My son has been at LPP for about a year now and LPP is truly fantastic!…read more Prior to enrolling my son, I did a thorough search and visited 5-10 different daycares/preschools before selecting LPP. Every aspect of LPP is very well thought out -- whether it be how they manage food allergies (my son has several) to how they prepare and execute parent teacher conferences to the weekly curriculums to how they retain their staff (teachers sign a year long contract). And most importantly, the teachers really care and know the students. Each day, they send home little notes about what each student did and details of my son that they provide can only captured by listening and knowing him. I know it can be tough to get into but it is absolutely worth it.

We looked far and wide in our search for preschools for our daughter when she was 2-1/2. Since it…read morewas her first school experience, it was really important to us that she love it (we wanted the first associations to be great). There are many great preschools in Chicago, and particularly the Near North Side, where we live. But LPP was really the right choice for us. The space is open and full of light (no windowless tunnels of classrooms, as we saw in lots of schools). The kids go to Lincoln Park, Astor Park, the zoo, or the tot lot every day. There is lots of imaginative play. But most importantly, the teachers are AWESOME. They are young, motivated, passionate about what they do, loving and nurturing. When you walk into the school to drop off or pick up, you just start to feel happy. Everyone is greeted and gets a smile (and the kids get hugs). There is a huge teaching emphasis on positive interactions with others -- sharing, kindness, laughter. Also, attitudinally, the school (and the parents who seem to end up there) is just mellow and sweet. Highly recommend. My daughter has such a great time there, and we've seen her skills and confidence grow in the past year. Of course, it all comes at a price -- but if you can afford it, it's certainly worth it and not out of line with other schools in the area. P.S. If you really want your child here, you may have to do as we did - keep calling back after you are waitlisted to remind them of your interest, and be flexible about your schedule -- days you are willing to come.

We were only at Green Beginnings for 6 months during the brief time we lived in West Town, but GB…read moremade a lasting impact on me and my family! Special thanks to Krissy who did a virtual tour with us via Zoom when we were still living halfway across the country at the time. Once we moved to Chicago, we really appreciated the first few transitional half-days before the official start date. This not only helped ease our child into a new routine, but also eased our minds as well (so helpful as parents who, at the time, were doing childcare for the first time). We loved the community that existed at the center. Krissy and Katie were great at hosting everything from themed events to monthly family gatherings. All the outings were a fun way to meet and connect with other families. Although we're in the Chicago suburbs now and at a different school, we still think back fondly to our time at GB. Thank you for truly being the first place to make us feel at home in Chicagoland!

