From left, Andrea Walker and Debbi Lucci talk about Cranberry's Early Learning Center during the open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

It’s never too early to start thinking about preschool, as is the case with Andrea and Ben Walker of Zelienople, who just signed up their 2-year-old daughter, Stella, for preschool at the Cranberry Township Early Learning Center.

“It’s a huge decision to find a place that feels good to the adult and the child,” Andrea said. “We want a place where everybody feels good.”

Stella will be one of more than 150 children attending preschool at the state-certified learning center next fall.

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the Early Learning Center at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center at 2525 Rochester Road opened its doors to parents of preschool-age children. The open house allowed families a chance to tour the facility, meet with staff and ask questions about the different programs offered by the publicly funded center.

Kindergarten-prep teacher Jenn Steele has been with the Early Learning Center for more than a decade. She said the open house was a chance to meet new parents and “show off the facilities” of the preschool.

Steele teaches a five-day-a-week program that helps preschoolers develop skills for kindergarten.

“My class is academically based,” said Steele. “It gets kids exposed to routines and procedures that they would be exposed to in kindergarten.”

The center includes advanced security and sanitation features, an in-house library and a full-size gymnasium, according to the preschool’s website.

The center offers programs students aged 2 1/2 years to 5 years.

Tuition is payable on a monthly basis and the early learning center offers discounts to Cranberry residents and siblings. The center also offers midyear registrations when available.

Students are accepted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis with an available waitlist.

Stella Walker, 2, investigates the selection of toys during the Cranberry Township Early Learning Center's open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Ben Walker plays with his daughter, Stella, 2, during the Cranberry Township Early Learning Center's open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

From left, Debbie Lucci and Andrea Walker discuss Cranberry's Early Learning Center, while Ben Walker and Stella Walker, 2, play in the background during an open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Debbie Lucci, right, talks with Ben and Andrea Walker and their daughter, Stella, 2, about prekindergarten during the Early Learning Center's open house at Cranberry Township Municipal Center on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Andrea Walker plays with her daughter, Stella, 2, during Cranberry Township Early Learning Center's open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Stella Walker, 2, investigates the selection of toys during Cranberry Township Early Learning Center's open house Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Debbie Lucci, right, talks about the Cranberry Township Early Learning Center, while Andrea Walker holds her daughter's hand during the center's open house at Cranberry Township Municipal Center on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle