Toddler Assistant Teacher

Position: Toddler 2 Assistant Teacher - Downtown
Millworks YMCA Early Learning Center | Bellingham Waterfront Full-Time | Monday–Friday | 6:30 AM–3:00 PMDo 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 DoAs 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…