I attended the RPC for 3 years. I wanted to become a member, but finally decided not to put myself…read moreinto what had become for me a negative nourishing environment. I quit attending. At the beginning of one service, I walked over to shake hands with the nearest parisherner, and she said: "I suppose I must shake your hand." Another time, when an elderly woman had fallen from her chair, initial, "M," shoved me out of the way. She proceeded to lift the woman -- who was not hurt -- herself. I used to be a licensed medic. When I tried to speak to her about it, she said she used to work in a nursing home, walked away without an apology. A retired member monopolized any church discussion group I attended. Finally I got tired of hearing about his nuclear family dynamics. I got raised in 4 foster homes and an orphanage, but never used my history to siphon off the life blood of a group. When I went to say hello to a long-time member after service, he deflected my greeting disdainfully. Mercy ministry, pre-school, are all good. But how you treat your neighbor in church on Sunday mornings seems the starting foundation of a thriving church. Whether you are husband and wife with children in hand, or a lone pilgrim, don't hate your neighbor. As one retired, long-time member said to me before I stopped attending, "This church won't be around in five years." Sad for everyone.

My child will be heading off to college this fall, but he started his school experience at the…read moreRiverside Presbyterian Church Preschool and loved it. As a Preschool Committee member, I have seen this program retain the traditions important to the community while evolving to meet the needs of today's littlest students. Play and exploration allow children to learn on their own and with others, bolstering knowledge and social emotional skills, while exposure to a variety of structured activities take advantage of natural curiosity to introduce important academic concepts in the areas of Science, Math, and Language Arts. The staff is well educated and the kind of warm, nurturing people with whom your child will look forward to spending time. RPC Preschool is a special place!

Our child just completed their third and final year at Montessori Children's Community, finishing…read morewith the Kindergarten program -- and what an incredible journey it has been. Today, I watched with immense pride as my 5-year-old stood in front of a room full of parents, children, and teachers to deliver a confident, three-minute presentation on "Castles" -- a topic they researched, wrote about, and presented entirely on their own. This moment perfectly captured the kind of growth MCC fosters -- not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Under the steady guidance of Ms. Rocio and the dedicated MCC team, our child has transformed from a shy, curious preschooler into a self-assured, articulate learner. MCC adheres closely to the Montessori method, and while the environment of independent exploration may take a little adjustment at first, the results are extraordinary. Over time, the children develop deep concentration, intrinsic motivation, and a love of learning. I've seen my child confidently use words like ruminate, tenacious, and paroxysm in writing and conversation. They've explored the life cycle of a moth, practiced addition and multiplication, and developed a genuine enthusiasm for knowledge. Beyond academics, MCC creates a nurturing and joyful community. From field trips and holiday celebrations to visits from local business leaders and sweet traditions like sending postcards to grandparents, the school experience is rich, well-rounded, and deeply personal. The bonds between the students are strong -- they support each other like siblings, and that emotional intelligence translates into real-world confidence. This also extends among the MCC families as well! (Shout out to the PTO and the MNO/DNO activities!) If you're seeking a school that invests deeply in your child's development -- academically, socially, and emotionally -- and a place where your family can plant lasting roots, look no further. Montessori Children's Community is a place where children truly flourish in ways you can't even imagine.

My husband and I feel so lucky to have MCC in our lives to help us care for our three little ones…read more(now 6, 3, and 1). We would not be able to pursue our professional callings while also fulfilling our high standards for family life and child upbringing if we did not have such a trusted support system and partner in place. We not only see MCC as partners in raising our children (they are a great force for instilling positive behaviors and perspectives and growing the individual), but we also learn so much from Ms. Rocio and her staff. They have opened our eyes to a great way to co-exist with children that gives them the guidance they require but in a way that is peaceful, enjoyable, and just plain sensible. We especially value MCC's Parent Education Nights and Parent-Teacher Conferences, which give us new insight every time. The kids have pretty much always been happy to be dropped off at school, which is pretty amazing, and they are growing into amazing little humans. Moreover, MCC's community is larger than the classroom--we love that we really know and spend time with the other families and even teachers; when the kids are brought to school, it feels more like they are off to spend time with their loving extended family, a comforting effect for both us and them.

We have been with ALC 1 for going on 6 years & we love the environment, staff, safety features,…read moreplay area, classrooms and outdoor/garden area. Our boys have everlasting memories thanks to the teachers, support staff, & director. We are truly grateful for the integral part they played in our boys' childhood's. They are well prepared for kindergarten & excited to continue on with art projects & reading when they get home. They are all personable & friendly and will truly love & care for your child while they're there. The app they use gives real time updates & pictures. You will always know what's going on with the detailed communication.

My two year old and infant attend ALC #4 in La Grange Park. We started in April 2023 and have been…read moreSO pleased with our experience. We were transferring from our Lincoln Park daycare and found it to be a very smooth transition. The teachers have been very nurturing and my two year old is genuinely happy walking into school each day to see her teachers and friends. They offer great programming, ample outside time and lots of arts and crafts. My infant just started and I feel very comfortable entrusting her care to the wonderful teachers here. It's a big decision finding the right fit for full day childcare and I am very happy our family found ALC #4.

