The teachers, staff, and the whole school environment are amazing! We love the morning sessions and…read morethe after-school program. Our daughter is always happy and excited to come home, and the teachers are so loving and caring. We've had an awesome experience at SMS. Seriously, everyone we know has sent their kids there at some point, and we totally recommend it to anyone in the area.

We have sent all 3 of our sons to Sauganash Montessori School and could not be more pleased with…read morethe educational experience that they have each received. The classrooms are bright, beautiful and well-appointed with Montessori learning materials. The teachers and staff are wonderful! We have had to adjust our son's pickup times because of our work schedule, and they are always more than accommodating. Our youngest son is currently at Montessori and is thriving! He has become increasingly more independent and loves school.

My perspective from touring the facility: small playground in the back, inside is dark, not a lot…read moreof natural light, furniture is old, everything smells like old, 2yo kids have a separate area in what looks like the "lobby" of the building until they transition to the main area. Meals are prepared in the kitchen of the building, it was the end of the day so dishes were piled up in the sink, cleanliness wasn't top notch. Owner didn't speak English very well so she didn't give me a lot of information. Price is better than other daycares. I can't speak of the way day to day goes but overall it didn't give me a very good impression.

We are truly thrilled to have our toddler at LPM. The founder and director, Ms. Gina, brings an…read moreunmatched level of care and dedication to the daycare. Several of the teachers have been with the school for over a decade, which speaks volumes about the strong and caring community they've built. I have also seen graduates of LPM who are now in high school and college visit the school or come back to volunteer. Ms. Gina even prepares home-cooked meals for the teachers every day - I've had the privilege of trying some, and she's an amazing cook! It's clear that she not only values her staff but goes above and beyond to care for them. The entire team, from classroom teachers to volunteers, are incredibly kind, nurturing, and truly invested in the children's well-being. While LPM doesn't rely on flashy marketing, my husband and I appreciate that this allows all the attention to be focused on providing quality care to the children. As I try to speak Korean to my child at home, I am especially grateful for the cultural sensitivity at LPM - Ms. Gina, Ms. Ellie, and at least one other staff member speak fluent Korean and honor Korean culture, which makes us feel right at home. If you're looking for a daycare that is a caring community and prioritizes heartfelt care for each child, LPM is the place to be.

My daughter and son attended 30 years ago and Ms Kristie was there teaching and caring for them,…read morenow my 3 yr old grandson goes there 5 days a week ad he absolutely looks forward to it everyday. Its a small group and they give the kids individual attention. They build social skills and the kids make friends. I highly recommend this school.

I hope everyone is lucky enough to experience this incredible program! SSYY is an absolute treasure…read more- which is all thanks to the Program Director, Mrs Kristie. Despite preschool being the first "away from parents" experience for most littles, Mrs Kristie makes children feel safe and comfortable, and does an amazing job building community among the students. The curriculum is fun, creative, and focuses on social and emotional skill development and academic learning. Over the course of 6 consecutive years, all 3 of my kids went through SSYY and I continued to be more impressed year over year! We love Mrs Kristie and are forever thankful for the foundation that she created for our children!

