Lifesteps, in Brighton Township, provides quality child care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, a preschool readiness program for children 18 months – 3 years old, and developmental preschool for children 3-5 years old. The staff and teachers have years of experience and promote a family partnership to give each child the best start possible.
Lifesteps is also a long-time Keystone STARS provider and has earned 3 stars. The Keystone STARS program is designed to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in our state. How effective is this program? According to a recent study, an amazing 98% of preschoolers in a STAR 3 or 4 program are ready to begin kindergarten at the appropriate time.
I visited the Lifesteps Early Education Center in Friendship Circle (near Friendship Ridge, across the street from Heritage Valley Beaver) recently and was incredibly impressed by the facility! It’s a spacious building with six child care classrooms devoted to early education and organized by age to encourage appropriate learning and play.
Most importantly, Lifesteps provides services to children of all abilities, including those with special needs, in both their child care and preschool programs.
Lifesteps’ curriculum, staff education and learning and development programs continue to be recognized in the region:
- It's the only early education center in Beaver County that’s been chosen to participate in a pilot curriculum called “For Me, for You, for Later” presented by the PNC Bank Grow Up Great program in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Education of Young Children. This will allow Lifesteps to include more staff training and additional educational opportunities for the families who have enrolled their children in the preschool program.
- Lifesteps is a proud provider of the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts preschool program, offering free preschool for qualifying children ages 3 and 4. Pre-K Counts is a high-quality early learning program for children and families who may have challenges due to income, language, and cultural or special needs.
Ages: 6 weeks to 5 years
Hours: Full time and part time. Lifesteps child care is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Cost: Accepts CCIS subsidized care and offers sibling discounts; Starting rate for full and part time are available by calling the program center. Preschool is included at no extra cost.
Preschool
Ages: 3-5 years
Hours: Morning and afternoon sessions. You can choose classes for 2, 3 or 5 days a week.
Curriculum: Promotes physical and intellectual development of each child.
Cost: Starting rate based on number of days enrolled available by calling the program center.
Lifesteps Tour--Clean and Bright!
Both of my kids have been in daycare and have attended preschool programs, so while I’m not an expert, I definitely know what to look for when stepping into a childcare facility. Tracy Plevel, their Supervisor of Community Relations, gave me a tour of the Lifesteps Program Center as she told me about the programs available to kids in our area.
There’s an infant room with every comfort you can imagine for babies, two rooms for 1- and 2-year old toddlers, and several very large classrooms for the older kids, which includes preschool classes. Notice that this picture has an enclosed play loft with a library on the bottom! I’m sure this is a favorite of the kids:
On the day of my visit, the morning preschool class was seated in a u-shape around their teacher, quietly listening to their lessons and only speaking when their hands were up and they were called on by the teacher. They were working on recognizing their names and then lined up during their break.
The children knew what was expected of them, and they were having fun. Children in both the preschool and child care programs learn through play, art, music, and group activities. They also have a new outside playground that conforms to safety standards.
Tracy told me that the curriculum is designed to support social and emotional development. Many of the rooms are set up into learning centers, which are small, self-contained classroom areas that can be used for independent play while teaching children to work on activities together. Here are a few examples:
Free Child Screenings Offered
Once a month, Lifesteps offers Developmental and Autism screenings at the Program Center which are open to enrolled children, as well as the public, ages birth to five. This service is FREE to any family in Beaver County and results are shared with families immediately. Lifesteps also screens on-site with other preschools and other early education providers. This spring, the screening team will start going into school districts to offer a more accessible screening service to the families.
Register now!
Registration for Summer Camp and Fall Preschool begins in March. Enrollment is always open for Child Care. Please call to schedule a tour today or a developmental screening.
Phone: (724) 774-6494
Address: 138 Friendship Circle, Beaver PA, 15009
Website: http://www.lifesteps.net/
Email: info@lifesteps.net
