Our oldest was at D2D for a little over a year and it was a great experience so when we needed care for our younger child, we thought of them immediately. The teachers are great about sending videos and pictures throughout the day so you can track how your child is doing. They have made some recent upgrades to the space, including a nice large indoor play space and a new library. And I think they take kids outside every day if the weather permits. In terms of price, D2D is comparable to similar child care centers in the area. And the peace of mind you get from knowing that your babies are being taken care of is priceless. read more

Sadly this place has really taken a turn for the worst. Staffing shortages and teacher turnover, poor management, leadership and communication, and many of the beloved teachers being stretched beyond their capacity to provide cover for said poor management and turnover. My daughter started there at 3 months in the baby class, and progressed through 3 rooms, to the 2 year classroom. Ms. Kenecia, Ms. Jackie, Amr, Ms Gladys, and Ms.Charlotte who care for babies up to 2 years are all fantastic. Loving, attentive, caring and communicative. We never had an issue until we arrived at the 2 year old classroom, and experienced two instances of neglect and verbal abuse of our daughter. We addressed the first incident with the director, and a teacher was moved out of the room. Then, we continued to see new teachers in our kids classroom and they'd never introduce themselves and we were never notified. Multiple parents voiced concerns, we started to have teacher bios printed on the doors, but those would not cover the revolving door of additional teachers we'd see every week. Some days we'd drop our daughter off and there was 2 teachers for multiple classrooms at 830a, nearly an hour after they opened. The last straw was another parent alerting us to a teacher yelling at our child outside and telling her to "shut up" and "stop crying" and that "she was the problem." She's 2 years old! We, along with many parents, reached out to the director following this and though she verbally communicated her apology, she did not speak to either the teacher who yelled at my daughter nor the teacher that was present. We've reached out to the regional manager to also voice our concerns but made the decision to pull our daughter out of the school because at this point we are concerned for her wellbeing. Parents beware. read more

D2D is a wonderfully nurturing environment for our two kids, 8mo and 5yo. I'm very thankful that my baby who started at 4m has always received a lot of love and consistent schedules, with loads of updates and pictures from his day via the school's app. Our 5yo had a great opportunity for an extra kindy prep course and I'm encouraged by the ongoing education but also plenty of play she experiences every day. We can't say enough good about the warmth and communication from the school leadership and are thankful to have this daycare so close to home. read more

My son started here at age 3 after being watched by my Mother in Law full time. We searched around for a place that offered part time care (MFW) which is very hard to find and found D2D. I was worried about the transition but he did great and has been going here for almost a year now and we love this school so much! It's not just "daycare" he learns a lot and does many interesting activities throughout the year, they send home his curriculum for the month so we know what he's working on, they provide notes about his day through a secure website that teachers load to from an iPad and we can see pictures of his class through the notes site or the FB page, it's great! As South Loop residents who work in the Loop, the location is great. It is very diverse with well rounded curriculum. The teachers and staff are wonderful and caring and my son's teacher, Ms. Annette, has been there for 19 years! She is wonderful and my son loves her and is also comfortable with any other teacher there. We are going to start sending our 6 month old daughter there in April 2013 as well and know that she too will be safe, well cared for and learn a lot as she grows with the D2D family. I highly recommend D2D! read more

Hands down the best day school. The children are so loved and everyone really cares about your child. We love D2D!

My daughter began attending D2D a few months ago, and so far I could not be happier! When it came time to choose a daycare, my husband and I were most concerned with finding a place that employs fantastic teachers, is centrally located, is safe & secure, and is reasonably priced. D2D satisfies all of our requirements, and then some. The teachers (Miss Jackie is our daughter's teacher) are all certified educators, and it's clear that they care deeply about the kids. Miss Jackie is very communicative and seems to really enjoy her work. The school is in the south loop, and the kids go on walks and field trips quite often. They seem to take advantage of the urban location, and I like that my daughter will experience what Chicago has to offer. She is in the infant program now, but we plan on keeping her at D2D through preschool. And we couldn't be happier about it! So glad to have found this place. read more

I absolutely love the teachers at this school. They genuinely love the children and it is shown in their interactions with each and every one of them. They're like family. Everyone knows my daughter's name, even if they aren't her teacher in her classroom. That is truly special. As a working mom, it is very hard to leave your child in someone else's care but i feel completely comfortable with her at D2D. read more

