This review is NOT based on the education received at MAMG or any of the teachers. It is solely…read morebased on the experience of inquiring about the school and interacting w/ the site director. I called MAMG to schedule a tour and gather information. The lady I spoke with was so dry and seemed uninterested. Regardless, I scheduled a tour as maybe she was having a bad day and I realize that not everyone can be cheery all the time. :) The tour went well, and I made sure it was scheduled w/ another person. She was friendly and kind. I asked this lady for a packet or folder of information and she was surprised that the first lady I spoke with never emailed it to me. She took down my email address and said she would request that lady to send it to me. Guess what? I never received it! I just think that is horrible practice. I have enrolled my daughter elsewhere. But, I thought the business owner/manager should know about the incompetence of the person I dealt with. I am happy to speak further about it...as I don't want to call out this individual on a public platform.

My son spent 4 great years here, from the infant room, to toddler room, to primary. Our son was…read morewell cared for in all of them and we believe he developed well there, both socially and academically. Their communication is great, the Bright Wheel app they use is fantastic, and they are very accommodating in all the best ways, while continuing to do what's best for the kids. I've also been impressed with their willingness to help when we've needed assistance with our son's transition to kindergarten, even after our son was no longer enrolled there. Would recommend to anyone that they can trust them with their child's education, safety and wellbeing.

Our son goes to Kids Academy for pre-school and we are loving our experience here. There are set…read moreboundaries and expectations for kids, the communication home is great, the facility is clean, the price is great, and my son LOVES it. He's learning letters, having fun with new friends and his teacher, and comes home everyday excited to tell us about what he did at school that day. I'd recommend Kids Academy to anyone in the area!

I have to preface this by saying, we have older children who were in daycare, so we know how great…read moresome facilities and management can be. Unfortunately, this is not one of them from what we have experienced. Before we signed our child up for care, the owner Azar seemed welcoming at their open house, made us feel comfortable, and convinced us she had an "open door policy". The facilities aren't the greatest (i.e., the entrance to the infant room is in a partition for a bigger room - the "gym", so it's flimsy, and the daycare is connected to a church), but we were willing to overlook that because of a personal recommendation, and the positive reviews online. There was a smooth phase with this daycare that was very short lived. Over time, little things - such as basic necessities for our infant, now toddler (i.e., no shoes or hat on when it's freezing outside, coming home in filthy clothes though he has extra clothes there, coming home in other kids' clothes, even giving water to our baby before asking if it was okay) - would be missed. He also would come home with unexplained scratches or marks. We would bring up these issues to the director Kellie, and her response would be defensive and dismissive, saying, "staff would have noticed", and there is never any accountability when these things clearly happened at the daycare. More often than not, a response would not be given, and our inquiries would be completely ignored. They seemed like they forgot about our child after he was enrolled there for a little while. The director Kellie suggested a meeting to try to work together and address our concerns. We were open to it. The meeting was supposed to just be between us parents and the director. When we showed up, the owner Azar was there, likely to ambush us. The meeting initially seemed to go fairly well until the owner interjected and started going on a tangent, talking about how they have "been open for 31 years and have a good reputation". It was a total deflection of what the matter was at hand; concerns regarding care for our child. She talked about how HER children went to the daycare and are now doing well (side note: they are now adults and of course she has her own children's best interest as their mother). The owner and the director did not like that we were questioning a mark and scratch on our child's face that we saw at pickup time (so it definitely didn't happen at home). Instead of trying to look into the matter and come to a resolution, they lacked professionalism, empathy, and let their emotions get the best of them. They were more concerned about their feelings being affected by us questioning what happened to our child, not what was really important; the well-being of our child. As adults, this is not something to model to the children in their care. They did not give us a chance to provide input; Azar kept interrupting us, raising her voice, talking about herself and how proud she was of the staff at the center. Azar basically said, we are not allowed to be frustrated, and if we can't move past the things they did wrong, maybe we should consider if Kids Academy is the place for our child. She was condescending and gave an ultimatum, not an attempt to understand where we were coming from. She harps on and on about their "reputation" (but just because a place has been open for 31 years, does not mean it is without shortcomings or is run well). We respectfully ended the meeting, since she was disrespectfully talking over us and was not interested in hearing what we had to say. She had her own agenda. If the owner feels okay raising her voice at the parents of a child in her care, I question the level of morale there. From what we have observed, Azar is not a constant presence at the center and is clearly disengaged to what goes on there. She just deflects and talks about how long they have been open and their "reputation". Our experience of this daycare is that parents' input, feedback, and concerns are not important to management, and parents are not allowed to question the well-being of your child. This is truly appalling, since our child is very young and not yet able to speak for himself. The facilities are also questionable: the doorknob to the infant room fell off and instead of replacing it immediately, they tied a piece of fabric to open and close it for an extended period of time. We also found out the owner made the hallways of this building a "museum" of some sort, so when they have events for this "museum", they move the divider out of the way, and the infant room is used. I highly recommend to pay a little more in tuition for child care elsewhere (like we did), and you'll likely find a place with better facilities, where you're valued, can collaborate well with and truly feel like you can trust the staff.

