Toddler 2 Assistant Teacher - Downtown

Whatcom Family YMCA; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Whatcom Family YMCA is hiring an Assistant Toddler Teacher in Bellingham, WA. The role supports a Toddler 2 classroom on a full-time, morning schedule, working with a Lead Teacher to deliver play-based learning and early language development.

Responsibilities include supervising children, implementing routines, documenting progress, and engaging with families while maintaining a clean, safe environment and adhering to YMCA policies and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and a high school graduate (or equivalent).
• Experience caring for multiple children ages 1–4 preferred.
• CPR, First Aid (Adult, Infant & Child) certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children and maintain a safe, welcoming classroom.
• Provide a play-based curriculum focused on language development and social-emotional skills.
• Support daily toddler routines: meals, diapering, potty training, and naps.
• Observe children and assist with documentation for assessments and portfolios.
• Build positive relationships with parents and caregivers and communicate progress.
• Keep materials, surfaces, and the classroom clean and organized.
• Follow YMCA policies, licensing requirements, and safety protocols.

Skills

Toddler care

Communication with families

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Details

Job DetailsJob Location: Whatcom Family YMCA - Bellingham, WA 98225Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $19.90 - $20.90 HourlyMillworks YMCA Early Learning Center | Bellingham Waterfront

Full-Time | Monday–Friday | 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Do you love the energy, curiosity, and wonderfully messy world of toddlers? Are you a morning person who enjoys helping little humans learn how to communicate, make friends, explore their world, and become more independent?

Our Millworks YMCA Early Learning Center, located on the Bellingham waterfront, is looking for a full-time Assistant Toddler Teacher to join our Toddler 2 classroom!

Welcome to Toddler 2

Toddler 2 is home to 14 busy, curious children ages 20–30 months, supported by a team of 2–3 teachers throughout the day.

This is a lively classroom where you'll spend your days helping toddlers:

• Build their growing language skills
• Learn how to make friends and be gentle with others
• Explore through play and hands-on activities
• Develop independence and new routines
• Begin potty-training skills
• Navigate all the big feelings that come with being a toddler!

And yes—there will be toddler messes. Lots of them. If you can embrace the chaos, celebrate the small wins, and still find the missing shoe, you might be exactly who we're looking for.

Calling All Morning People!

This position works 6:30 AM–3:00 PM, so we're looking for someone who is ready to greet our earliest families with a smile and help get the classroom off to a great start.

You'll work closely with the Lead Teacher and other classroom teachers in a collaborative, team-teaching environment. Being able to communicate well, take direction, jump in where needed, and receive feedback with an open mind will be important to your success.

What You'll Do

As an Assistant Toddler Teacher, you'll help create a safe, nurturing, engaging environment where toddlers can learn and thrive. You'll:

• Supervise children and help maintain a safe, welcoming classroom.
• Work alongside the Lead Teacher to provide a play-based curriculum focused on language development, social-emotional skills, exploration, and early learning.
• Support daily toddler routines, including meals, diapering, potty training, and naps.
• Help create an engaging classroom environment using early childhood best practices and the ITERS-R environmental rating scale.
• Observe children and assist with documentation for assessments and portfolios.
• Build positive relationships with parents and caregivers and communicate about children's needs and progress.
• Keep classroom materials and surfaces clean, sanitized, organized, and ready for play.
• Administer basic first aid and complete required incident documentation when needed.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, family nights, and program activities.
• Follow YMCA policies, licensing requirements, mandated reporting requirements, and youth protection practices.

What We're Looking For

You could be a great fit if you:

• Have experience caring for multiple children ages 1–4—professional experience is preferred.
• Genuinely enjoy working with toddlers and understand that learning at this age can be joyful, messy, loud, and unpredictable.
• Are organized, dependable, and ready to start your day early.
• Work well as part of a team and are comfortable taking cues and direction from a Lead Teacher.
• Communicate positively with coworkers and families.
• Are open to learning, coaching, and feedback.
• Believe every child deserves to feel safe, supported, included, and valued.

Why Work at the Y?

At the YMCA, you're doing more than working in child care. You're helping children build confidence, relationships, independence, and skills that will stay with them as they grow.

You'll be part of a team committed to creating a place where children and families feel like they belong—and where teachers have the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact every day.

Our Commitment to Equity

Everything we do at the YMCA is based on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, diverse abilities, age, religion, socioeconomic status, or other identities.

Our work focuses on eliminating barriers to access, reducing disparities, providing educational support, supporting working families, and helping grow the next generation of changemakers.

QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS:

Must be 18 years of age or older and a high school graduate (or equivalent).

Previous experience working with children in a developmental setting preferred.

Ability to plan, organize and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.

Previous experience with diverse populations. Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds.

Current CPR (Adult, Infant & Child) and First Aid, AED certifications.

Complete Praesidium Child Abuse prevention training within 15 days of hire.

STARS 30 Hour Childcare Basic Training (Must be completed within 3 months of hire date)

Must have or be in the process of obtaining the following:

• ___ Negative TB Test
• ___ HIV/Bloodborne Pathogen training
• ___ Safe Sleep
• ___ MERIT ID account
• ___ Food Handlers Card
• ___ Cleared Portable Background Check from MERIT
• ___ MMR Immunization Record

Willingness to obtain the ECE initial certificate or equivalent (approximately 12 credits).

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise program activities.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach, and must be able to move around the work environment.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.