We are so happy with D2D. Our son, loves his teachers, and Ms. Jeni and Ms. JoAn are so welcoming and are available to answer any questions we may have. Thank you for being the most amazing place ever!! We came to D2D in an urgent situation, I walked in with my 4 month old son, and immediately felt as if I was at home. To see an incredible diverse group of children in every single classroom made my heart smile. My son has been at Detour since Oct. and he smiles as he sees his teachers. The women who care for my son are like mothers to him while I am away. They support me with questions I have and my kid is learning so much from being with his teachers everyday. I can't thank you enough Detour for the amazing experience you are providing my son! read more

An incredible place for a day care. The staff where very attentive to all the kids and helped with the kids development.. Our Son attended from when he was 3 months to 10 Months. Great place! read more

My daughter attended Detour for 2 years starting at 6 months until 2.5 years old. Throughout the years we had consistently fantastic experience with the directors and each of my daughters teachers. All of her teachers were caring, kind and effective in teaching my daughter milestone and age appropriate materials. She loved going to school each day to see her teachers and friends and many times did not want to leave! The directors, Ms Jeni and Audra, take time to get to know all of the children and families and we're always attentive and flexible to our families needs. I highly recommend Detour to any family seeking a nurturing/caring environment with outstanding curriculum. Unfortunately, we moved out of the Chicago area otherwise we would have stayed until my daughter reached kindergarten! Thank you Detour!! read more

I can honestly say that I love this place. Our daughter is now 3 and has been going here for a year. She loves "school" and has made some pretty great friends. the teachers are all fantastic and you can tell they really love the kids. My daughter HAS to go to each classroom when I pick her up to hug all the teachers good bye, it is the cutest thing in the world and you know she wouldn't do that if she wasn't having a blast. She is learning so much as well. It will be tough when it's time to go to real school read more

Excellent school. We have had our 2-year old here for more than 1.5 years, and she loves it, and we love it. The teacher retention program is wonderful, and ALL of the teachers she's had taking care of her since she was 9 mos old are still there. They have an indoor ballpit, large motor skills room with trikes, soft climbing toys and room to play. For activities, our daughter does crafts and art projects, goes on walks to nearby parks or doggy centers. Parking in front of the building for pick up and drop off is never a problem. I highly recommend this daycare for any age!! read more

This is really a fantastic place like all the other reviews say. My kid has been there four months and seems thrilled each time we drop him off. It's definitely a school-like atmosphere with 10 or so kids in a classroom, but they are so personal and friendly. Lots of other teachers know my kid by name throughout the school - everyone seems to work as a team. I see teachers walking around with little groups of kids doing errands, visiting other classrooms, etc. I think they really make an effort to have creative, varied, active play and learning, and to treat teachers with respect and support. I looked at other centers in the neighborhood and none came close (and all were more expensive). I'm grateful for Detours. read more

My daughter has been going to Detour 2 Discovery for almost 2 years. We love it. I was skeptical and wanted to find a reason not to like it when we first started coming here but I have never had a complaint. We also used a nanny prior to daycare and I assumed that I was not going to like the transition. The turnover is low here and we have really appreciated every teacher she has had. She loves going to school every day and it's hard to get her to leave. I have chaperoned on field trips and I have never had a concern for safety. We plan to send our younger daughter to D2D also. read more

There are not enough stars in a five star review for this school. My daughter has been at this school for two years and we have had a wonderful experience here. She came here from a Montessori school close by as she was not happy there. Ms Jeni is very flexible accommodating and understanding... all the staff are incredibly warm and friendly. They take kids for fun trips during the summer time... which my daughter loves. During summer last year they had a sports camp for everyone once a week with one of the best programs in the city. It was a wonderful experience. The kids learning through fun is one of their mottos.. the kids are learning Spanish even mandarin... last year the graduation day all the kids got to perform on stage... Their classes are small.. and they give special attention/care to everyone... They have continual education for all their staff... The founders Ms Jeni and Mr John put a lot of passion, love and thought into this place and it truly shows.. Ms Dorothy, Ms Teresa are one of the best teachers you can have for your little one ... people whom you can trust blindly ..We are moving out of Chicago and can only wish we could find a school as good as a Detour ( I doubt it though ).. Kudos you guys! Keep inspiring us all! read more