Poko Loko Glenview is just a delightful place for little children. Upon walking in, you almost feel…read morelike you are being transported into a Mr. Rogers episode! There's color everywhere, a train track suspended from the ceiling, a piano, and many smiling faces. My daughter attended the Jr. KG class for only a month or so and really loved her teachers! They focus on various themes and split their day up nicely between learning and playing! Although we know learning does take place while playing. Haha! They have an attached outdoor playground, which is nice! Breakfast is provided if your child gets there by 8. Lunch and snacks are also provided. It is a nut free facility. Cubbies are clearly labeled if a child has an allergy! It is organized perfectly! Poko Loko definitely has a family vibe!

We moved from LA to Chicago and chose Poko Loko due to the great reviews and convenient location…read more Our son is 3.5 years old and has had some speech delay due to bilateral ear infections and although we were approved for all services by the state of California, he didn't receive any of them due to COVID. Since we moved to Chicago we have been doing our very best and paying out of pocket for him to get speech and occupational therapy. After just 2 months at Poko Loko and 3 separate instances of being called to pick up our son early due to screaming and hitting another child (he's 3 years old) we were patronizingly told by the owner Bonnie "in 52 years of experience I've only had to ask 2 other children to leave. You have until Fall." Statements like that aren't helpful, they make me feel bad about my son, and they are unprofessional. I seriously doubt that my son is the only difficult child they've had, and if so, then their experience is worthless, because they are unwilling to help or even give him time to settle in from a major transition like moving across the country. Before we were asked to leave the center, the manager and owner made no effort to guide us (52 years of experience right?), come up with an action plan, and offered no insight on local resources to help our son. They wanted us out. This review primarily addresses the Owner and manager. The teachers tried. The moral of the story is that they are simply looking for a frictionless tuition check while making little effort to actually help the parents and children. All while charging top dollar rates. I am very disappointed in the unprofessionalism and the downright rude way in which we were asked to leave the center. I made it known that the next time a child needs some help, offering more support and guidance using their years of experience might help the parents and kid more than a simple goodbye.

We have taken our child to Peace Montessori for more than a year and will continue doing so for the…read moreforeseeable future. Noorjahan cultivates a safe environment where our child continually develops new skills while in a Montessori environment. One of our favorite aspects of Peace Montessori is the low child to teacher ratio; we know our child is able to receive more one on one attention than in other facilities we researched. Not only does Noorjahan create a learning environment in her home, but upon request, she has also provided resources for us as parents. It is apparent Noorjahan cares for the general well being of our child even when not in her direct care. Due to our faith in Noorjahan, we have, and will continue to, refer her to anyone we know looking for a high quality childcare facility.

Noor (the principal owner) watched both of our kids (3 year old and one year old) and I have only…read morepositive things to say about the experience. We were extremely worried as we started in the middle of COVID, but Noor calmed our fears with her cautious and caring nature. She always had activities lined up for them and both kids were learning at a rapid rate. When we compared our kids to others the same age it was clear they were further ahead because of Noor.

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.

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!

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!

My child has been going to Dreamer for several months now and I cannot recommend this place enough…read more My child is so excited to go and has a smile on his face when we pull up. The teachers are attentive and the curriculum is more than I expected from a daycare. A huge plus is the homemade food for their lunches. I'm so glad this place was recommended to us.

Dreamers daycare and the teachers are phenomenal. My daughter has been attending for almost a year…read more She started in the under 2 year olds group and moved up to the 2-3 year olds class at beginning 2024. Not only were her teachers in both classrooms amazing in helping her grow, they were truly instrumental in her transitioning smoothly to a big sister at home. She has learned so much in the classroom but also immensely increased her social skills and having fun with friends! One thing I really love about Dreamers is, the other childcare professionals, not just my child's direct teachers, all know her by name and clearly love and care for her. We are starting new baby in the infant room next year and are not nervous (although bittersweet) in leaving her in the capable hands of Dreamers.

I am so thrilled that we found Devonshire Montessori, our son has been in their program since the…read morefall and he is absolutely thriving. He loves school - he walks in every morning happy and confident, proudly shows off his art at home and has learned so many practical life skills. He is always talking and singing about his teachers & friends when he's at home, and it's clear that his teachers really care about him. At Devonshire his innate desire to help and contribute is nurtured and that shines through so clearly at home. It's tough to leave your kid everyday as a parent, but I never worry if he's doing ok at school because it is SO clear how happy, secure, and connected he is at Devonshire.

Our experience at Devonshire Montessori School has been nothing short of exceptional…read more Both of my children have needed outside intervention services, and as a parent, that can feel overwhelming when navigating school partnerships. From the very beginning, the director and teachers have gone above and beyond to make sure our family feels supported--not just welcomed, but truly understood. The director has been incredibly proactive and compassionate, taking time to meet, communicate, and problem-solve with us. What has meant the most is how collaborative the school has been with our children's interventionists. The teachers have welcomed outside providers, implemented recommended strategies, and consistently followed through with accommodations to help my children succeed in the classroom environment. Instead of viewing extra supports as a challenge, they've treated them as an opportunity to better understand and support my children as individuals. The staff regularly communicates updates, shares observations, and works as a team to ensure consistency between school and outside services. That level of dedication is rare and deeply appreciated. Because of this partnership, we've seen tremendous growth--academically, socially, and emotionally. My children feel safe, supported, and capable. As a parent, I feel heard and valued. Their commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and individualized care truly sets them apart.