From left, Landon, Kalani and Caroline play in the Elmo Room at Lifesteps in Butler Township. Lifesteps offers 65 programs and services to county residents from age 6 weeks to senior citizens.

Lifesteps' motto — “Helping along life's journey” — is more than just a few words strung together to attach to its literature.

The organization offers programs and services to county residents, ages 6 weeks and above.

The Lifesteps facility on the corner of New Castle and North Eberhart roads houses the child care and early education programs for infants to children who are 6 years old or entering kindergarten.

Lifesteps currently has 103 babies, toddlers and preschoolers enrolled in the early childhood programs at the Butler Township location.

While those children receive preschool curriculum, Lifesteps also offers PreK Counts for 140 children, ages 3 and 4, at South Butler County School District, satellite facilities in Beaver County and Kittanning in Armstrong County. That service is offered free to families with qualifying incomes.

At the Butler Township location's early childhood department on the building's lower level, curriculum exists even for clients swaddled in receiving blankets or batting at a rattle.

Stacy Slater, vice president of early education at Lifesteps, explained that “infant tummy time” builds large-muscle groups and fine motor skills, both of which are important for succeeding in the first few years of school.

“One of our goals is to help support development from birth,” she said.

Slater, who can be found enthusiastically dancing to “Baby Shark” or soothing a tearful toddler when not in her office, said children with special needs who receive supportive services at Lifesteps are always blended into regular education classrooms.“One third of Lifesteps' kids with an individual education plan (IEP) graduate to kindergarten without one,” Slater said.Cassandra Kokoski, vice president of development at Lifesteps, said she enjoys seeing tiny infants who enter the child care program grow into 5- and 6-year-olds confidently entering kindergarten because of their early support and education.“I've seen kids who are nonverbal when they come in who are verbal by the time they leave the program,” Kokoski said.

The cozy Cookie Monster Room, where infants age 6 weeks to 1 year spend some or all of their weekdays, contains seven cribs, a wall of diapers and wipes, changing tables, infant swings, rocking chairs and soft toys.The youngest clients graduate to one of the three infant/toddler education rooms and then to the five preschool rooms.All rooms are named and the doors posted with illness or allergy alerts, pictures of the teachers or staff in the room, and reminders of upcoming activities.Inside the toddler rooms, cubbies hold the belongings of each of the eight to 10 kids inside. A list of activities by time slot is posted on the wall.“Even the young kids have a very organized day,” Slater said.Circle time often sees the 2-year-olds singing and two half-circle tables provide a space to make a rudimentary craft.The preschool rooms are set up for learning and fun, and also contain a schedule of activities.

A playground outside often sees tots and senior citizens interacting with each other in the summer.The seniors at Lifesteps engage in stimulating activities of their own just upstairs from the early childhood level.The adult day program sees about a dozen senior citizens who are not quite ready for 24-hour care. They spend their weekdays at Lifesteps while their primary caregivers work, run errands or simply take a much-needed break.Some seniors come to the adult day program just for a change of scenery in a medically monitored, safe and relaxed environment.Taking medicines on time, bathing, activities and recreation, a healthy lunch and snacks, and a homey environment are enjoyed by the seniors who participate in the Lifesteps adult day program.Lifesteps also offers Alzheimers care and caregiver support and behavioral support to the county's senior citizens.When the two groups get together in Lifesteps' intergenerational program, love, learning and laughter ensue.The intergenerational program, which has been ongoing at Lifesteps for more than 20 years, includes seasonal themes, LeAnn Fisher, supervisor of adult day health services, told the Eagle earlier this year.“It's helping them to learn to interact with adults and understand their own selves,” Kokoski said.Coming Thursday: Lifesteps Transition Program

Participants of the intergenerational program, Betsy, left, and 4-year-old Nathaniel work on a crafting project at Lifesteps in August.

Clayton, a Lifesteps program member, sits down to lunch with instructor's assistant Stephanie Colosimo.