We love D2D! After our daughter spent her first two years at home with an amazing nanny, we moved her to D2D based on a referral by a good friend. This was a tough transition for all of us, but the staff at D2D took great care of all of us (parents and tot). They have amazing teachers who really care and love our daughter. I have been thrilled that I haven't seen any teacher-turnover in our daughter's classroom (something I was nervous about). They also maintain a great (low) child-teacher ratio. Our daughter blossomed after starting at D2D. She went from being a shy, quiet little girl to very chatty and socially active. Every day she comes home and teaches us something new---she truly learns a ton from all of the experiences and activities at D2D. The staff is always warm, welcoming, and the center is clean too! They don't charge all kinds of extra fees and their monthly fees are reasonable. And the other families enrolled are so nice and down-to-Earth. Honestly, I am so happy with our experience at D2D. I highly recommend them! Special thanks to Miss Christina, Miss Tricia, Miss Tisha, and Miss Tawana---amazing teachers who have taken such great care of our daughter!! read more

We love Detour. We have been with the Detour family for over three years and have sent both our son and our daughter here. The teachers at Detour have worked with us through every stage of our children's lives. Potty training - done. Pacifier weening - done. Transitions picking up/dropping off - done. With each struggle, the staff has been kind, compassionate and simply amazing. The facility is clean, inviting and conducive to learning. When we arrive each morning, there's always several different activities immediately available to the kids to immerse themselves in. Puzzles, books, trains, sensory table....it really runs the gamut and the kids are genuinely excited to start their day at Detour. They understand the need to have physical play (in large motor and ball pit) as well as more structured time with academic pursuits. Our daughter is now in Kindergarten and I know she was both academically and socially prepared for the next phase in her life with the help of our our Detour family. Our son has about six more months left at Detour and I'm already sad about saying good bye. The staff is fantastic, the leadership is committed and I cannot say enough good things about it. read more

Wouldn't leave my child anywhere else! Literally looked at at least 30 centers in the loop area and nothing came close to the warmth and professionalism I felt here. We were happy and felt lucky each day we dropped off. While the school is one of the oldest (If not the oldest in the loop) it is still a hidden GEM that is found and filled largely through word of mouth. This has kept it unpretentious and special!!!!! read more

My nieces and nephew attended Detour 2 Discovery from 2000-2010 (all diff ages of course)that brother and Sid-in-law raved about it non-stop! And now that their kids have been gone for a school year they still go on and on about how great it was!! At Mother's day mass at old St pats church they were catching up with a bunch of other parents who they knew from day care and they were talking about how when the sermon called on them to think about all those who act "as mothers" they all thought about detour 2 discovery. Two older boys who mustve been like 15 said they still think about how great their daycare was and that the teachers and owners still keep in touch with them on Facebook, and that the owner even sponsored those two boys with alumni scholarships for some summer camp they were attending this year. I was amazed at the impact a daycare had on all these people. I'm getting married in the fall and hope for lots of babies soon....I'm def going to try to go to this school! read more

I love it!! Detour is a top-notch school. I say this as both a parent and an educator. I have three children and my first two went to Detour for 3 years each before they entered kindergarten. Both were extremely well prepared and started reading very early on in kindergarten. Today they are in 1st and 2nd grade and are both doing extremely well...at the top of their class in both reading and math. I credit this success to Detour and the teachers' dedication and excellent teaching techniques. Sadly my youngest child was only able to spend one year at Detour. Then, due to financial difficulties, I had to move her to a more affordable school. The school I moved her to was listed "Top 25 private schools in Chicago" by Chicago Magazine. HA!! If this qualifies as top 25, then that doesn't say much about what Chicago has to offer! This other school ( less than half the cost of Detour) shows me every day how great Detour is. Class sizes are huge (24), and the teachers use very antiquated methods. At Detour all school activities require students to think and therefore learn. Detour doesn't even own TVs (except for security purposes). At the new school....I pick my daughter up and she's either coloring a pre-printed sheet (no thinking required!) or, to my distain....watching TV! Every time I pick my daughter up at her new school I could cry. I so wish she were back at Detour. If you can afford it....do it! It is an excellent, high quality education provided by loving, caring people. read more

Our son has been enrolled at Detour for the past 6 months, and I would highly recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking. The owner is so passionate about her business and the quality of care the kids are receiving. She knows everyone by name, and the teachers all seem equally engaged and committed to building personal relationships with all the students and addressing their individual needs. I can't say enough about how wonderful of a center Detour is. We are moving at the end of the month to another neighborhood too far away to travel back and forth everyday unfortunately, and now that we're looking for a new daycare I'm realizing even more so how truly fantastic Detour is. I wish I could bring Ms. Jeni and all the teachers from our son's classroom with us! You will not be disappointed if this is your choice for quality childcare! read more