After 7.5 years, my family just made our final tuition payment at Green Beginnings and I truly…read morebelieve it to be the best money we have spent in the most formative years of our children's lives. For those of you who are new to the daycare search, you have to know Green Beginnings has the best aspects of whatever it is you are looking for. Admirable, Local Ownership . Green Beginnings is a WOMEN-OWNED, local business, fully operated by two incredible ladies - Katie Darcy and Krissy Ramirez. They are compassionate educators (former CPS kindergarten teachers) and contemporary professionals that just genuinely love kids. They run the whole business and when you see Krissy there at 6am every day and Katie there past 6pm every night, you also just see how your money is going to some strong AF, hard-working women who are physically present, emotionally and professionally supporting the staff and families every. single. day. Reliability & Retention But seriously, I swear these women don't take a day off (probably because they know you can't take a day off!). They are reliable and supportive and it shows in how they retain teacher talent for YEARS. Several teachers that cared for my almost 8 year old as an infant are STILL THERE and they are happy and thriving. (For those of you who are new to the daycare search, this is not the normal. Often times, the door on daycares rotates so quickly it's concerning, but not at Green Beginnings). I see the same teachers welcome my son every single morning and he runs to them willingly, always excited about the day ahead. Teachers The teachers are warm and loving, trained in early education, and also excellent communicators. They send thorough email updates once a week that detail all of what your child learned / studied, while not overwhelming you with too much information. Some daycares have an app where they post pictures all day for you, but I think GB is smart and strategic for not doing that. For one, they want the teachers engaging your child instead of pulling out their phone and photographing them. For two, they also want to let you do your job and don't see value in distracting you all day. Routine I have 3 kids and 7 years of sample data with which I can say GB creates kids that are comfortable with schedules and emotionally regulated. The toddlers know how to follow directions and operate many tasks independently before they even turn 2. Very importantly, they also know how to nap. Sustainability The meals/menu at GB are nutritious - organic, sourced locally and filled with variety. (You send their food for the first few months while they're an infant, but after that - all snacks and meals are covered within the tuition). As a result of all the early food exposure, I have some very open-minded eaters that willingly crush fruits and vegetables. Safety, Citizenship & Diversity GB is located on the outskirts of the West Loop, just as you enter West Town. The spot is close enough to the loop to be convenient for downtown commuters, but just far enough outside of the loop to be safe and easy to park. By nature of the location, the surrounding population is truly multicultural and I love that Green Beginnings doesn't shy away. The teachers routinely take the kids on walks around the neighborhood, often over to Union Park to play. I've seen them do it and the way the kids listen to these teachers, cooperate and hold hands is MIND BOGGLING. The staff is so on it they are basically training your toddler in city safety. Doing so makes you child safety-minded citizens when on walks with you too! Front Desk I can't sleep on the administrative support and front desk staff at GB. They are a treasure. Again, the same trusted women have greeted us every day of the 7 years we've gone there; they keep chit chat short, warm and 100% non-judging (and there were LOTS of mornings that merited judgement!). If you need paperwork for taxes or a schedule adjustment - they've got you. They're easy to communicate with and quick to respond to email. Affordability Lastly (and arguably the most valuable detail) - Green Beginnings is affordable and priced correctly. We're moving and, only because of that, I've recently started looking at the price of alternative child care. The GB monthly tuition is comparable to SOME other full time daycares I've researched but lower and more flexible than MANY. Daycare is a huge expense for most families in the city and GB understands that. They run a lean operation to keep the cost accessible while still paying their team well. Inside the window of their office is a little wooden sign that says "little girls with dreams become women of vision" and seeing it everyday reminds me that their commitment to their careers is what has fully allowed me to commit to mine. I'm eternally grateful to them for providing our family this incredible foundation for the last 8 years.

I love this place. My son recently started in the 2's room and I can't say enough about the…read moreteachers Kathy and Emily. Kathy especially has been awesome with transitioning my son (who is VERY clingy) and takes the time to make sure it's the least traumatic experience for everyone. I also see her picking up the children for hugs and kisses on a regular basis which shows me that she really cares about these kids and isn't just checking in and out at a job. Each child has a folder that you check daily for their newsletters (which tell stories of the kids activities, art work, meal planning, etc) and the teachers are very willing to discuss your child if you have questions when you drop them off or pick them up. Everyone that I have encountered here has been wonderful and very sincere, which is so necessary when you're leaving the most important person to you with another person. In addition to the great staff, the kids get to have an awesome experience while they are there (and I see a lot of the kids running into school when their parents are dropping them off). They go on field trips daily to the park, zoo, beach, museum, farmer's markets, etc. They have music class, language class, open play, and educational time. The schedules are flexible and the drop off/pick up parking is a breeze. It's just been a dream for me to have something like LPP for my son and my piece of mind.

Fabulous. Great teachers. Even when it is cold outside, they always take a walk. Fun program and…read morepositive attitude. If you live in Chicago, you should visit this school and see how wonderful it is. All the teachers we had were just amazing.

They take great care of our daughter. Wonderful staff. My daughter is excited to go in the morning…read more The director is the nicest lady, and really gets to know every family. Great choice for daycare in Chicago!

