The Westfield Area Y offers half-day preschool programs for children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5-years-old. We are located at the Robert & Virginia Bauer Family Branch at 422 East Broad Street in Westfield and at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Avenue in Cranford.  

Programs are led by an experienced and loving staff.  All classrooms are new and designed for exploration and hands-on learning.  The room arrangement includes an art, dramatic play, building, nature and quiet area. Toys and equipment continually vary to meet the needs and interest of each child.

As children arrive each day they have time to play with the toys and enjoy activities in the centers. During this time the classroom teachers work on small group activities to bring the themes alive.  The class schedule offers a balance of active and quiet times, ensuring that transitions are kept to a minimum. Group time includes a daily snack, story, music and movement.  Physical activity is very important to our program.  Each day the children visit the indoor gym or the playground.

Your child’s day may be extended to include an enrichment class.  Parents have a variety of opportunities to become involved in the program.  They may include chaperoning on class trips, reading to the class or sitting on one of our parent committees.

Please visit the links on the left-hand side of this page and below to learn more!

Take a "virtual tour" of our Bauer Branch!

Take a "virtual tour" of our Cranford Preschool!

Click here for our printable preschool brochure (Bauer Branch, Westfield).

Click here for our printable preschool brochure (Cranford).

Our preschools participate in the Healthy U program.  Healthy U is a collaborative partnership between the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey with the goal of combating childhood obesity through nutrition education, physical education and family involvement.

Garwood

Click here for preschool programs at Garwood Family Center Y.