At first we were nervous about sending our daughter to daycare as neither my wife or I knew what to expect or what it would be like for our daughter. We evaluated a bunch of daycares in and around downtown Chicago, but we got the best feeling from Detour. We went with our instincts and we couldn't be happier. We've been taking our daughter to Detour for a little over a year and we love it. The care takers and administrators there are friendly, helpful, and love the kids. Our daughter constantly surprises us with things that she's learned at school - she'll come home and point out colors, count to 10, start singing the ABCs, etc. We also believe that the interaction she gets with the kids at school is invaluable. She loves going to school in the morning and always talks about her friends and teachers when she's at home. My wife and I are moving to California this summer, so unfortunately we won't be with them much longer, but we'll really miss them. read more

We've had three kids at Detour. The owners are professional, flexible and very in tune with family needs. Most teachers are warm and helpful, and Detour supports the team's ongoing professional development. The facility doesn't look like much from the outside but the kids love it, especially the large motor area and the ball pit. Detour does a good job of getting the kids outside to nearby parks. Indoors, the skylights provide nice light. The 5:30pm end time was a bit tough for us but overall, we loved Detour and would go back in a heartbeat. We've been at two other South Loop facilities and Detour wins. read more

Our daughter was at Detour from 3 months old until 1.5 years and we absolutely loved it. I cannot say enough about the compassionate teachers and staff, and their dedication to the children's well-being. I think our daughter was happier on the days she attend Detour than on the days she stayed at home! It is such a cheerful and friendly place, and ALL of the teachers knew my daughter by name, not just the ones in her current classroom. The rooms are very spacious, with enclosed walls so the noise is kept down, but they have skylights so they are still light. I was impressed at how much she learned there - beginning words, colors/shapes, but most importantly manners! The children go outside on walks or to parks every day if the weather allows, and there is even a ball pit for the older ones to play in. Best of all, the tuition is cheaper than other comparable places in the south loop. We love Detour and were so sad to have to take our daughter out when we left Chicago!! read more

It has been several years since my children went here but after moving and experiencing much better daycare I thought to share. When we were there we had lots of issues from aggressive teachers who actually pushed my child (I saw it on the camera with a director) to not changing dirty diapers to teachers always absent. In addition, there was a huge chunk of ceiling fell right on the table in front of my child and I was there. The couple of teachers that we loved left. The hours are not very work friendly either. read more

I was lucky enough to find Detour 2 Discovery Day School on Yelp and want to make sure others know how amazing this place is. I have a 3 year old and 9 month old at the school, both who have attended since they were 3 months old. The teachers at Detour truly care about and for our children. They are dedicated to seeing them succeed and learn in a fun, welcoming, and supportive environment. My 3 year old already knows all of her letters and numbers and is starting to recognize words. It is all thanks to Detour staff. They have a very low staff turn-over which is an indication to me that the owners/directors support and appreciate their team. I know many families who have moved out of the area but continue to bring their children to Detour because it is so great. We plan to stay as long as possible because I know my kids deserve endless hugs and excitement - and the Detour staff delivers! read more

As a first time mom, at the beginning I was afraid of leaving my son for the first time, Detour made it easier. They have very warming, nice and professional staff. They make you feel very welcoming, in a safe and nice atmosphere. Children learn to be independent. They care about the children, they help the children develop in many areas such as academic, social and physical. Every day if the weather is nice they take them to the park/playground or for a walk. The have this program KidFit where children exercise and learn about their bodies and healthy lifestyles. The classrooms are nice and they even have a ball pit. I will totally recommend Detour. read more

My family and I just relocated to Austin, TX, but we were fortunate enough to spend over a year at D2D starting when our daughter was only 3 months old. We were absolutely spoiled by the experience and I have yet to find a school even close to the quality of D2D and more importantly the staff there. We loved it from the moment we walked in and all of the students were genuinely happy - toddlers and young children can't fake that! There's an excellent student to teacher ratio and I couldn't have asked for a more caring set of teachers in my daughter's first room as well as when she transitioned in June. Ms. Jeni runs an amazing facility and is extremely hands on! My daughter's a very precocious child and they fostered that into positive energy and learning. She was constantly engaged and most importantly she was loved and given the affection and attention that quickly put this new Mommy's mind at ease. It's an amazing community of teachers, staff, parents and kids. I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a daycare in the South Loop or even surrounding neighborhoods. We had several parent friends who made the daily drive from Lakeview b/c it's that good! read more

