We had two children here for two years and pulled them out after feeling unimpressed and…read moredisenchanted with the administration throughout that time. The owners and administrators run this center like it is any old business, they do not appear to have any real interest in creating a nurturing environment that allows kids to thrive. Their sole focus is keeping the classrooms full. This disconnect is hard to escape. As just one example, a number of families pulled their kids out at the same time in the fall of 2022 (at least 6, including ours), and I don't believe they asked a single family why they chose to leave. They definitely did not ask us. As long as they have a wait list to pull from, it does not seem to matter whether or how they could serve their kids or staff better. It's truly disheartening. That said, we are forever grateful for some wonderful teachers who are trying their best to do right by the kids. This, despite a lack of internal support that was so bad that many of them vocalized their frustration to parents. It only seemed to be getting worse the longer we were there. If you can find care elsewhere, do it.

Our son has been there for 2 years and we've had a really wonderful experience! As he's gotten…read moreolder, it has become more obvious that he takes his learnings home with him. Every week, the classroom teacher provides us with a curriculum for the next week. I love to see how they make age appropriate lessons and integrate that with play-based learning. He has such a great time when he's at school and I think it has been really great for his development

I was raised in traditional schools and had no prior experience with the Montessori approach, so I…read morewasn't sure what to expect when we first joined Chiaravalle Montessori. But after four years at the school, I can confidently say that I am amazed by how effective this method is and how well it supports my child's individual growth. Our child is now in kindergarten, and one of the things that continues to impress me is the sophistication of the curriculum. Every day, he brings home work that I would have been doing in second or third grade--adding and subtracting fractions, solving word problems, and even working with four-digit multiplication. The school's approach really allows children to progress (and f accelerate) at their own pace. It's incredible to see how engaged and excited he is about learning. Even more importantly, he is thrilled to go to school each morning. Knowing that he wakes up eager to learn and be part of his classroom community speaks volumes about the environment Chiaravalle has created. Another standout aspect of Chiaravalle is the extraordinary educators. Over the past four years, our child has had three different classroom teachers, and every single one has been a true education professional, deeply dedicated to their students. They don't just teach; they observe, adapt, and create a learning experience that meets each child where they are. Their ability to recognize strengths and nurture individual potential is remarkable. Beyond academics, Chiaravalle is an incredibly close-knit and welcoming community. The relationships our child has built--with peers, teachers, and other families--are meaningful. It's a place where children are treated with dignity, encouraged to explore, and supported in becoming confident, engaged learners. We truly believe that Chiaravalle is giving our child the best foundation--not just academically but socially and emotionally as well. We feel incredibly grateful to be part of this school.

My son transferred to Chiaravalle during the fifth grade because his learning style wasn't…read morewell-suited for public school. His math scores were lagging and didn't improve despite trying things like teacher conferences and outside tutoring. After visiting Chiaravalle, my son was immediately attracted to the welcoming community and the modern Montessori learning approach, where students are allowed, encouraged, and trained to take responsibility for their own learning and community. He still doesn't love math (Chiaravalle can't perform miracles!) but he's back on track with what he needs to know and has much more confidence about his math aptitude. He's also learning tons of other great stuff--not just academics but also leadership skills (and the resilience needed to be a good leader) as well as executive functioning skills like how to keep up with his assignments and plan his own work schedule. He's in seventh grade now and in middle school they are doing such a great job getting him ready for ETHS. He's a social, outgoing person and we were not sure how he would do with the smaller class sizes. This turned out to be no problem, especially because students of different grades work together. He's friends with students who are a year older and a year younger than he is, in a way that I think would not be the case in public school. Overall, Sending him to Chiaravalle significantly and positively changed the trajectory of his education and development.

Skokie Montessori School has been such a gift to our family. Our son started at SMS at age 2.5…read moreafter a rough start at a different program, and we have been so impressed at how smoothly he adapted to the environment here. The care the teachers put into creating and maintaining a peaceful and orderly atmosphere has made all the difference for him. It has been clear from the start that Ms. Jackie, Ms. Adela, and Ms. Kit are incredibly invested in their students and the quality of the program. Our son quickly developed trust in the environment and the adults in the building, and as a result has been able to come out of his shell and find much joy and engagement in the classroom - on the weekends he even asks to go to school! We have watched our son's ability to concentrate deeply, recognize boundaries, and engage in positive social interactions take a big leap since he started attending SMS. At home, he practices many of the independent skills that are reinforced in the classroom: hanging up his clothes and materials, clearing his place at the table, taking initiative to clean up after spills, etc. We consider ourselves so lucky to have found this school and can't recommend it enough.

