We had to unenroll our daughter due to a move, but my family absolutely loved being part of the Green Bean community--it truly became a second home for our sweet girl. Her teachers genuinely cared about our daughter and treated her with such kindness, love, and respect. Green Bean set the standards very high for what we want in a daycare. read more

We love Green Bean, and more importantly, Maddox loved them! He started there as a 3 month old, and the teachers were so warm, caring, and communicative. They made drop-offs easy and always kept us in the loop. The space feels happy and safe, and it's clear everyone there truly loves these kiddos. Couldn't recommend them more! read more

When we started at Green Bean, we were obsessed. Our child started at 3M old, and continued until he was 15M (we left right before he was supposed to move to a new classroom) While we were there, Green Bean had a few incidents in a different classroom that led to a DCFS investigation. FYI - They now have a DCFS violation. The biggest challenge was how their leadership (owner and directors) handled it. It was a mess and wildly unprofessional. It became apparent very quickly that given a lack of leadership, the classroom environment was extremely dependent on the lead teacher. We had an incredible lead teacher (Danielle), but after talking to some other parents, I realized that wasn't the case across the other rooms. Our child's next classroom would've been one of the rooms under DCFS investigation - and given that a few of the teachers who were in question were back in the room, we didn't feel comfortable keeping our child at green bean. It's worth noting that Green Bean was the most expensive daycare option we looked at, so it's really disappointing that their management and quality of care standards don't reflect their price point. read more

Our family was enrolled in Green Bean for almost 5 years. This daycare has a warm and welcoming environment, and the teachers here take such wonderful care of students, plan engaging lessons, and create a nurturing place to learn and grow. Over the last two years, there have been minor incidents, compounding, that have caused us to lose faith in the integrity and professionalism of the directors and owner. Most recently was a more significant situation. There were allegations of harm to students in a class. Rather than handling the situation the moment it happened, directly with families to restore confidence that children are safe in their care, the leadership team at Green Bean chose not to report. This has caused my family to seek care elsewhere. My hope is that, transparency is at the forefront moving ahead. read more

My daughter attended Green Bean from 2017 through 2022, and went through different classrooms, teachers, administration. Overall, it was fine. Some teachers and administrative staff were more involved and/or better than their predecessors or successors while others could have been better (markers to make this judgment were whether they seemed to care, be involved, etc.). I am taking into account and be fair that everyone is going to have a different educational style, personality, disposition, and approach. It was safe, had a very home-like feel, and a good play-based philosophy. At the time, it worked for us, though being at another daycare now, I realize how much a more academic-model suited us, so reflect on what matter most to you. Green Bean's philosophy and model can be great and amazing. My dissatisfaction was with the PreK and Preschool lead teacher, Alex Alontaga. As context, we decided to keep our daughter through Preschool due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. This particular lead teacher was uncharacteristic of an educator, rarely helping the students to problem-solve or engage in creative ways to self-express, so oftentimes our daughter expressed feeling helpless and not knowing how to cope with emotions. Her role also seemed more like a chore to her as she rarely engaged in-depth about our child in conferences, ill-prepared in any presentation of our child's growth and evaluation, and instead it was an open discussion for parent-teacher conference where we were asked "how you think your daughter is doing". Even in just everyday dialogue, we could provide a debriefing from the weekend or general concern(s) about something socio-emotional or behavioral, her response seemed vacant with "Oh yeah, uh huh". And most upsetting was her unempathic tendency. For instance, there were repeated instances of bullying, and although that is somewhat common, I am always interested in the teachers' response as they can be helpful and guide me to best practices. Her response was "well, everyone in the classroom does it, so I hope you don't think she's the only one [being made fun of]". She seemed burnt out and unhappy long before the pandemic shutdown in 2020. In sum, I wished our lasting experience was different. My advice is for families to try to meet with a teacher during a tour as that may help to get a sense of the culture, how they work as a team, how they are cared for, anything. Afterall, they are the ones who care for our children in which they may spend more waking hours with them daily than we as parents do. read more

We're so grateful for our kids teachers; they're truly the best. They always have a great attitude, organized and knowledgeable approach, and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere, even after a long day. They are so welcoming, so sweet, so helpful (I'm constantly gushing about how they help me step my parenting game up because they have the best activities). We sincerely couldn't ask for better caretakers! read more

