Day care philadelphia pa: Find child care and early childhood education | Services

How to find child care in Philadelphia

When South Kensington mother Clare Dych found out she was having a baby in fall 2014, she immediately applied to a waitlist for a beloved preschool in her neighborhood. When did she hear back?

Six years and another child later.

“My oldest had already moved on, so we just replied, ‘Hey, put our second kid on the waitlist,’ ” Dych said of receiving the acceptance email. “I almost died laughing.”

Now, her oldest is in first grade and her youngest is enrolled in PHLpreK, the city’s free pre-kindergarten program. But according to Dych, finding the right childcare for your little one is not always easy in Philly.

“You have such a short time from when you have a baby and when you go back to work after maternity leave,” Dych said. “I had 12 weeks, which I was lucky to have — for some people it’s two weeks. It took us until the end of that time frame to find the right place.”

Finding childcare can be filled with headaches. It’s best to start your search the moment you’re expecting a child and ask people in your community for direct referrals. Facebook groups are another valuable resource that can help connect you to childcare from local parents who have gone through the process. Bottom line: Apply as early as possible.

Shaquanda Thomas, whose daughter is heading into kindergarten soon, said this is exactly how she found childcare. With only a week to find a place for her daughter, she posted to Facebook and a close friend suggested a spot where she took her own child. Thomas visited the childcare center, met the director, and took note of cleanliness (no shoes in the childcare center), healthy meals, cameras and security, and most importantly a curriculum that was on par with public schools.

“I thought the experience was going to be rough — I was kind of skeptical. But, [the director] just made me feel so welcome, like I was talking to my grandmother,” Thomas said.

Dych and Thomas both advise that fancier doesn’t always mean better. Visit the childcare provider and get to know the people and place that will help your child grow.

For the purposes of this guide, “childcare” is considered supervised care for children under age 6 during daytime work and school hours. (If it’s after 3 p.m., it’s usually called “after-school care,” and before 8 a.m., it’s “before-school care” — many of childcare providers provide both at an additional cost.) Here’s how to find before- or after-school care.

We’ve gathered some helpful resources and advice for finding childcare in Philadelphia. Some programs in the city are free and low-cost; others you may have to pay for. But all the tools and resources here will connect you with childcare programs that meet or exceed state requirements.

Key takeaways

• Start early and ask your community. As soon as you know you’re expecting a child, ask folks you know: family, friends, neighbors, schools, churches, and community organizations.
• Be open to all opportunities. See if you’re eligible for free or low-cost childcare provided by the government and use online tools like Compass, Keystone STARS, and national childcare accreditation lists.
• Fancier doesn’t mean better: Dych says: “Obviously you want a place that’s well run, clean, and well maintained. But, we had a school that had a beautiful facility, a smooth tour, and fancy website — and it was not a good experience for us.”
• Ask a lot of questions: How long have teachers worked at this childcare provider? Are they paid well? Do they enjoy working there? 
• Be patient. Finding childcare takes time. 

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What is childcare like in Philly?

There are many childcare providers in Philly to choose from. For kids under 6 years old, there’s day care, preschool, pre-kindergarten (pre-K), childcare centers, and family and group childcare providers, and they’re all different.

1. Preschool and day care focus on providing a safe, clean, and healthy environment for young kids to be supervised and learn foundational education skills (Usually for ages 2 to 4).

2. Pre-K and childcare providers that offer early learning development provide additional education on top of what is offered at preschools and day care that prepare your little one for kindergarten and develop much-needed skills for life (Ages 3 to 5).

How much does childcare cost in Philly?

There are private (more expensive) or public (free or lower-cost) options. You can also choose how many days a week your child goes to care, which will affect the cost.

Parents in Philadelphia currently pay a little over $1,000 a month on average per child for full-time, full-day preschool and pre-K programs.

Childcare options if you don’t have citizenship

Even if you or your child doesn’t have citizenship, you can still apply for childcare programs. There can be restrictions and some providers may ask for more information than others. (For example, you may need to have proof of where you live — like a lease or letter from a landlord.)

Reyna, a Philly mom (who asked that we not use her last name because of her immigration status), went to the Early Learning Resource Center for help. There you will be asked for for information like tax documents and proof of residence, but you shouldn’t need a Social Security Number. You may run into issues with accessing city translation services if you need them.