Cornerstone was a wonderful first daycare experience for our son. He started at Cornerstone when he…read morewas just 16 weeks old. We loved his teachers, Ms. Cassandra, Ms. Moya, and Ms. Taniyah! They were so kind and caring and really made our son feel loved and cared for. His face would light up when he saw them each day. We really appreciated getting updates in the app throughout the day on his meals, sleep, and diaper changes along with pictures and videos. We relocated and were definitely sad to leave Cornerstone. I highly recommend Cornerstone to families looking for great child care.

We have had the pleasure of sending all three of our kids here and couldn't be more pleased with…read moreevery aspect of the experience. From the teachers, to the community, to the tradition I would recommend anyone that wants to see their children grow and thrive in a nurturing and fun environment to try and get into this school. When I have had the pleasure of seeing the teachers in action, they all practice what the parenting books I have read preach. The community of families, parents, and alumni is one of our favorite aspects of belonging to this school. LPCNS has been around for nearly a century and thanks to their commitment to care and excellence they will be for a century more.

We had such a great experience here. It was my daughters first school and really installed a love…read moreof school in her. All of her teachers were amazing and they are superstars in her mind- if we bump into them on the street it still makes her day. Besides the great classroom experience it was built the best community for us. I love all my co-op friends. Tip: try for an afternoon class- I originally was skeptical but having the afternoon class allowed for all sorts of after school activities with friends and also left the mornings open for other classes/lessons or lazy mornings

We were at little green treehouse for about a year before we moved. The first two months were a…read morelittle strange with a lot of teacher turnover. Then we got settled with truly the greatest teachers we could've asked for and all was wonderful - our child was so well cared for by these teachers and I felt so comfortable leaving her with them each day. She transitioned to a new classroom right before we moved and we didn't get to know those teachers as well but it was so clear the love & care they treated all the kids in that classroom with as well. The first few months with different teachers set kind of a bad first impression and an awkward tone - our child was sent home multiple times for being sick when she was not (in fact, they sent her home on her first day and she was not allowed to return the next day, because she had "thrown up," even though I had warned she was a huge spitter and to expect this from her). Again eventually we got into a good groove but I didn't love the way management went about things. It felt the teachers were not treated as highly as they should be, or likely paid as well as they should be. The facilities were not what you'd expect for the amount we were paying. And I had to follow up multiple times to get responses on my handful of emails, honestly some of which were just ignored altogether. So teachers, 1000/10, management 1/10.

Our son has been at LGTH for over a year. He started in the infant room and is now a toddler. We've…read morehad nothing but positive experiences with the teachers, especially Nora. They treat the children with so much care and compassion. I'm regularly amazed by new words and skills my son learns at daycare. A major bonus; the teachers are allowed to babysit. We've taken advantage of this with Nora and she now feels like an extension of our family.

Our son started at the Goddard School part-time at 12 months and has since transitioned full time…read more The Goddard School staff has been incredibly supportive of our family and their willingness to accommodate us as we transitioned into daycare for the first time was above and beyond. In addition to their support, our son is growing and learning each day. We are impressed with the amount of continuous exposure he receives to new curriculum, diversity, and care. The Goddard staff has built our trust!

Picking a daycare is one of the most difficult things to do as a new parent. I have to say we are…read moreso unbelievably grateful to have found the Goddard School West Loop. The administration was ready to work with us and support us the moment we stepped in the door. They truly care about our family and ready to help us with any and all questions. The kitchen staff went out of their way to even give us meal plans for home when we weren't sure about serving sizes based on our baby's age. Lastly, the teaching staff. They are truly the most amazing group of people. I feel like I am dropping my girl off with family every day. (Family that is trained and skilled in early child development!) My daughter is loved and being taught important life skills every day. We are beyond blessed to have this village of incredible people on our team!

This school is nothing short of amazing. Security is professional. The staff is friendly, warm and…read moreinviting. The classrooms aren't traditional and feel mail like home away from home. The rooftop is the icing on the cake.

