The YMCA, 300 S. Limestone, has a childcare facility that is open through all weather events. But many older children use the gym space at the facility as a warm and safe place to spend their snow days, Weber said.
“We’ve got our staff here, so we can watch the kids, let them play, let them have some fun, but also let them do it in a place where parents know is safe and supervised,” he said.
The problem can worsen in weeks such as last week when schools were out multiple days in a row, said Kristina Ahlstrom, of Springfield. Parents can have trouble finding a childcare provider if they themselves cannot be home to be with their children, she added.
“Luckily I’m a grad student and was able to stay home, but I do know many other people who have that childcare problem,” Ahlstrom said.
Joshua Tolliver, 12, of Springfield, spent his afternoon at the YMCA with his brother and a group of friends. His mother drops them off at the YMCA when school is closed and then goes to work, he said. He enjoys the experience.
“Because we can swim, we can play basketball and play with our friends and stuff like that instead of just staying at home just being lazy,” Tolliver said.
He played basketball and swam to pass the hours of a day that was too cold to spend outside, he said.
On snow days, the YMCA sometimes sees as many at 50 kids like Tolliver and his brother who spend the day in their open gym spaces, Weber said.
“We get a lot of kids that will come in — some of them are members, some of them pay guest pass fees — but they come in, play basketball, do whatever they want with their friends,” he said.
About the Author