My husband and I were reluctant to enroll our infant in daycare during the COVID pandemic, but I can't adequately express how happy I am to have chosen Green Bean. My baby's teachers really love her; she lights up and waves when she sees them in the morning. She naps and eats for her teachers way better than she does at home (sigh). The lunches are healthy and sound better than what I eat at home. The teachers are creative and keep the infants busy with a ton of sensory projects-- water days in the summer, painting, using projectors, playing on scooters in their "studio." We love checking their photos all day to see what they're up to. I know my daughter has fun and gets tons of love at school, so we all look forward to Mondays. And the COVID safety protocols are seemingly working, because she hasn't had so much as a sniffle. read more

My husband and I toured 8 other daycare facilities/schools and finally found the perfect place in the Green Bean! We immediately knew it was the place for us when we toured and were able to see the interaction between the teachers in the nursery classrooms and the babies/toddlers. The teachers genuinely LOVE the babies!! In no other nursery rooms at other daycares did I see the same excitement or affection. The main teachers in our classroom (Miss Danielle and Miss Alexis) were wonderful and made it much easier to leave our son knowing they were going to take such good care of him and engage him and the others in the classroom. We had 2 floater teachers while we were there and they were both great as well! The entire school is so well-run and they are great communicators which is so important! I really can't say enough good things about Green Bean. read more

It's taken my wife and I almost two and half years to write this review. Our son spent six months at Green Bean and had a horrible experience. We enrolled him at Green Bean after recommendations from some friends. Immediately it became clear that they had a significant turnover problem with their teachers. Rumor had it that they underpaid their staff and were hiring teachers right out of school. Within three months, two of our son's teachers had already resigned in the middle of the year which was very disappointing to him. Each morning it was apparent when walking into the classroom that it was chaos. There was almost no control over the 2 to 3 year olds. This was largely a function of the inexperienced teacher who took over the room and the environment (no windows, florissant lighting and confined space). We had our doubts. Over the course of the next few months our son was miserable. Each morning he clung to us before going into the room. Soon thereafter the complaints from the Green Bean administrations started. First it was concern that he was slow to express himself. Then we heard that he must have OT issues. Then it became behavioral concerns. Immediately our child was labelled as a troublemaker. We were advised that specialists should come in--behavioral, OT, language... the works. We tried that for awhile. Skeptical but willing to roll with their recommendation. Another month or two passed by. Then our second son was born. Two days later we get a call from the Green Bean administration. "We think you should find a new place for your son." Apparently he had pushed another child in the classroom. "We recommend that you check out some speciality program for children with significant issues such a Brown Bear." So my wife an I checked out Brown Bear. Guess what, it's a school for children who have have some pretty significant issues (think 30K a year and partially covered by health insurance). We kept our son home for three months while my wife was on maternity leave. Then we sent him to Bright Horizons. NOT a SINGLE issue ever after that point. Zipp. Nada. Nothing for the next few years. Our son is doing wonderfully. Thank you Green Bean. So let this be a warning to you. Green Bean cares about one thing. Making the lives easier for their junior level teachers whom they can stiff on salary. The administration is quick to judge and literally make up all kinds of nonsense to deflect blame. They literally have no clue about education of the well being of children. They could have sent my son down a unrecoverable path of self-doubt and helplessness. Dig deep and their true colors will shine through. read more

My son went to Green Bean for nearly 2 years. All of the teachers and staff were incredible. They cared for our son like he was their own, and our son flourished developmentally while there. There really is not enough good things to say about Nicole the owner and her staff. If your looking for a top notch daycare for your child you won't find a better one anywhere! read more

This is a great nursery and daycare. We have two boys who went to Greenbean starting at 4 months old and they are now 2 and 4. We had great experience with the administration, and the teachers are AMAZING! They cared so much for our kids. We got daily pictures of all the fun activities our boys got to do. Also, our boys made great friends at GreenBean that we still hang out with. GreenBean has done a great job during this quarantine to make sure everyone is safe. Unfortunately we moved out of the neighborhood. read more