I worked at WMS two years ago for 5 years total and within that time learned and loved the…read moreMontessori Method applied here. From the wee seedlings to the elementary kids, I watched how these children flourished beyond anything else I've ever experienced during all my hours of student teaching at various schools. First off all, the organization behind every aspect of the school comes from the extensive training and education that the school founders have along with their decades of experience. Yes, decades. Everything offered at WMS is all very carefully considered and all the material there is hand-picked by their wonderful teachers and moderated by the head directress. By hand-picked, I mean hundreds of material is considered before being chosen. The material selected all depended on the season, subject, and mastery of each child in mind. This is no easy task. Secondly, the work is all relative. What your child is doing in the infant and toddlers program (from pouring to sorting) will lay a strong foundation for what they will be doing years later in the preschool and elementary program. I cannot stress enough how many times my jaw dropped when I realized how all of the works are so connected. All of the works encourage independence early on so they can master specific work later on. It all comes full circle. Third, the socialization that happens within the walls of the school is inspired by the work itself because the way the work is designed teaches children patience, compassion and empathy. A lot of the work here teaches children how to contribute to their homes and communities in a positive way. It also helps children find their confidence because they realize they can do so many every day things themselves that it sets them up for success academically - from tying their shoes to doing dishes the practical life work is such an essential part of their learning. The teachers have so much patience and love towards their students. It's really beautiful to observe. They develop connections with each individual child and because of the nature of the Montessori applied here, they have the ability to do that as opposed to teaching every child in the same exact way like most traditional schools. While working there it was pretty common for the children to be far more advanced than their friends and family who were in regular public and private schooling. Because of the method, they had the ability to cognitively identify and grasp things much easier in a safe and encouraging environment - all at their own pace. I look back on my time working here with a lot of fondness. As teachers, we took a lot of pride in the work we put into our kids. We provided them with quality education, but above all else a lot of encouragement to explore and play - all important parts of this method. We let our children lead and that is what makes this place so special. They all eventually became leaders in their own right. If you have any questions, reach out and book a tour! They're always really informative and it's a real peace of mind seeing the beautiful space your children will grow in before enrolling them there.

My review will be slightly different from the rest of the reviewers…read more Most of the reviews are from the perspective of parents who have or had children attend here. I will give you the perspective from a former alumni that graduated from here over 2 decades ago. While many of the teachers have come and gone, the leadership has remained steady with the founders since '93. I went to Wonder Montessori in the mid 90s, a few years after they opened, and I can honestly say it was the one of the most important educational experiences of my life. Of course, I did not realize it then, but reflecting back I can clearly point to my experience here to clearly shape the person I am today. Every detail was examined, and every individual considered. I am sure Wonder Montessori's mastery of the montessori method has improved in the years since. I can remember learning to use the computer here, learning about planets and plants and science in general. Singing songs in multiple languages. Even mundane life skills like washing the dishes, oh and of course - I learned to tie my shoes here. Even more importantly social skills on how to properly interact with your peers was developed, and if someone has been wronged we were guided to resolutions, often with apologies to the wronged party. Conflict mediation is an underrated skill. Parents, it is easy to forget how profoundly influential these formative years are for a child. In terms of social development and satisfying their intellectual and creative endeavors - positive and enriching experiences in these areas now will only compound in the years to come. Your children will be more confident, more independent, and more intellectually curious. Characteristics that will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives As for myself, what happened to me? While everyone's path in life is different, many years after here I attended an engineering college and studied electrical engineering, achieved moderate success as an entrepreneur and in my other professional endeavors. My final vote of confidence? I will be sending my kids here when they are ready.

Our son (4 years old) attended here for about a year. It was a mixed bag…read more It was affordable for the area. One of the teachers (Mrs. Nowack) was wonderful. She was on top of things. She was friendly to parents and kids. She genuinely cared about her work. The other teacher (Mrs. Carrie) seemed to be going through the motions and she tended to characterize kids who were physically active as "problem children." And surprise surprise, most boys in class were problem children. I am glad that we left for another preschool in the area. Class sizes at Oakton are a bit too big to effectively manage that age group. Staff seemed stretched too thin and low on morale. I don't think they were compensated enough for this tough job.

Hi! I am a mom of 2 kids, one of my kids graduated from…read moreOakton ECE Center and one is currently attending. Like most parents, when it came time to choose a preschool, I was really nervous. I had gone to a couple of open houses and I didn't find what I felt was a good fit until I walked into the classroom at Oakton. I loved it right away! My son seemed to love it right away, too. Mrs. Monique, the director, gave us a tour and everyone was warm and welcoming. I got a sense of integrity, excitement, a strong sense of community as well as diversity in the classroom which were all qualities I was looking for! I also really like it being attached to the college and campus. Since then, my kids have really thrived at Oakton and we have made so many great friends and memories. I can't say enough good things about it! I hope I have more kids so I won't have to say goodbye after my youngest graduates in a year! So glad I discovered such a wonderful Early Childhood Education Center that gave my kids such a fantastic start!

