IN Fox Chapel Area Fall 2017 | Page 56

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT All About Kidz Child Development & Learning Center Setting the foundation for your child’s success T here’s a reason why All About Kidz has had to expand its capacity since opening in 2010. Started by owner Amy Hornyak, All About Kidz was licensed for 33 children. Today, after two expansions and one underway, it now has the capacity for around 130 children, split between two conjoining childcare spaces. The expansion has helped the center enmesh itself with the Fox Chapel Area School District and surrounding schools by preparing area children for the high expectations of the school districts. Another reason why All About Kidz is high on the list of childcare centers in the community is the affordable tuition. Hornyak has kept prices well below chain and franchise childcare facilities because of her personal philosophy of never wanting pricing to be a burden on parents, especially when they are looking for a quality center for their children. Her vision for the childcare facility was, essentially, the culmination of all the attributes she was looking for back when her own children were younger. Hornyak says, “When I was searching for a center, I wasn’t happy with what I saw out there, visually, and how I was seeing the teachers interact with the children. There was also a definite lack of structure; the big piece of the puzzle was missing, so I took that big piece of the puzzle and built my dream. At All About Kidz, we’re well- balanced, with play, learning, and structure starting in our infant classroom all the way through our school-age program. Our goal is to individualize care for each of the children. Our program implements a developmentally appropriate learning curriculum that is responsive to the emerging and changing interests of young children, aligns with the PA Early Learning Standards, and represents a balance of active and play- based learning opportunities.” She adds, “We really focus on the child and what their individual needs are in the classroom and base our curriculum off of that. We believe that children should be able to grow at their own pace in order to develop the capacity to connect with others and become confident in themselves as learners, which will help them to achieve long-term school success.” All About Kidz, which is a Keystone STAR Level 3 center, accepts children from infants through school age. There is a before- and after-school program as well as summer camp for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. All age groups are kept separate, and groups are smaller in number so that the children can get the focus they need from the teachers as well as thrive from a classroom- like atmosphere. “We have one infant room, two 1-year rooms, two 2-year rooms, and an indoor gross motor classroom in one space, and ages 3, 4, Pre-Kindergarten and school age in separate spaces in our adjacent building,” Hornyak explains. “The split of age groups from 54 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Fox Chapel Area toddler to preschool helps individualize the care. Our 23 teachers, most of whom have a degree in the Early Childhood field, specialize in giving each child the attention, love, and affection they need while they discover and explore the world that surrounds them. This also helps them feel well-cared-for and safe while they build a strong foundation for school success. It’s a lot different than what you’d find in an institutional childcare setting. We are definitely a family.” With setting such a positive atmosphere for the children, a track record of success, and constant word-of-mouth recommendations, All About Kidz runs enrollment year-round. Spaces fill up quickly and a waiting list is normal. If you are looking to learn more about All About Kidz and possibly enroll your child, the best advice is to schedule a tour and get on the waiting list as early as possible. All-day programs run from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For working parents, before- and after- school busing from Hartwood Elementary to and from the center is available. For more information on All About Kidz, including the full curriculum, classroom schedules, and to schedule a tour, please visit the website at allaboutkidzcdlc.com. You can also call at 412.767.4217. The center is located at 928 Route 910, Emmerling Plaza, Cheswick, 15024.