I scheduled a tour with Green Bean on 6/24/2022 with the Director of Admissions, Erica Harrington. As reference, I am a Black woman married to a Black man, and we are raising two Black children. Upon entry we were approached by a teacher who did not initiate an introduction, but asked us to move to clear the doorway. Erica conducted a tour through the school and responded to questions I posed "that all of the information is covered in the admissions packet." When asked directly about the school's diversity and equity initiatives, Erica provided a perfunctory response and explained that the school is committed to anti-racism, but is not able to diversify the staff or student body because Bucktown is a neighborhood comprised of "affluent white families." When ending the tour, Erica promised a follow-up email, which I have not received. This dormant commitment to anti-racism is not enough. Schools often serve as an efficient way of ensuring racial inequality and schools like Green Bean clearly serve as a mechanism for sorting children into unequal places in society. It would seem that after enduring a hard-hitting global pandemic that we would all be kinder, gentler, and more supportive of one another as we are all in this together. Sadly, tribalism and its associated racism are so powerful to the psyche such that it invades every aspect of society, even early childhood education. As Black parents living in Bucktown, my husband and I made a promise to our children to never forget and never give up in the face of racism. My hope is that this early childhood center can reflect on this feedback and initiate true change that impacts the children in Bucktown and the surrounding neighborhoods. read more

My daughter will be switching to a new school soon because of a move, and it's been so hard to find anything comparable to Green bean! This school is such a special place! My daughter has attended for 3 years now so she has been in the nursery classroom up to preschool. I can't say enough about how much she's learned under their care and the family feel/small class environment has always made me comfortable that she is happy and loved there. Also, kudos to them for handling things so well during all of the COVID lockdowns, follow on restrictions, etc. I know everyone struggled (and restrictions continue to be challenging), but I found their transparent communication very helpful. read more

My wife and I had a very difficult time trying to decide where our little baby girl should go when we had to go back to work. We selected Green Bean because it felt like home. I would honestly love to hang out in an environment like this place all day. Its cozy and warm. Everyone has a smile on their face and it just feels relaxed. Ella loves going, and while I will admit it has been tough for the first few months with her getting sick constantly, we both expected that to happen everywhere. We get a daily blog of what her day is like, and each evening when I pick her up the ladies in her nursery room always keep us up to date on everything that happened. Only downside that really doesnt reflect on the quality of this place. Parking can be really tricky. Only 5-6 spots for pick-up or drop-off. Overall we love green bean and are very happy we are part of the family! read more

Our daughter spent nearly 2 years as a student at Green Bean, and we couldn't have been happier with our experience. Not only did she learn and grow, but she really began to feel like the school was a second home. We always felt comfortable leaving her there, knowing that the caring and attentive faculty would look after her the same way her family would. But beyond that - Green Bean is a place our daughter feels LOVED. She couldn't wait to get there in the morning, and sometimes she didn't want to leave at the end of the day. The school's blog - updated daily with photos and descriptions - helped us keep up with what our little girl was doing each day. At every turn, we were made to feel a part of a real community of parents and kids, and we've made friends we'll keep for years. Our family feels so lucky to have found this amazing school. read more

Long story short... Don't think about it twice. This is the best daycare in the city! We brought our 15 month old son to the Green Bean after having a not so smooth experience at another daycare. Here we finally found the peace of mind that parents need when leaving their kids in someone else's hands. Lots of play time and tons of love. We got daily photos of him playing with his buddies, which let us know he was having a fantastic time every day he went there. We were also very lucky to have Ms Callie, Ms Katie and Ms Ashleigh as his teachers. They are the best!! Couldn't be luckier to have him join such a great place with such talented, great people to guide him through his development. read more

We recently relocated to another state and transitioned to a new school. It is only now that I can truly grasp all that Green Bean Day School offers family and students. I looked at a number of new schools for preschool and pre-K and none of them compared to Green Bean when it came to having an integrated and complete curriculum. Many of the schools had a lot of unstructured free time and did not have good communication mechanisms to help parents understand what was going on in the classroom. Green Bean offers a balance of these things and we miss being part of their family. A couple things that stand out at Green Bean: Facility - when we first toured Green Bean, we really fell in love with the fact that the facility was warm, organized but not overwhelmingly huge. It is very comfortable. Activities - we loved that the children would walk to surrounding parks and to places in the school's neighborhood. There were also field trips that took the children to museums and places within the city. There were other schools that do not ever go outside of campus. Special needs - our son had a significant speech delay and the school was welcoming and cooperative with having our therapists work at the school and in the classroom. His therapy sessions thrived when he was able to get this additional attention. The staff was very sensitive to what we needed and took interest in the therapists recommendations, which helped us succeed in growth and development. If you are looking for a place that has a strong background in curriculum, a loving and nurturing staff and a place that is organized and has an emphasis on communication with families, this is the place for you. We cannot say enough good things about the Green Bean Day School. read more