My son has been attending MCP since of October of 2015 and we feel so lucky to have found it. My…read moreson loves his friends, his teachers, and has found a very secure home away from home. We will truly feel a loss when he starts Kindergarten next year, but I am so grateful that we found a wonderful place with Ms. Funmi and her team for so many years. Hours are very convenient for working parents, plenty of outdoor time is offered when the weather cooperates, and safety and kindness prevail. My son loves his teachers like family. Couldn't ask for more.

Our son started at MCP at 15 mos after we were referred by a friend. We were looking for a daycare…read morecenter that opened before 7am for work reasons, and MCP fit the bill. During our time there, we were really pleased with the care and attention our son received. Our son is now 3 yo. He had 2 amazing years with Ms. Funmi, her staff, and his friends. There was great structure to his days, lots of outside play time, and a lot of laughter whenever I arrived to get him. I'm pretty surprised by that 1 star review, and in my experience, the discipline, diet, and teaching were all great and in compliance with Montessori theory.

PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE! Here is a…read moreshort version of a very traumatic experience! My grandson had pinch marks on his arms for several weeks. Finally he told us that his teacher Ms.P pinched him! Ms.K was seen thru the window gripping my grandson by his shoulders and loudly speaking directly into his face after 30 seconds of his arrival. When questioned about this she denied any wrong doing and went on to say that she dreads the time that my grandson gets dropped off! Asked to see the recordings from the camera for the past 3 weeks. After several days and many lies later we learned from their other location in N.Riverside that the cameras do not work. How is this safe? No cameras? In this current world we live in who in their right mind would leave their young children in a place that does not provide cameras. Ms.P and Ms.K should never be allowed to work with children ever again. The entire staff is extremely uneducated and unprofessional! DCFS has been notified! Please keep your children safe and do patronize Let's Play Daycare on 26Th street in North Riverside.

Saw kids walking down my block with staff, witnessed teachers screaming at the little kids :( I…read moreknow I wouldn't want anyone who I pay and trust to look after my kids to speak to them the way the staff was. Kids learn from what they are taught. Please lets try to do better!

Post Covid I was so hesitant to place my now 27 month old in daycare. I feared not only the virus…read morebut the thought of leaving my son in the hands of a stranger tore my heart into a gazillion pieces. Fast forward---- I finally decided it was time to help my son with his social skills; which were impacted due to Covid. I started researching for daycares in my area. I read reviews after reviews. Then, I came across Little Bright Minds. The reviews were great. I looked at the pictures. Read and re-read their goals and mission. So I made the call. I spoke with Oscar who was so professional. He scheduled me for a visit. When we arrived the first thing I noticed was their Covid protocols posted on the outside door. Hand Sanitizer. This was already a big PLUS. I was greeted by Oscar along with Alicia. This place is MAGICAL. You can smell how clean and sanitize everything is. So organized. Spacious. Alicia- she is truly AMAZING. The most Professional Childcare Provider I have ever came across. Her patience and kind soul is palpable. I was already sold and I had yet to see their curriculum. As I sat and listening to then explain their day to day activities; Alicia allowed my Son to play with the blocks, and cars. They where very thorough in explaining their policies. Their goals. Their expectations. They listened to my concerns and they were willing to accommodate my son. I was so ecstatic to learn that they finally had a space for us. LBM a has been a huge blessing in our lives. My son loves going to daycare. He is thriving and I see such a huge improvement In his social skills, speech, and overall behavior. If you are looking for PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE, GOAL ORIENTED, TEACHING childcare- Little Bright Minds is the answer! Alicia and her team are so so amazing and I'm so lucky to have my son under their care! Daily Updates Healthy Meals Pictures Family Oriented These are just some of the many things that have made my heart so at ease

Little Bright Minds Daycare is a hidden gem! After my wife spent three years at home raising our…read moretwo boys, we were anxious about her returning to work and finding quality care, but the Little Bright Minds family made the transition incredibly smooth. We were immediately impressed by how seriously they take their interview process. They focus on ensuring the children and parents are a perfect fit, which gave us a great deal of confidence and reassurance. Everyone at Little Bright Minds is exceptionally patient and easy to get along with. Thanks to their attentive care, our sons adapted to their new routine much faster than we anticipated. It's amazing to see our boys eager to attend every morning and come home with big smiles. We love the Montessori-based curriculum and the creative activities they provide daily. The arts and crafts they bring home are always great to see! We are truly grateful to have found a place where our kids are safe, growing socially, and genuinely learning. We highly recommend them to any family!

