10 Reasons I Chose Pittsburgh Public Schools Over Day Care

This content has been compensated as part of an Early Childhood Education promotion for Pittsburgh Public Schools. However, all opinions remain my own. #ppsafterschool‍

The decision to put a child in any childcare facility is a decision parents don't come to lightly and must make with careful consideration. Different families have different needs and you have to do your research to determine what is right fo you. For our family, Pittsburgh Public Schools was the obvious choice. It was a quality, cost-effective alternative to daycare that met needs of our family.

Here are the top 10 reasons I chose a Pittsburgh Public School Early Childhood Education program over day care.

Tradition. Some of my fondest memories are from attending Head Start at a Pittsburgh Public School. Pittsburgh Public Schools has a long tradition of providing quality early child education. I wanted my children to be a part of that rich tradition.
Neighborhood Advantage. While there were numerous daycares available near my work place, which is located in a busy Metro, area, I opted to send my kids to PPS center right in our community. This gave them a chance to see familiar sites and faces throughout their day.

Skilled Teachers. I will always value the caliber of teachers my kids had while enrolled in the Early Childhood program at Pittsburgh Public Schools. Apart from being certified, they were also knowledgeable, patient and most of all creative. They really inspired my kids to learn. My little ones were motivated to go to school each day eager to show their teach the very best.
Curriculum. The quality curriculum at Early Childhood Program played a key role in my decision to opt out of daycare. While some daycares do have a curriculum, upon doing research, I found that many of the programs did not focus on Kindergarten readiness. I wanted my children to get a head start and be fully prepared for school. The Pittsburgh Public School Curriculum is uniquely designed to prepare kids for mainstream Kindergarten.
Parental Involvement. In my limited experience with daycares, I always felt like I was doing a drop off and pick up. At PPS, the teachers took the time to tell me about my child’s day and what to expect for the week. If there were issues, they would reach out immediately and we’d work to resolve things as a team.

5. Family Support. I believe in the old adage, it takes a village to raise a child which is why the Family Support Specialist at Pittsburgh Public Schools was such a wonderful resource. Our support specialist helped to keep us informed with other enrichment opportunities for our little one and also helped us with the Kindergarten enrollment process. Daycares don’t typically provide that kind of one on one family support.

Diversity/Cultural Awareness. While it is important that my children to know about their own heritage, I also want them to have a more global understanding of the world out there. Many of the activities in my child’s classroom focused on the world around them and the many ways people are alike, but also some of the ways in which people are different.
Social Skill Development. Social development is a key part of early childhood development. The Early Childhood Education program at Pittsburgh Public Schools did a wonderful job in helping my children to relate and connect with their peers. While we taught manners and etiquette at home, PPS was able to build on that foundation and prepare our kids to be successful beyond preschool. Showing kindness and respect towards others is are essential to being successful in mainstream education.
Cost Effective. As a working parent, trying to meet the cost of a daycare can be a real challenge. On average, it can cost families over $9,000 per year. Pittsburgh Public School’s provides a cost effective alternative. For many families, the programs are free and for there are some scholarships available.

Aftercare support. A lot of parents choose daycares because they typically offer early morning to late evening hours that can accommodate working parents’ schedules. It is important to know that a Family Support Specialist at PPS can help families find aftercare support. Our particular center provided extended hours in partnership with an afterschool program, but we are delighted to announce that aftercare support is now available at several programs around the city.

MORE ABOUT THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

‍Pittsburgh’s Brookline PreK-5, Colfax K-8, Morrow PreK-8, Phillips K-5 and Crescent Early Childhood Centers will all offer after-school programs during the 2013-14 school year from 2:51 to 6:30 p.m. This program will be designed to enrich the learning experience your child gets throughout their school day. Once your child’s regular school day has ended, qualified staff members will work to help students with homework and provide fun and age-appropriate activities until you arrive. The programs also has unique connections with organizations like Gateway to the Arts, Carnegie Science Center and Jump Start to expand on the ideas and concepts your little one is learning every day.

The afterschool program is a great opportunity for families to capitalize on all that Pittsburgh Public Schools have to offer. For more updates on the afterschool program and what’s happening at Pittsburgh Public Schools, follow them on twitter @ppsnews.

The application deadline is Aug. 9 and you can download and print the application at ww.pps.k12.pa.us/earlychildhood. To qualify children should be City of Pittsburgh residents and reach their 3^rd birthday by September 30, 2013.

For more information about the Early Childhood After-School Program, visit the website at http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/Page/3340.