This school has been instrumental in the development of our kids. For those unfamiliar with the…read moreMontessori way like we were, we are now firm believers that this philosophy has set our children up for success in more ways than just in the classroom. Montessori emphasizes independence and order in a nurturing environment, which is especially essential during ages 2-5 years old. This particular school has a toddler classroom (2-3 year olds), 2 preschool classrooms (3-6 year olds), and an elementary classroom (6-12 year olds). Montessori mixes age groups so the child has the opportunity to be both a student and "teacher" to their peers. This is a unique opportunity unavailable at other daycares, preschools, or public schools. We felt it has challenged our children above their "grade level" by being able to see what older children are doing, and one of the main reasons why they are thriving. It also taught them how to help others in need. One of the misconceptions about Montessori is that children won't be well rounded if they only do what interests them; however, SMS ensures they're exposed to various materials in the classroom. Basically, the teacher caters each student's curriculum differently, while also teaching lessons in small groups. For 3-6 year olds and elementary, there's a progress report at the end of the school year on focus areas like personal development, motor development, work skills, math, language, art, practical life, sensorial, etc. For the toddlers, they are "playing" while learning at the same time. Each Montessori work/material serves a purpose! There are also two parent/teacher conferences each year available for all students. SMS is a small school with a clean, calm, family-feel environment. A hot daily lunch is included in tuition, but they also allow lunch brought from home if your child has a restrictive diet. Their current hours are 7:30 - 5:30, and the pricing differs. The staff is accessible via email and phone, and you can personally speak to the teachers at the end of the day. They do not have an app for pictures or that tracks everything your child does in a day, but the positive side is that the teacher is paying more attention to your child instead of being on a device. Also, they follow a school calendar year (2-week winter break, 1-week spring break, etc), which also allows time for the teachers to get well-deserved breaks as well. In the several years we've been with the school, there have been zero teacher turnover in the main teachers! We toured 5 different daycares, and SMS was the least chaotic, cleanest, and the teachers were the happiest, most patient, and nurturing. Overall, we have nothing but praise for SMS and the teachers!

Northbrook Montessori has been the best place for our family! From the moment we walked in we felt…read morethe warmth and welcoming atmosphere. The teachers in the infant room are wonderful and I can see the growth in my daughter. It's great to see her smiling face every time we walk through the doors in the morning and she's always so happy when we arrive to pick her up. Thank you to everyone at NBMS! So happy with our choice in care for our daughter!

I highly recommend Northbrook Montessori School. I can't say enough positive things about this…read moreschool and the staff. I started my daughter in the infant room when she was 6 months old and the staff was immediately so welcoming. They send daily updates and pictures and are always doing fun activities with the infants. My daughter starts laughing and giggling with excitement every morning when we get in the car until we enter the classroom. I can truly tell she absolutely loves going and loves seeing the teachers every day. I don't think you can find a better place to start your baby!

We are extremely happy with Childtim-Evanston. From the very beginning, the staff has been…read moreabsolutely incredible--professional, attentive, and genuinely caring. It gives us such peace of mind knowing our 18month old is in a safe, nurturing, and loving environment every single day. Our daughter transitioned from the infant class with Ms. Party and Ms. Kiyah! They were both excellent, it was a difficult transition for me, being unsure what my daughter's experience will be in the Toddler room with new teachers. However, I found that she was extremely happy every morning during drop off and ran to her teachers arms. The teachers (Mrs. Parlina, Alina, and Keyorah) go above and beyond to make each child feel special and supported. They create a warm atmosphere where learning feels fun and natural, and it's clear they truly care about every child's development and happiness. Our 3 year old son also attends preschool/camp here during school breaks, and his experience has been just as wonderful. He looked forward to going, which says everything about the positive and engaging environment they provide. His teachers Mrs Maya was great! Ms. Osiana has been fantastic. Amazing staff overall. I highly recommend Childtime- Evanston to any family looking for exceptional care, dedicated staff, and a place where children truly thrive.

REAL MOM REVIEW! I'm a true helicopter parent. but when I say I'm happy I am happy! My son just…read morestarted at the Childtime in Evaston and the transition was so easy the staff in the Preschool and PreK classroom have been amazing with his transition . I am so happy I followed my first mind and choose this location. The diversity in teachers, the super smiley director, who told me straight up I don't sit at the desk I love being in the classroom rocked my world! But that's not everything it was seeing happy babies walk out the infant classroom and parents of children all ages stopping to talk and listen to the teachers that let me know we could not have chosen a better location. the center needs some cosmetic work it gives a nostalgic vibe with modern day education for young children.