The review below was clearly written by a ringer! This school is a nightmare. The teachers do not take direction from the parents, most are competely burned out by the incredibly nasty administrator who cannot smile. And the school is closed about 10+ days a year, and you have to pay full tuition, and you do not get a vacation allowance. Just ask for last years schedule! The prices keep going up and you have to pay extra to have your child there the whole day which is only 7:30- 5:30. Once I found my child injured and no one could explain how it happened! It is truly disturbing to have your child come home and mimic how he was yelled at at school. Most everyone that was in my child's class has dropped out as soon as they could find alternate care. Please find another place! read more

My daughter loves it here, and so do we. Everything just works, you know? My gal has learned a ton, and it really shows. I know her teachers care about her, and it also shows. They are very willing to work with you, and seem to be one of the few preschools/daycares in the area that do part-time, which has been handy. I find their prices very reasonable, especially compared with the other local preschools which generally have comparatively worse reviews! We have been nothing but happy, and I wholeheartedly recommend this place for your babes. read more

We have had two of our daughters go through Detour and the 3rd one will be going soon. The girls have loved it! They give us a full report everyday of the activities, walks, books, and fun they have experienced everyday. Our 2nd daughter started out going just 3 days a week, but got so upset when it was NOT her day to go to school, we had to start sending her 5 days a week. They also go on field trips occasionally to places like the library, Millennium park, the Shedd aquarium, and the zoo. We've had a great experience here, and always felt our daughters were in a good learning environment. Check it out if you need daycare in the South Loop. read more

Great staff and facility! Positive environment and smiles all around! Can't go wrong with location and costs. Organized and clean.

My daughter attended here since 6 month till 3 yr. It's a school that feel like home, filled with love, passion, hugs and laughter. Teachers are very caring, and they provide the assurance that kids are in good hands and I can leave for work with peaceful mind. I still remember, when my 6 month old started here, she went on strike for 3 days! Both teachers and school director Ms.Jenni are very considerate and always provide update whenever I call in. It means a lot to the first time mom. Now she is 3 years, and always ask me to leave for work when I drop off. The summer was packed with activities and field trips, and teachers post photos of kid and notes everyday to inform parents about the highlight of the day. In addition, most teachers would proactively communicate to parents about high and lows of the kid during pickup. We did shop around all the dayschool in southloop and we are happy with our choice and would highly recommend to all friends. read more

This is the best daycare in Chicago, hands down. We visited several top daycare centers before choosing this one over 9 years ago for our first child and saved this one for last, because we had heard rave reviews from friends. When you walk into D2D, there is a totally different vibe than at other centers. The teachers and administrators really love the kids, and the kids are happy and nurtured, and look forward to school every morning. We consider the staff to be part of our family. We sent our three kids here all the way through from the infant classroom until they were 3 and left for private preschools, so we were there for almost 9 years. The kids have fond memories of their time there, and we miss it too. Thanks to excellent curriculum and teachers, D2D kids are quite advanced in social skills, speech/vocabulary and general knowledge (alphabet, colors, numbers, writing, even Spanish words) and come into preschool far ahead of peers who attended other daycare centers or stayed home with nannies. (D2D goes up to age 5, but we had to transfer to private school for preschool in order to secure a spot for elementary school, otherwise we would have preferred to stay at D2D thru preschool.) read more

I looked at several daycares for my son and D2D stood out head and shoulders above the rest. I'm so lucky a spot opened up on their waiting list in time. You know what kind of experience your child will get at a daycare by looking at the workers. At D2D, the workers are punctual, professional and most importantly, friendly, smiley and HAPPY! They genuinely love what they do and love the kids in their classrooms. Another telling sign - I checked the Illinois inspections for daycares and you would be shocked how "normal" it is to have multiple citations from cleanliness to adequate staff (I highly recommend a search like this as part of your research - it takes a little digging). Well D2D has never had ANY infractions! This is a testament to how seriously the owners take their business and the safety/happiness of your children. I am a picky first time mother with high standards and I highly recommend D2D! read more