Bennett Day School has quite literally changed the life of my daughter and myself. We joined in 2nd…read moregrade and as a single parent, it was the first time in my life that I felt what it must be like to have a supportive partner. My daughter is eager to go to school every single day and has been for the last 2.5 years. I couldn't be more hopeful about the conscientious, compassionate and curious human beings who will grow out of this school.

Park West is more than just a nursery school, it is a one of a kind welcoming community focused on…read morebuilding meaningful connections between children, teachers, families, caregivers and staff. They believe in the importance of taking the time to build a healthy and trusting relationship between the teacher and child (and parents) and take separation very seriously. The teachers are patient and kind and approachable. They are all extremely knowledgeable and experienced yet continue to research new approaches to teaching. My family is so grateful to be a part of the Park West Community and find a lot of peace with our choice to send our child there. Lucky for us, we got in after the admissions deadline had passed, perhaps a family moved away over the summer and that's how my last minute application was accepted. I was also able to call and schedule an in-person tour. Had I been more on top of things, I would have attended an open house in January and applied by the deadline in early February. The school year started with meet and greets at neighborhood playgrounds, parent potlucks, school block party, and of course parent orientation. I love the open and honest dialogue I have with my child's teachers. My kid has a speech delay and the teachers have been awesome and willing to help understand how he communicates and meet him with where he is at to reduce frustration in the classroom and with his peers. This was a big fear of mine as a first time parent - will the teachers understand my child. And at Park West they really have put in the time to get to know him and work with him. I also love how each family gets to help in the classroom every couple of weeks. It's allowed me to get to know the kids my child calls friends. And see what skills the teachers are focused on teaching. It's been great and something we look forward to. I've seen my child grow over the school year - he's more confident and independent and loves school. It's more than we could have hoped for. I would highly recommend Park West to any family looking for a supportive community committed to respecting children and families, nurturing relationships and sharing a love of learning.

There is no more meaningful an anchor to our community than this nursery school. Modern parenting…read morecan feel like the WILD West, but Park West has given us myriad mechanisms for nurturing our two small children. Our girls have come up through their programs--one in 4AM and in her 3rd year, the other in her first year with PT2. The play-based, yet structured half-days have been exactly the stimulation and social-emotional engagement our daughters have needed to round out their schedules. From free-play, to story-time, to play time with their "Friends" in the gym, they talk about school ALL OF THE TIME when they aren't there. The staff, teachers, and leadership are extremely attentive to our children in this intimate environment. Our daughter's astigmatism was caught--something her optometrist says is rarely uncovered at her young age. The school and classrooms are just gorgeous. It feels good to walk up to this place every day and see our kids running in and out of this beautifully-preserved place. My husband and I often chat about how sweet it will be in years to come as we walk by having so many precious memories attached to such a monument. Really, though, it's the people. This is a co-op, so you're going to put in more time than a place you pay to do everything, but it's what makes this a deep community with multiple points of connection. We assist in the classroom every 5-6 weeks, and it is a highlight of our month. Not many places have this perspective into how your kid experiences school. We have playdates, friends and people we really care about. It's comforting to run into friends you know on the street in a big city--where you have a small place that means so much to your whole family.

Our daughter started at MGP (Lincoln Square location) a little after turning 3 years old. We have…read morehad nothing but positive experiences thus far. We love that each class has a spanish and mandarin teacher and our daughter recently learned to sing a song in Mandarin! Also, the test prep for SEES (Selective Enrollment Exams) has been immensely helpful so far in preparing our daughter. The teachers, principal and entire staff are always accommodating. Top notch Montessori education. Highly recommend!

We've been at MGP for a year and a half and our child is very happy. Any concerns or challenges…read morewe've had have been met with open communication. We really appreciate the access to additional learning and enrichment opportunities, as well as the community there. The teachers are all lovely and knowledgeable and our child has been supported in his development.