Be patient, Reyna said. “Education is extremely important, especially at that age. At the end of the day, you may not have a million dollars to leave your child, but you can give them a good education now.”

Finding childcare near me

Start by asking people you know and trust for direct referrals if possible — however, if you don’t know where to start, want to know if you’re eligible for financial assistance, or need specialized supports or language services, here are some organizations that can help:

Early Learning Resource Center

Help with: finding both public and private childcare, finding financial assistance, in-person help

The Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) in Philly (formerly known as Child Care Information Services or CCIS) is a one-stop-shop for finding childcare services in the region. Here you can get referrals and apply to any of the childcare programs listed in this guide and also ones that aren’t. You’ll find out if you are eligible for financial assistance or public childcare programs, and get connected with a childcare provider that fits your needs. Call or visit an ELRC below. philadelphiaelrc18.org, 1-888-461-5437.

ELRC Locations (open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.):

1. Northeast Philly: 2361-2373 Welsh Rd.

2. North Philly: 2816 Germantown Ave.

3. West Philly: 5548 Chestnut St., second floor

Compass

Help with: finding both public and private childcare, finding funding, online tool

Compass is Pennsylvania’s online database for finding and applying to a variety of different services — including childcare. If you have an idea of what you’re looking for, search for programs by hours, rating, type, languages, and financial assistance options. You can also see if you qualify for financial assistance by using their “Do I Qualify” benefits screening. compass.state.pa.us

Great Philly Schools

Help with: info about local providers, help in different languages

This local online tool and knowledge database provides parents with a way to find childcare, view school performance data, and learn how to navigate the childcare system in Philly. The website can also be viewed in nine different languages, including Spanish, Chinese (simplified), and Arabic. It also has a newsletter, which is great for updates: greatphillyschools.org.

Keystone STARS

Help with: Finding ratings

Keystone STARS is a voluntary rating system that childcare providers join to demonstrate that they meet or exceed state standards. Providers are rated on a scale of one to four stars ranking the level of care they provide in terms of health, safety, and children’s early learning development. You can find Keystone STARS-rated childcare providers on Compass or contact your local ELRC.

“Read the state STARS inspection reports! Great resource. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions! Trust your gut — if something seems off, move on.”

Sarah G., South Kensington parent

TIP: Check if a childcare provider is accredited

Nationally recognized accreditation groups have lists of providers that exceed state requirements. These providers are assessed by third-party professionals to make sure that standards are met. You can browse these sites to find spots that go the extra mile in terms of care and education.

• Council on Accreditation (COA)
• National Accreditation Commission (NAC)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Accreditation for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)

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How can I be sure a childcare provider is diverse and inclusive?

Childcare providers should have two policies in place:

1. Inclusion policy: Outlines the provider’s standards for children with diverse needs and how they support them.

2. Cultural and linguistic diversity policy: Outlines the provider’s methods for acknowledging the cultural diversity and differences in language among students, and how they incorporate that into their polices and practices. This includes how they engage with families and the community, as well as, if they provide language access to students whose native language isn’t English.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Does the provider acknowledge cultural celebrations? Do they encourage parents to participate in their child’s education? Can they provide examples of students’ work and accomplishments? These questions can give you a better idea of how the provider incorporates different families’ cultures and identities into the classroom.

TIP: Check local Facebook groups

According to parents we surveyed, Facebook groups can be an excellent way to get directly connected to parents who have gone through this process already. Talking with fellow parents can help you cut out the clutter and find referrals to childcare from people you can trust. Clare Dych, who is a member of Fishtown Mamas, organizes the group’s list of trusted childcare providers — many Facebook groups are ready to answer your questions, she said.

Here are a few local Facebook groups we found in Philly:

• Black Fathers
• Black Mothers
• Germantown Philadelphia Parents And Families Group
• Fishtown Mamas
• Moms of Philadelphia
• Montgomery County Moms
• Northeast Philly Moms
• Philly Family Community
• Philly Mom’s Helping Mom’s
• Philly Moms & Dads
• Philadelphia Parents- Moms, Dads, Step, Foster, +all
• South Jersey Moms Community
• We are Philly Mom’s

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How do I find care for a child with a disability?

There are early learning programs in the city that provide support to children with disabilities, including autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. Before you enroll your child in these early learning programs, your child will need an “early intervention” — an assessment of your child’s needs and skills in order to provide the appropriate supports.

