Finding the right type of childcare to fit your family’s needs is a top priority, and Pittsburgh offers a variety of options for safe, high-quality care. Whether you’re looking for a progressive facility with all the latest technology, or a small daycare with less structure, ask questions to be sure your needs will be met. 

 

Here are some to keep in mind as you begin your search:

 

About the Organization 

  • Is the center licensed by the State of Pennsylvania? Ask to see the center’s license.
  • Has the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited the center?
  • What are the costs and payment policy?
  • Do the fees cover everything or do hidden charges exist that may crop up later? 

 

About the Staff 

  • Has the center run background checks on every staff member?
  • What’s the staff-turnover rate?
  • Do any staff members hold education degrees?
  • What is the staff-to-child ratio?
  • Who is your contact person at the center?
  • Have staff members received CPR training?

 

About the Facility

  • Is the center inspected regularly? When? 
  • Has the center been child proofed?
  • Are doors and windows kept secured?
  • Is the playground fenced in?
  • What is the age range of children at the center? How many years do the children stay at the center?

 

About the Children

  • What are the emergency procedures?
  • Does a written manual explain the emergency procedures for children’s care during an emergency? Who should you contact at the center during an emergency? 
  • Are children supervised while at the center? Are they supervised at nap time? 
  • How and when are children fed?
  • Do staff members handle diapering and toilet training?
  • Do staff members ever take children off site? Where and how?
  • When can parents drop in to observe? What are the latest drop-off and pick up times? What are the penalties if parents fail to observe these times? 

 

Given the many child-care resources in the Greater Pittsburgh area, you’re sure to find one or more to suit your specific needs. Here are some private sources. 

 

KinderCare® (www.kindercare.com) offers a number of day-care programs in 11 locations throughout Greater Pittsburgh. The Infant program helps babies grow, gain mobility, and develop intellectual and social skills. The personal attention and interaction between KinderCare childhood-education teachers and infants promote basic intellectual and social skills. Singing, reading, and talking exemplify behaviors that support development during this critical stage. 

 

Bradford Child Care Services (http://www. earlyeducationpros.org) is one of the largest, non-profit organizations in the United States dedicated solely since 1982 to early care and education of children with 18 schools in Western Pennsylvania. Operating under the name, Tender Care Learning Centers, this organization offers programs that integrate early education with a loving environment. 

 

The Goddard School® for Early Child Development (http://www.goddardschool.com) supports the healthy development of children from six weeks to six years of age at five locations in the Greater Pittsburgh area. The nursery in the Infant Program creates a secure environment for infants, from the sleeping alcove to the rocking chairs where teachers spend time cuddling and talking to the babies to instill trust and provide a healthy early learning environment for movement, exploration, and communication. 

 

Bright Horizons Family Solutions® (www.bright-horizons.com) day care offers three levels of care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at four locations in Greater Pittsburgh. The Great Places for Babies program provides a welcoming environment where infants thrive and grow. The Growing World of Toddlers program makes available hands-on exploration and social interaction to help toddlers learn about the world in a safe and engaging place. The Preschoolers program concentrates on children’s use of language, reasoning, and scientific thinking that enables preschoolers to build a strong, educational foundation. 

 

Feedback from parents is exceedingly positive. Ninety-nine percent of parents with children at Bright Horizons say that their children developed a strong enthusiasm for learning. And 97 percent of parents agree that their children entered school ready to meet the demands of kindergarten or first grade. 

 

Head Start is a pre-school program supported by federal funds through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and state funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

 

This comprehensive, child-development program serves families with children three
to five years of age in the Allegheny County/ Pittsburgh area. Head Start involves parents in getting their children ready for kindergarten. The program makes available individualized educational services in language development, math, science, and social skills. 

 

Early Head Start is another federally-funded, comprehensive program for pregnant women and families with children from birth to three years of age who live in the Allegheny County/ Pittsburgh area. 

 

Additionally, Pre-K Counts is a state-funded, quality, pre-school program for children between the ages of three and five years. Children accepted into this program must
be at least three years old before the date identified by the family’s school district as the kindergarten cut-off date to enroll. 

 

To find out more about Individual Head Start, Early Head Start and Pre-K Counts Programs, log onto http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/earlychildhood.aspx. mg

 

CHILD CARE INFORMATION SERVICES (CCIS) 

Call these numbers for information regarding childcare subsidies, referrals and resources in your area:

Allegheny County

412-261-2273 

Beaver County

724-847-0145 

Butler County

724-285-9431 

Fayette County

724-425-1818 

Washington County

724-228-6969 

Westmoreland County

724-836-4580