Military child care offered

The Watertown Family YMCA has begun to offer respite care for military parents looking to reconnect with each another.

Rebecca L. Reed, the Y's outreach branch director, said the Y will receive unspecified reimbursement through the Department of Defense to host monthly "Military Parents Night Out" child-care respite service for children 6 weeks to 11 years old.

"We're filling up every time," she said.

Up to 50 children can be accommodated at once, Mrs. Reed said. The program began last month. This month's Nights Out will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m. today and May 13 at the Fairgrounds YMCA, 585 Rand Drive.

Activities will include gymnastics, arts and crafts, basketball, soccer, music playing and gym games. Snacks will be provided.

Mrs. Reed said the respite program is geared toward a parent who has a military spouse who is about to deploy, or who is on rest and relaxation leave.

Parents also don't have to be at the Y, unlike with the regular child watch program.

Mrs. Reed said the Y is supportive of military families, and shows its appreciation by hosting events such as the Nights Out. The downtown Y, Washington Street, also offers two hours of free child care a week to parents who have a deployed military spouse or a military spouse in training.

Military identification is required to register. For more information, including future times, dates and locations of more Nights Out, call YMCA Project Strong Communities at 755-2016.