Our 2 year old started at Kids' Work last year after we switched from another local center. Our…read moreprevious daycare was fine--our son was safe and cared for, but we felt he wasn't getting enough mental stimulation, and our interactions with staff were inconsistent. Once we started at Kids' Work, we realized what we'd been missing. The staff is incredible. Every person we've met has been friendly, enthusiastic, and genuinely seems happy to be there. You can tell management supports their team because the teachers never seem stressed or burned out. It's comforting to know that positive energy trickles down to the kids too. Our son is always so excited to see his teachers and classmates. Every one of his teachers has been warm and knowledgeable--the kind of people who truly love working with children. Leidy, Dina, and Desire were wonderful in the infant room, and he absolutely adores his current toddler teachers, Sydney, Monica, and Ana. He talks about them constantly. We get consistent, clear communication from his teachers about everything that happens in the classroom. They sincerely celebrate milestones with us, and whenever we face challenges, they are quick to ask questions, troubleshoot, and share tips as appropriate. The curriculum is excellent. Music and Spanish teachers come into the classroom weekly, and every day is full of creative projects and plenty of outside time. The facilities are always clean, organized, and filled with high-quality toys. The admin team has also been incredibly helpful whenever we've had questions or concerns. For example, when we were worried about our son's transition to the toddler room, Lindsey took time to reassure us and share resources to make sure he was ready. Their advice was spot on--he thrived in the new environment immediately. Last but absolutely not least, the level of organization at Kids' Work is impressive. Everything from sick policies to daily classroom schedules is well thought out, clearly communicated, and consistent. Nothing slips through the cracks with this team--and everyone is safer, healthier, and more sane because of it. We feel lucky to have found this place. It's not the cheapest option, but if you're looking for a daycare that genuinely goes the extra mile, this is the one.

We will always be grateful to KidsWork for the impact they had on our son and family for the past 2…read moreyears. From the caring staff to the nurturing environment, our child has grown so much in confidence, independence, and happiness. Knowing our little one was safe, loved, and learning each day gave us a peace of mind that you can't put a price on. Special thanks to Lindsey and Michelle at the front desk for making our son feel important every morning. Also, thank you to a variety of amazing teachers: Ms. Karla, Ms. Tiadora, Ms. Faeth, Mr. Ezra, Ms. Tiana, Ms. Alaina and Ms. Olyvia just to name a few. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And Bear Down.

Swift Child Care has cared for my son for over 3 years. We started when he was 14 months old and…read morenow he's 4 years old. It is a family ran business and they run the facility with a lot of love and care for the children. Although, I am not a member of the Varda family, I always felt like my son and I were a part of a family in the facility. The teachers are all friendly and know a lot about child care and early education. I really enjoyed how they focused on teaching the children to be kind to one another and behave with good manners. They have a very nice music program that my son participated in the the 2 year old class and in preschool. Miss France and Miss Ban were very kind and understanding to my son and family during his hard time transitioning into the preschool classroom. Miss Edna, Laura, and Joanna are very professional and really advocates of early childhood development and care. They even have a cook (Meme) on staff to prepare home cooked meals and snacks with love for the children. They even have a summer camp program which gives parents that must work all year long a piece of mind that there is somewhere that is clean, safe, and caring for their children to be at from 7 am to 6 pm. This is definitely a good childcare center. I have and will recommend Swift Child Care to others with daycare needs in the Skokie/Evanston area.

My 2 yrs son has been going to Swift for 6 months. The facility is very clean, my son is happy when…read moreI drop him off, I get progress reports that I can view online with pictures, and he likes his teacher and classmates. The teachers and staff are kind, welcoming, loving, and helpful. They've provided suggestions on issues or concerns I've had. Overall we are very happy with our decision :)

We had an incredible experience at Cradles. Our time there was relatively short (~13 months)…read morebecause of our living situation and our kids' ages, but it will always hold a special place in our hearts. From the moment I walked in to meet Ronna and tour the facility, I could tell how warm the environment is and how deeply the staff care about the kids and families. The teachers are top-notch, and turnover is remarkably low, which is rare for Chicagoland. For the preschool-age kids, the teachers take their role in preparing children for kindergarten seriously while still making plenty of room for play and fun. The holiday and end-of-year events are among the sweetest around, and there's even a 4th of July parade. The summer schedule is packed with activities that keep kids entertained and learning all season. We can't name everyone, but we'll forever be grateful to Julie, Debbie, Lily, Janet, Ronna, and so many others. We graduated just a couple of months ago and have already been back to visit twice. We loved it there. Cradles truly goes above and beyond. Highly recommend!!

Great staff, great experience for both of my boys. If you want piece of mind and want your child to…read moremake progress, this is the daycare for you. Highly recommended!