Here’s where you can start the process of early intervention:

Elwyn

Help with: behavioral health assessment, early childhood intervention, and referrals to education

Elwyn is a treatment and support service organization with hundreds of years of experience in the Philly region (literally). They provide assessment of adults and children as well as offer treatments, support, and educational services to help people with disabilities succeed.

Call 215-222-8054, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to speak with an intake coordinator. The call will take 10 minutes and you will schedule an evaluation for your child during that call.

Special Kids Network

Help with: direct referrals to education in your community

SPK is a state-run resource for parents who have children with a disability. You can receive help getting connected to resources — including childcare, education, and other supports — in the community you live in.

Call 1-800-986-4550, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or email [email protected] to get connected to resources.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.

Best Infant Daycare & Child Care in West Philadelphia, Philadelphia

The following West Philadelphia, Philadelphia daycares have immediate availability for infants. Even if a locations does not have current openings for your infant, you can schedule a tour to join the waiting list. Capacity changes on a daily basis and we’ll let you know when a space becomes available!

47 Infant Daycares in West Philadelphia, Philadelphia

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Tumble Tottz LLC Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(267) 651-8131

Welcome to Tumble Tottz LLC Daycare! We offer childcare for families looking to provide their child with a loving and compassionate environm. .. Read More

$174 – $311 / wk

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12:00 am – 11:45 pm

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On Time Daycare Inc

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(503) 773-5465

On Time Daycare Inc is a home daycare that offers childcare programs for nearby families in Philadelphia. The director offers programs for a… Read More

Request price

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AC

Annie Copeland Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(216) 259-8440

Annie Copeland provides childcare for families living in the Philadelphia area. Children engage in play-based, educational activities to hel… Read More

Request price

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EN

Explore N Learn Childcare And Preschool

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(704) 859-2575

Explore N Learn Childcare And Preschool offers safe, loving childcare in the Philadelphia area. Kids learn through curriculum-based, educati… Read More

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AN

Atiya Nelson Fcch Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(313) 251-2259

Atiya Nelson Fcch provides childcare for families living in the Philadelphia area. Children engage in play-based, educational activities to … Read More

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Wanda Mcdowell-Brisbon Family Child Care Home

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(267) 927-3134

Wanda Mcdowell-Brisbon Family Child Care Home offers safe, loving childcare in the Philadelphia area. Kids learn through curriculum-based, e… Read More

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CB

Crawl Bee 4 You Walk Learning Academy Llc Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(216) 259-8440

Crawl Bee 4 You Walk Learning Academy Llc is a home daycare that offers childcare programs for nearby families in Philadelphia. The director… Read More

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Brag Learning Academy Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(757) 300-5744

Brag Learning Academy provides childcare for families living in the Philadelphia area. Children engage in play-based, educational activities… Read More

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MA

Malia And Friends Family Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(928) 218-5745

Malia And Friends Family Daycare offers safe, loving childcare in the Philadelphia area. Kids learn through curriculum-based, educational ac… Read More

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VT

Vickeys Tiny Tots Llc Daycare

Daycare in
Philadelphia, PA

(312) 598-1767

Vickeys Tiny Tots Llc is a home daycare that offers childcare programs for nearby families in Philadelphia. The director offers programs … Read More

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“Magic Gardens” Philadelphia – ed_glezin — LiveJournal

“I use art like a spider my web, lure people and change their worldview, feelings, dreams” Isaiah Zagar

On one of the streets of Philadelphia -South Street, there is a rather unusual house ,

completely covered with a mosaic of pieces of glass and broken tiles, and the courtyard of the house is a real labyrinth, with arched entrances, grottoes, stairs and terraces. The feelings of visitors are different – surprise, admiration, shock, and some may have rejection, hostility. But let’s take a walk and see what’s there…

This mosaic complex, the so-called “Magic Gardens”, was created by the visionary American artist Isaiah Zagar. Isaiah Zagar was born in 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, and from childhood he was fond of creativity, and often painted everything that came to hand, whether it was a table, a refrigerator or even a ceiling. After high school, he entered an art college and received a bachelor’s degree in painting and graphics in 1960.

Even in his youth, the artist was fond of the so-called outsider art, naive art and primitivism. Isaiah traveled a lot, lived in Peru, but eventually returned to America and settled in Philadelphia. Critics have not always favorably treated the work of Isaiah Zagara, as well as all marginal or outsider art. Describing his work, the artist often joked: “Not a single museum was ready to show my works, why did I put them on public display myself. ”

Finally, in 1994, Isaiah Zagar took possession of several buildings and their yard, and began working on the most important project of his life. It took the artist 14 years to turn his fantastic idea into reality.

