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We are located at 1145 King Street West, Hamilton at the corner of King Street West and Haddon Avenue in Westdale.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-6:00pm
Summer Hours (July-August)
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-5:30pm
The Centre provides a play-based, developmentally enriching program for children ages 18 months to 4 years old in an inclusive family-focused facility.
We provide an educational program incorporating the children’s needs and interests. Programming is planned to foster creativity, curiosity, independence, physical activity developing gross and fine motor skills, interaction, communication and respect for others. The program is based on the Ministry’s “How Does Learning Happen” document and the four Foundations of belonging, well-being, expression and engagement.
Our learning stations include:
- dramatic play centre
- sensory bin
- block centre
- creative materials
- library centre
- play-dough centre
- science centre
- gross motor skills
- puzzle centre
- shelf toy centre
- carpentry area
Gathering times and small group activities enhance the program with stories, creative movement, songs, and hands on experiences.
Family engagement is encouraged through special events, the parent committee and our June Picnic.
The Centre is staffed by seven Registered Early Childhood Educators. The daily nutritious snacks are prepared on-site by a full-time cook. The centre also hires 6 McMaster Students as teacher’s assistants through the Ontario Works program on a part-time basis. All program staff have their Early Childhood Education Diplomas, are trained in First Aid and CPR, the Hanen Language program, and the ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale).
The Centre also has a corporate membership to the professional resource centre – ASCY (Affiliated Services for Children and Youth)
The Centre’s first line clients are the children of McMaster undergraduate students. We also accept, on a priority basis, enrollment of children of graduate students, McMaster staff and faculty, and the community at large.
The MSU Child Care Centre application form is available in PDF & Word format by clicking the links below:
Child Care Application Form- Fillable Form
Child Care Application Form- Print & Write
Completed applications can be emailed to: msuchildcare@msu.mcmaster.ca
| FULL-TIME (5 days/wk) | |
| Toddlers | $ 593.02 / month |
| Preschoolers | $ 500.72 / month |
| PART-TIME (3 days/wk) | |
| Toddlers | $ 355.81 / month |
| Preschoolers | $ 300.43 / month |
| PART-TIME (2 days/wk) | |
| Toddlers | $ 237.21 / month |
| Preschoolers | $ 200.29 / month |
Registration Fee: $11.81
Please download our helpful Parent Handbook for new families as well as a reference for current families below:
MSU Childcare Centre Parent Handbook
For translations of this document, please email msuchildcare@msu.mcmaster.ca
The staff of the McMaster Students Union Day Care Centre is frequently complemented by Mohawk College students who are enrolled in Early Childhood Education, who participate in delivering the Centre’s program as part of their field placement. In addition, students looking to work as volunteers at the Centre as part of their co-op in Family Studies Programs or students from McMaster looking to volunteer are always welcomed.
For more information please contact us at: msuchildcare@msu.mcmaster.ca
Note: all volunteers must have a Vulnerable Sector Policy Check done in order to work at the centre.