Where are you located?

We are located in Bethel Park and can provide childcare for families in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, including Bethel Park, Mount Lebanon, Peters Township, South Park, Bridgeville, Upper Saint Clair, Pittsburgh, and other areas of Allegheny County! We are nestled in an established quiet community, but can easily be reached via Washington Road and are ten minutes away from I-79.

What ages do you accept into your Home?

ABC Home provides challenging developmental activities for children aged 4 months to 4 years to provide the care that is needed between when most maternity leaves end and before children start preschool. As soon as your child turns 4 years old, we can help you make connections with the schools that best align with your child’s developmental and academic needs!

You have a pretty tight-knit community of kids already in the house — how will my child be incorporated so they don’t feel like an outcast?

We always focus on being open, inviting, and friendly — staff and kiddos alike! Most children in this age range who are comfortable in an environment are excited to meet new peers and make new friends! Children who are new to an environment usually are more withdrawn until they feel safe. ABC Home does have an interview process to ensure the families connected with our Home hold similar philosophies, goals, and understandings. We’re making a community that involves more than just children, but those connections between families trickle down to the children in our care!

What makes you different from a daycare (other than number of kids and where it is located)?

A Family Child Day Care Home is a care facility governed by the Pennsylvania Code. We raise children of multiple ages together so that children can interact with peers, learn from older children, and learn to be leaders and role models from a young age. ABC Home’s curriculum was also specifically designed using science and self-governing philosophies instead of traditional school-based modules. Since our children are in different developmental stages than those in schools, we focus on building the foundations that will allow children to flourish once they leave our care instead of forcing them prematurely into school-like classrooms.

What Montessori principles do you plan on using?

ABC Home shows children respect for themselves, respect for others, and how to focus on self-awareness in tasks. We have witnessed the changes in children when they are in calm environments and allowed to mimic the things they see their parents do everyday. How often did you play house or games that mimicked being an adult when you were a child? By teaching children through guidance how to do things for themselves from a young age, they get a head start in life, and the confidence from being able to do things on their own will impact their self-esteem into adulthood.

• Our toys are all task-focused and independence-creating — from sorting games, to cause- and-effect, STEM experiments, to task-mimicry and task-completion. From the youngest of the children in our care learning about different textures, to the oldest achieving daily tasks like sweeping and washing vegetables, the actives available to our children all focus on growing their self-esteem through the confidence to explore the world on their own. ABC Home never uses toys as “distractions”, but to teach specific skills that will help children develop cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically.

• We also focus on children feeling safe and secure in their abilities and environments. This includes a period of adjustment time when entering our care, and maintaining routines so they can predict what will happen next in their days. We also monitor each individual child’s development to ensure they progress when they are ready, and are not held back or pushed too quickly to the next stages. We teach children they are capable of handling age-appropriate tasks on their own so they have the confidence to move forward in their lives!

What days are you open?

We are open Monday through Friday, 7:30A-5:30P. Drop-off times and pick-up times are determined by the parents within those hours, but are flexible with each family’s schedule.

Can I pick my days of care or change them if I’m part time?

You can chose either a part time schedule of three days per week, or a full time schedule of five days per week. Part time care can be on the three week days of your choosing, and have flexibility week to week to accommodate modern family life.

What if I don’t need care for 10 hours each day?

ABC Home holds your child’s spot in our Home for the full duration of your days of care. Should a late drop off or early pick up be needed, parents are welcome to do so. Plans suddenly change and you need your day of care after all? No problem! Your child’s spot is not refilled by another child so we will have room in our Home!

What does it mean if I get waitlisted? What is the timeframe for acceptance then look like?

Congratulations on being one step closer to being a part of our ABC Home Family! Once you are on our waiting list for childcare, we will contact you when an opening becomes available. The length of time between openings depends on the number of enrolled students and families, and is unpredictable. As soon as we are notified of an opening for your child, you will be contacted so that we may start the enrollment process!

• Openings are on a first come, first serve basis. Families with children already enrolled in ABC Home may get precedence to allow siblings to be raised together. We strongly believe in creating the bonds between children that they would feel in their own loving homes.

What is the child to caretaker ratio?

ABC Home is designed to balance the social development of children and the individualized care of In-Home childcare options. We only allow five children in our care at one time. The amount of students enrolled on specific days varies, but the maximum ratio is 1:5. There may be days where Assistants and other teachers are in the Home. With our staff of caretakers and volunteers and low enrollment numbers, there may be days where there are more adults than children!

How safe is ABC Home?

Children should never, ever have to worry about safety. As such, safety is always our primary focus. ABC Home is located on a quiet cul-de-sac with extremely low traffic and is currently undergoing renovations to ensure the physical safety and health of each child and staff member is protected. This is a family home — we live here and want to keep all families and extended families that become connected to ABC Home to be as safe as we are.

• The residence is equipped with multiple security devices to monitor every entrance and exit, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and temperature sensors to ensure the most comfortable environment for your child. ABC Home is also cleaned every day, and undergoes professional deep cleans regularly.

• All staff are certified in CPR and First Aid, and regularly go through trainings to keep up to date. CPR Masks and first aid equipment is easily accessible in the Home. All emergency numbers are also posted through the residence to ensure quick access if needed.

• We also have UV air filters that eliminate allergens, dust, pollen, viruses, and bacteria in the air.

Some Definitions:

There are several types of childcare recognized by the government for infant to toddler-aged children: Child Care Centers such as daycares, Family / Friends / Neighbors (FFN), In-Home childcare, and Childcare Homes. This section is to quickly go over each type of childcare and what makes ABC Home exceptional!

Childcare Centers

Childcare centers are in commercial buildings and have larger child to teacher ratios. There are multiple, rotating staff members overseen by a director and may be licensed by the state or they may not hold licensing.

Daycare Centers

Daycares and other childcare centers typically offer extremely structured, classroom-like environments with children segregated into age groups. Studies have shown the social interaction within a center promotes physical development, but hinders vocabulary as children communicate amongst themselves. This is the most “business” like of all childcare options.

Family / Friends / Neighbors (FFN)

FFN options utilize the family’s personal connections, including family and friends, who are exempt from licensing and regulations. These caretakers do not have to meet any government standards for health, safety, or training. The families who choose this care tend to enjoy the personal connection and flexibility in schedules.

In-Home Childcare

In-Home childcare providers are trained and certified professionals such as tutors and nannies. These professionals are not regulated by state governments, but most do hold specialized and certified skill sets. Contracts hold the caretaker and family to higher standards than FFN options while offering flexibility within the security of the home. Studies have shown that personalized attention by professionals increases academic abilities, though the limitations in social situations diminish physical development understandings. This option is generally the most expensive childcare due to the professionalism of the caretaker and one-to-one ratios.

Childcare Home (that’s us!)

A Childcare Home is a childcare facility within a residential home that meets strict state licensing requirements. The ratio of children to caretaker is much smaller than a childcare center, allowing for more personal connections and interactions between the caretakers and children.