Positive: Clean daycare, some friendly staff, some useful feedback but mainly geared towards…read morecomplaints about your children. Negatives: Lack of followup from the owner on multiple occasions, exaggerates normal child behavior to create a sense of immediate need for therapy (maybe there is a $$$ relationship there), video system not working in case you need to check something. They are a business first and foremost and not a daycare. If you are looking for a more traditional, not soldier building machine, steer clear. If your child is docile and low level of energy, great place.

My kids went to Casa Dei Bambini for years. We absolutely loved the experience. The teachers are…read morelovely and truly care about the children. They treat the children with respect and provide a calm, supportive environment. When one teacher left, I cried. The new teacher the following year was just as wonderful, though. Oana is the director/owner/primary teacher in one classroom and she's just wonderful. I can't recommend it highly enough.

my children been at this school since 2024. Since changing principal's ive had the worse…read moreexperiences here. they have a policy that's states say you can make arrangements for tuition when unable to pay but doesn't give you the option. the moment you can't make a payment they kick your children out of school. I have lost my long term job because of this!!! They are rude. staff talks about each other. they change teachers every couple of weeks. they can't keep staff. the principal shouldn't be teaching in class rooms if there is enough staff. this past year and a half by far is the worst. we miss Mrs ferand. she actually helped her community and cared about her students education. ms Taylor cares more about the money than she does these babies education. ms Thornton don't get me started on her.

My daughters attended this school and it set them up for educational success. The teachers and…read morestaff are very caring and supported my daughters from Green room to kindergarten graduation. Ms. Soosan has run this school for many years and it's very special to the neighborhood. No other school offers extra activities like Piano, Ballet and Hip Hop. If you're looking for a great place for your kids education, you should start here.

The best preschool in the area. My 3 children went here from 2006 thru 2011. Very warm and…read moreinviting. Teachers are nurturing, you cannot find that at many places. Their curriculum is great. I remember my daughter marching around my dining room and counting in French. She was learning this from preschool! They have so many cute programs. Was always sad when Mother's Day tea comes--because it meant it was the end of the year. All 3 of my kids were well prepared academically and socially for kindergarten. They have a waiting list---so inquire early.

Love this preschool! We moved from Utah where my son had attended a fancy academy since age 2 that…read morehad Chinese, yoga, martial arts, etc. We took a chance on this school since he was 4 and needed one final year of preK and this was down the block. So glad we did. It is the perfect preschool. It is play based and the kids had so much fun. The teachers truly care and it is obvious in every interaction you have with them. The classroom is clean and very large. They have a great outdoor play area as well. My son literally loved it since day one. Can't wait for my younger two to attend!

My toddler daughter was a student for a few months. During that time, she learned so much! Ex. How…read moreto walk, use utensils and so many new words. The teachers are great and so caring (my only complaint is that my daughter's favorite teacher resigned). They kept me updated through the app throughout the day. So far I think this is the only daycare I know that serves fresh food (made on site) and my daughter loved it all. The director answered all my emails promptly and was always very clear. The only reason we left is because we moved but if we could stay at tiny forever, we would. I also wished that tuition was a little cheaper, but it was so worth it. Thank you Tiny for taking care of my daughter!

I am so thankful and blessed to have this daycare my 18 month old daughter this is her 1st time…read moreat daycare and around other people due to the pandemic and they have been so amazing with keeping me updated on her through there app very punctual and on l point makes me feel safe and comfortable and the director was very nice and very helpful during the process thank you to everyone and my daughter's teachers Ms. SOL Ms. GIZEL and Ms. Sonia

My daughter absolutely loves this school. She've learned so much in just few months that I'm…read moreimpressed! Everyday they have different activities, and a huge outdoor playground. The teachers are the best, very caring and attentive. I can't say enough good things about Fairyland! Highly recommend!

We looked at several places in the area for our daughter to start preschool and we could not be…read moremore pleased with Fairyland. I am a teacher and I really love the way they are much more than a daycare facility. Ms. Eva is great and always accommodating as well as the rest staff. They use a curriculum that aligns with CPS, so the kids are getting well planned and thought out activitiesand lessons that will prepare them for kindergarten. It's clean and organized, and very reasonably priced. I would recommend Fairyland to anyone looking for a reasonably priced daycare/preschool in the portage park area that really is above the rest. And most importantly, my daughter loves it.