Pre-K/Kindergarten/Daycare options (Allentown, Bethlehem: day care, school district, college)

[junebug_77]

We will be moving to the area in a couple of months. I appreciate the advice I've received so far on housing. The next big thing weighing on my mind is child care. My husband and I have pretty demanding schedules. Currently my 5 year old goes to all day Kindergarten and the school has before and after school care, so he is there from 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. My 3 year old daughter's daycare operates from 6a - 6p. Since I will be working in the southern area of Bethlehem/Hellertown area I was curious regarding:
1. Do any of the public schools have all day Kindergarten?
2. If Pre-K is in the public schools, at what age does that start?
3. Do the schools have before and after school programs?
4. Anyone have info on specific rates for in-home or traditional daycare facilities?


I do not know yet exactly what our schedules will be like in PA. Much our issue here is commute, so that won't be a big factor in PA. Thanks all!

[junebug_77]

I should mention that we haven't nailed down exactly what area we want to live in. We'd of course love to be in a great school district, but if the schools are comparable it will probably come down to where the better options are for daycare/Kindergarten.

[toobusytoday]

Saucon Valley just started FDK this year. Southern Lehigh just started a pilot program of full day but it's just two classes and for kids that need extra help, not for parents convenience. I don't know of any public school that has public pre-k except for Allentown and I don't know if that's for all children. There are many private pre-k's around and before and after school child care but it might be hard to get kids in now since the school year has started. Salisbury School District and Parkland also started FDK this year. Parkland is probably a little far out of your commuting range.

[blazerj]

1.I know the NASD has all day KG and I believe Bethlehem Township does. I think that's becoming the norm around here.

2. Never heard of public pre-K, but as mentioned it may exist for certain qualifying people.

3. The private daycares will do pre and post school care.

4. My son was about $900/ month full time at a good/ more expensive day care. I believe you can get pretty good nannys for a minimum of $12-15/ hour.

[toobusytoday]

Good call mentioning the nanny option blazerj. I know a few people that use nanny's and au pairs in my area. Oftentimes a Nanny is a recent college grad who hasn't found a job in her field and will commit to a year or so.