Operation Little Learners

Operation Little Learners at Armed Services YMCA Hampton Roads is an educational program that acts as a much-needed platform to help support and build confidence in parents in their roles as their child’s first teacher. This program guides and provides tools to parents to enhance key areas of early childhood development and offers an opportunity for parent-child bonding.  This class also provides the setting for both parents and children to make new friendships and feel part of a community, which is critical in the lives of military families. Additionally, parent-child bonding can predict a child’s ability to develop healthy relationships, handle conflicts, and have an overall higher quality of life well into adulthood. The classes provide a variety of activities that enhance cognitive, emotional, social, motor, and other skills of children ages 18 months through 5 years old.

Frequent moves due to military orders are unique stressors of military family life. These moves can come without warning and without control over future location. The move can often cause economic hardships and feelings of isolation. Coupled with potential short-term deployments by the service member, military life can result in the military family feeling untethered without the support of their own family or an established local network to rely upon. Many junior-enlisted active-duty spouses are young, new parents, away from the familiarity of their home community.

This class provides the setting for both parents and children to make new friendships and feel part of a new community. From a physiological and sociological perspective, we know a parent’s bonding with their little one can predict the child’s ability to develop healthy relationships, handle conflicts, and have an overall higher quality of life well into adulthood. As such, the Armed Services YMCA has created Operation Little Learners, which fosters a connection to a community of support, as well as fun and engaging activities to ensure that parents and their child/children learn ways to grow together as a family.

Session G: Little Creek | M & W | 9:30am-11:30am

2156 Wellings Court, Virginia Beach VA, 23455

Session H: Norfolk Point | M & W | 9:30am-11:30am

428 Ingram Loop, Norfolk VA, 23505

Session I: Willoughby Bay | T & Th | 9:30am-11:30am

8180 O’Conner Cres, Norfolk VA 23503

Session A: Larchmont Library | M & W | 11:00am-1:00pm

6525 Terminal Blvd, Norfolk VA, 23508

Session B: JEBLC Library | M & W | 12:15pm-2:15pm

1481 D Street, Building 3016, Fort Story VA, 23511

Session C: Ft Story Library | T & Th | 9:30am-11:30am

Omaha Beach Road, Building 864, Fort Story VA, 23511

Session D: NW Annex Chapel | T & Th | 9:30am-11:30am

3405 Relay Road, Chesapeake VA, 23322

Session E: Ft Eustis Library | T & Th | 9:30am-11:30am

313 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis VA, 23604

Session F: Dam Neck Chapel | T & Th | 9:30am-11:30am

1884 Terrier Ave, Building 503, Virginia Beach VA, 23454

Younger siblings are ALWAYS welcome to join. If you have an older child, they may join us on non-school days or if you have a homeschooler that wants to tag along, please contact the Director to confirm availability. Every head counts, so siblings must register too!

You must be an active-duty military family with a child between the ages of 18mos-5 years.

Unfortunately, no. Our grant funding only covers active-duty military families. We are a military community that faces a unique set of challenges, so we have created a place just for AD families. Veteran families, thank you for your service, however, our group is reserved for active-duty families.

Our Early Education Director, Tessa Davis, will be happy to answer any questions you have.  Tessa can be reached at 757-363-1884 or TDavis@ASYMCA.org