Our 4.5 year old is in her second year at MLA. We are so grateful that she has been able to safely…read morecontinue to grow at school with her friends and teachers during this strange year, adding proper mask wear & care, mindful hand washing, and other health-and-safety focused skills to her practical life toolkit! We don't speak Japanese at home, but we incorporate songs and phrases that she has picked up from school, and we sometimes watch Japanese movies and videos, learning together casually at home. Similarly we don't aggressively augment her learning of letters or math, but instead follow her lead regarding what she is working on and enjoying at school enough that she wants to do it at home, too. It's been wonderful to see her drawings develop naturally, to overhear her speaking with her toys in Japanese, and to know what she means when she wakes us up to say she's "peko peko" every morning. As she's gotten older, we hear more about what she's learning and it is always with such true confidence, contagious enjoyment, and deep understanding: cycles of a pumpkin and a flower, details of different planets and their temperature, and how to cut out a heart (& not waste the folded paper with the outline!). She has always loved to do things her own particular way, which we have encouraged within the boundaries of safety and kindness -- it's clear that her teachers similarly support (and enjoy!) that individuality, while thoughtfully guiding her towards opportunities for growth in herself and collaboration with others. Clearly I could go on forever--we love this hidden gem of a community so much! Thank you, MLA!

We originally chose MLA because it is a dual-language Japanese Montessori school. While already…read morefamiliar with the Montessori approach for learning, what we did not expect was dedication of the school's director, Yoko-sensei, to your child's emotional as well as educational development. We also appreciate how the director is willing to offer-up constructive and honest feedback about your child. Our daughter's other schools were quick to say "she's doing fine" - minimizing amount the personal attention they would have to give. That is certainly not the case with MLA - they go out of their way to address your child's individual needs. MLA is so important to us that when we moved to another city 30 miles away, we chose to commute a total of 90 minutes each day just to keep her there.

Methodist preschool has been a wonderful start to our "school years" for our kids. My son started…read morein PDO when he was 2 1/2. This was the first place he stayed by himself and I felt comfortable bringing him here 1 morning a week to play and interact with other kids while I could run a few errands or go to a doctor's appointment with my other little one. The staff was so warm and friendly that by the time he started 3 year old preschool the other teachers and staff knew him. It was wonderful having him progress and feel comfortable b/c it was in the same building and same faces and routine. Methodist does a friendly drop off system where teachers will come help the kids out of the car. So on those rainy or bad weather days you don't want to get your other younger ones out of the car you can. Most days I walk the kids in to the classrooms. The staff is always nice and says "Hi" to all my kids. I've met a lot of other Mom's this way which is nice when you are new to the neighborhood and have young kids. The Director is extremely friendly and inviting. Once in the preschool the teachers are sweet to all the kids and class sizes are small. The 3 year olds and 4 year old classes both do field trips (with the parents) which is a nice to meet other parents and see the children interact. They also offer a "special guest day" to allow Dads, or grandparents to come see the preschool with the children. The enrichment programs are outstanding. My kids look forward to them, never complain school is too long, and learn amazing stuff. They mix with lots of different kids and teachers. My son has learned a lot of scientific terms and comes home with interesting projects. I'm impressed with the scientific understanding he has and how he can explain it to us. They offer a "lunch bunch" after preschool to link the enrichment programs which makes it a great way to prepare them for "All day kindergarten" in a comfortable environment. We have had a great experience with Methodist and look forward to many more happy years there as our other children grow up

Methodist Preschool is my childrens' home away from home. All four of my daughters have learned to…read morelove school and to love learning in the caring and supportive environment that has been created at Methodist. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the teaching staff, the support personnel and the director. They truly care about the children and it shows on all the smiles of the kids, teachers and parents at pick up and drop off times. Speaking of drop off, you don't even need to leave your car in the morning! They have teachers and support personnel that help your kid out of their car seat and into the front door of the school for you. This is a huge help, especially when you have other little ones in the car with you. My daughters have attended PDO (age 2+, no need to be potty trained!) and the 3's classes and 4's classes in the preschool, so we have been fortunate to experience both the PDO and preschool programs as well as enrichment classes (art and science being some of their favorites!) This school offers so much to kids and has flexible scheduling for families including an early morning bridge program and "lunch bunch." We felt very well prepared for full-day kindergarten after doing preschool-lunch bunch-enrichment days once or twice a week where kids are in school from 8:45-3pm. During winter and spring breaks, my daughters will ask daily "is it time to go to school?" and I have to disappoint them by telling them they have the week off. I think that says it all! This program has been wonderful for our family and I encourage all preschool age families to go and take a tour!

I cannot say enough great things about Rising Stars. My 5yo and almost 2yo have been going there…read morefor about 10 months now. The teachers are all absolutely wonderful and caring. How much my 5yo has learned in 10 months is astonishing. She's reading, writing, can count to almost 100, she has learned some Spanish. This facility truly cares about their children and you can tell they are not just in it for the money. I highly recommend to any parents looking for care. The owner Ms Annie is such a sweet soul and Ms Brenda who coordinates the center is super outgoing. I cannot recommend enough.

My now 5yr old daughter has been with Rising Star for about 3yrs and I can't say how happy and…read morepleased I have been with Rising Star. They are all very loving,caring and most of all patient with my child. They helped with potty training, helped get her out of her covid quarantine shell n be a little less timid. She learned alot of ABC's and numbers and they wld always be on teaching and also having fun for the kids. Always keep u posted on what they doing and eating with thier app.They all very professional and at same time caring. I wld recommend them any time. Yes daycare is a very hard decision now a days, but as scared as I was she made it all these years and Rising Start always helped to keep me at ease that I made the right choice.