The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut is expanding its child care program to support working parents and their students as distance learning gets underway.

The YMCA's Greenknoll Branch in Brookfield is expanding its after-school program to offer all-day care for students.

Organizers say working parents can drop kids off to do their remote learning in a safe and supervised environment.

"We'll help them with their schoolwork," says Sean Turner, director of the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut. "We'll help them get logged in. We'll help support them with their learning as they go through the year because we realize a lot of parents are still working."

Staff will be on hand to support students in their learning and to organize enrichment activities, outdoor play and STEM lessons for the hours outside the virtual classroom.

Officials say no more than 14 kids can be in a group and there will be lots of hand-washing.

YMCA organizers say if we're going to thrive in this new normal, child care is an important hurdle to clear.