Before the babies were born (and even for a few months afterwards) any time someone would bring up the topic of "preschool" I would try to change the subject. The subject was not my favorite for a few reasons. I hated considering the financial reality - how would we afford a quality program for twins? I was in baby bliss - how could I give up valuable "together time" in their short childhoods? I was in denial - believing that through the magic of pinterest, I could teach them everything they'd ever learn in preschool.
Today I'm speaking as a convert. I've seen the light! After numerous conversations with people whose opinions I trust, and some reading on the subject, I've come to realize that all of my objections truly had feasible solutions. As a parent who wants the absolute best for her children, how could I keep them from something that research proves to be an imperative part of early school success?
As it turns out, Pittsburgh Public Schools agrees with the all the available research that tells us that investing in our early childhood education programs will give us the best "bang for our buck" in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve. Their goal is to help all preschool aged children obtain better school readiness and social competence skills by providing an environment and experiences that cultivate these skills.
The focus on early childhood education programs comes from the very top down with President Barack Obama, in his February 2013 State of the Union address, saying “In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children…studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind.”
So how does a busy family (with multiples or singletons) make it work? With reports showing that only 7% of households have a "stay at home parent," the need for after school care has become a "deal breaker" for families who want to offer the best preschool programs to their children while juggling multiple schedules.
Luckily for Pittsburgh families, Pittsburgh Public Schools has recently announced the launch of their new Afterschool Program to make sure the students enrolled in their Early Childhood Education programs are offered a high quality learning experience, both during and after the traditional school day. Programs will serve students throughout the city at Pittsburgh: Brookline Pre-K - 8, Colfax K-8, Crescent Early Childhood Center, Morrow Pre-K - 8, and Phillips K-5. Children in pre-K through fifth grade we invited to participate. And it's not only about convenience for families. Their afterschool program offers so many benefits to participants! Here's my top five favorite things to consider!
1 - Qualified Instructors and Research Based Curriculum: While I love my teenage babysitter as much as the next girl, she can't provide the meaningful and purposeful activities like Pittsburgh Public School's Afterschool Program will. There's no channel on television that can provide age-appropriate activities in a safe environment either. Appropriate child-adult ratios are maintained to ensure that each child gets the attention they need. I like high standards, and PPS agrees!
2 - FUN for Kids: Lets face it - if the kids are happy, the parents are usually pretty happy too. This program offers amazing opportunities for kids of all ages to have a great time - whether that be little ones practicing gross motor skills through music and dance, or older children participating in enrichment programs with program partners like the Carnegie Science Center or Gateway to the Arts. Parents can be confident that all this fun is had in a safe, reliable supervised environment.
3 - Relationship Building: While having twins does offer my children the benefit of having a built-in playmate, our family believes it's critical that they reach out and build new relationships with their peers as well as with other adults. It was this realization of what I was unable to offer my children in my own home that decidedly led us to the decision that preschool would be an important part of our children's experience. Both in Pittsburgh Public School's Early Childhood day program, as well as in afterschool care, there are abundant opportunities to make new friends, learn to take turns, share, and work together as a team. What an awesome foundation for future relationships to be built upon!
4 - Routine and Structure: Experts believe that young children do best in a predictable and well-ordered environment where they know what to expect. The PPS Afterschool Program provides stability for children whose parents aren't able to be home at the end of the traditional school day. Instead of juggling child care providers and work schedules, families can rest assured that their child has had their needs met with a snack, attention to homework, and plenty of time for fun.
5 - Affordability: Pittsburgh Public Schools' preschool program is offered at no cost for many families and at a reasonable cost for all families within the district. With twins comes double the expenses - a real concern for our family when considering preschool opportunities. For families participating in the PPS Afterschool Program, several pricing packages are available to make the program accessible to all families.
Ready to sign up? The application deadline is August 9, 2013. Applications are available online at www.pps.k12.pa.us/earlychildhood or parents can request a hard copy by calling the Early Childhood Department at 412-325-4291.