While working on “Magic Gardens”, the master literally fenced himself off from the outside world. At the very beginning of the work, he designed a massive fence to protect his offspring from unnecessary debris and robbers. Then he began to create a unique landscape of the labyrinth garden: he dug grottoes, built additional sheds, dug tunnels, and constructed multi-layered walls. When the preparatory work was completed, the artist began to cover the entire space with mosaics, both outside and inside the building.

In the end, the master did not leave a single empty space. Mosaic, sculpture, painting, words laid out from pieces, funny figurines, homemade furniture, stairs and arches – all this covers the internal galleries and labyrinth. Almost everywhere: on the ceiling, underfoot, on the walls, everything sparkles, shimmers in different colors. Getting into this mysterious world, one gets the feeling that one is inside a richly inlaid box.

In 2008, the master finished work on his masterpiece. So the small mosaic world of Isaiah Zagara was born.
For work, the master used almost everything that came to hand. It could be old ceramic dishes, various kitchen utensils, broken glass, bottoms from colored bottles, beautiful decorative Chinese dishes, various crafts, and even objects completely unsuitable for mosaics.

A rather unusual item is a chandelier made from bicycle parts, old tools and other rusty debris.

Sometimes images are accompanied by various statements, also made of stone or ceramics. One of these sayings reads: “I built this sanctuary to be inhabited by my ideas and my fantasies.”

Excursions, performances, holidays are organized in the museum. For example, several times a year the museum is open late in the evening for romantic dates. On these evenings, old films are shown in the labyrinth and guests are treated to wine.

Source: https://ru-travel.livejournal.com/32182049.html

Philadelphia Magic Gardens.

Tags: Philadelphia

Notebooks issued at the school “monitored” students

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In the US, a school district monitored its students for 2 years using cameras built into school-issued laptops. During this time, the computer tracking program managed to take 56,000 photographs of schoolchildren.

In the US, a school district monitored its students for 2 years using cameras built into school-issued laptops. During this time, the computer tracking program managed to take 56,000 photographs of schoolchildren. The educational district of Lower Merion in Philadelphia, which started surveillance, decided not to bring the scandalous case to court and pay more than half a million dollars in lawsuits. For details – Elena Sokolova, own correspondent of radio “Vesti FM” in the USA.

Sokolova: The big brother of total surveillance has reached the American school. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lower Merion school officials have admitted to actually monitoring their own students using the webcams of laptops provided by the school.

Lower Merion, a prestigious school district, is famous for its good public schools. 8 months ago, in February 2010, Blake Robinson, an 11th grade student at Khariton School, filed a lawsuit against the school for invasion of privacy and illegal surveillance using a camera built into his computer as standard. The laptop was issued to Blake Robinson at the school, as were 2,300 other students in the area’s two high school schools – from 912 each for daily classroom work. But the issued computers were allowed to take home.

A special program was built into the computers to track the location of the laptop in case of loss, but the school administration did not tell the students anything about the built-in anti-theft program. This program allowed not only to see in real time the owner of the computer, but also everything that happened on the computer screen.

The Robinson family found out about the surveillance program by accident – when the school’s vice principal, speaking one of the controversial issues, presented a photo that was obviously taken using the camera built into the laptop. After that, the school administration began to give vague explanations why they activated the tracking system – after all, Robinsn’s laptop never disappeared. The eleventh-grader and his parents immediately hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit, accusing the school of several hundred secret photographs, including a sleeping teenager.

The Lower Merion School District immediately shut down the tracking program, fired the 2 technicians working on the program, apologized to the students, and hired their own team of lawyers and computer scientists to investigate the incident.

They found out that the surveillance was not carried out on purpose, but at the same time, over 2 years, the program managed to take 56,000 photos, including 40 students who were constantly monitored, whose laptop took pictures of the owners every 15 minutes. These facts raised a great wave of indignation among parents and students and sharply raised the issue of privacy.

In the summer of 2010, another student, a 12th grade graduate, filed a similar lawsuit, and only this week, after long rebuttals, the Lower Merion School District decided to reach a settlement and not bring the case to a public hearing.