
Fax: 580-774-0406 or 580-772-0433
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Accreditation Status

The YMCA Child Development Center has been a THREE-STAR Child Care Facility since June 2009.

The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation was intitially conceived by the National Child Care Association as part of the organization's ongoing efforts to encourage the availability of high quality, affordable child care and early education programs for American families.  The goal National Child Care Association has always endeavored to foster environments that nurture families, where each day is a happy experience and where children can grow and develop normally in a safe and healthy atmosphere of care and acceptance.

CDC Handbook

More information about the CDC, including the fees and policies, are conveniently available in the CDC Handbook (pdf). 

More Information

For more information about the Child Development Center, contact the YMCA CDC by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or telephone (580-774-0404 or 580-772-0202). The Great Plains Family CDC is located at 1500 N Airport Road and the YMCA is located at 1400 N. Airport Road in Weatherford just off I-40 at exit 84.