YMCA is stepping up and helping parents on Election Day. When it's time to vote on Nov. 8, select YMCA sites across America will be offering child care services for free to ensure that parents can do their civic duty without worrying about where to leave their little ones.
YMCA dubs its initiative as Zoe's Kids Day Out, which is a spinoff of its Zoe For President campaign. On this day, parents can drop off their children from the ages of six months to 11-years-old at the YMCA center before they head to the polls.
"The Y's hope is that Zoe's Kids Day Out initiative enables those parents and caregivers to exercise their right to vote, and ensures children can spend their time in a safe, nurturing environment," YMCA head Kevin Washington said in statement, according to Huffington Post. The children will be occupying their time with games, arts and crafts, storytelling and other supervised activities at the YMCA, while mom and dad pick out the next American leaders.
YMCA's Child Care program usually has corresponding tuition fees, but this will be waived for Election Day only. Parents who want to take advantage of this opportunity should look up registration details at their community's YMCA chapter before Nov. 8. Depending on the site, hours and guest capacities are expect to vary so booking for a slot is necessary. Parents can check for a YMCA in their neighborhood via the official site.
Some parents, however, might want to bring their children with them at the polling station. As Parent Herald previously reported, Election Day can be great teaching moment especially for older kids who might be interested to see how the voting process works.
Most precincts allow for parents to have children in the booth with them when they cast their vote. But some states might impose a limit on the number of kids, so better check with your local agencies first. The most important thing is to exercise your right to vote on Nov. 8, regardless if you plan on bringing your kids or leaving them at the YMCA.