We love Green Bean! Our little one has been there since he was 12 weeks and now he's nearly two. They vary activities based on kids' interests and are always challenging them to learn and grow. They have opportunities like music nights, back to school nights, Halloween parties and everything in between. The communication with the teachers is fantastic and it is so clear how much they love what they do and care about our kids. We hope to stay until he ages out and nothing sooner!! Love them! read more

We were at green bean for over 2.5 years before we moved to a different city and we miss it all the time. Ms Danielle and Ms Jenny felt like family to us and made our girls feel so loved and cared for. We were so lucky to have found this wonderful school. They engage the kids in creative and unique activities and the teachers themselves seem to truly enjoy what they do. The physical space is great too, especially the indoor studio for bad weather days. Still trying to find our green bean in our new city but it's hard to live up to. read more

Greenbean is a true gem! We have been lucky to be apart of the school since 2014 and our youngest daughter is still attending in OT2. My girls eat better there, play better, and sleep better! The space is so unique with tons of light, character and a HUGE indoor studio space as well as a fully gated outdoor playground. I simply can't say enough good things about the teachers, staff and owner. They are all amazing and we love every one of them. Our girls and us have made long life friends and relationships that we will always treasure. It's simply hands down the best early childhood choice in Chicago. This is a small business that deserves all the praise from their love and hard work they put into it on a daily basis. Thank you Greenbean for offering a place my girls LOVE to be at every day! read more

Everything about this school worked so well for my family. The teachers are warm, creative and fun. The space itself is beautiful-- lots of natural light, plants, kids' artwork, thoughtfully designed spaces. The owner is a mother herself and is very present. I think this level of hand-on involvement and caring is rare to find in a school. My two daughters both were there for years and our experience was so positive all the way through. They helped me parent and understand my children better. If you have concerns, they really listen and work with you. Just can't say enough how grateful we were to have found Green Bean. read more

It pays to lament out loud! Which is what I did when we had a difficult time finding quality part-time daycare for our girl/boy twinfants. Luckily, an instructor at the gym mentioned that her son's daycare may have space as they were moving larger digs in the current Elston/Webster location, (it has now grown to take over the neighboring dance studio). Luckily I put myself on the wait list months before they opened. We couldn't be more pleased with the quality of care at Green Bean. It's much more than a "daycare". From the thoughtfully curated environment, to the care-givers & curriculum, to the organic/locally sourced meals to Miss Angela's music class, there's a personal touch that's not found at the other child care facilities we looked at. As cautious new parents, we tentatively started 2 mornings a week. After experiencing the warm and nurturing care of Madeline, Meghan & Ruby in the Nursery, we very quickly went from 2 to 3 full days a week, (and then 4 as space allowed). Green Bean is also open to cloth diapering, which is what we did at the beginning. After turning 1 and graduating to the Younger Toddler Room we increased to 5 days a week. I appreciate that some of the instructors are able to use their artistic backgrounds. Melissa T.'s dance background and study of movement analysis were especially helpful with our son's physical therapy exercises - even a minute or two here and there was better than I could muster with twinfants. And Rebecca's theatre background makes for confident and vibrant role-playing. The kids continue to enjoy and learn from activities I'd be reluctant to try at home: tie-dye for toddlers anyone? And of course, it's always a joy to see how much the kids are doing and learning on the highly addictive private blog. I am able to share photos and (even videos in the Preschool Room) with grandparents and out of town family. Once they graduated to the Older Toddler Room, Lyndsay and Ami brought about a new level of focus to our terrific two-year olds. Their language skills exploded, and potty training was gently introduced. They seemed to turn into little people overnight. At 2 1/2 they moved to the Pre-School Room and the diapers came off for the whole day - they're much braver than we are at home with our twins. They now have many accident free days. I drop them off in the morning knowing that they have a fun-filled day of being intellectually and socially stimulated. The outdoor play area is one of the best I've seen, and the new indoor dance studio will get the sillies out in winter. The fact that they are never in a hurry to leave is a testament to the warmth of the place as a whole. There are many "daycares" closer to our home, but I find the care and instruction at Green Bean Day School well worth the drive. Owner Nicole and Exec. Director Melissa have created a nurturing space filled with nurturing individuals. read more

We brought our son to the younger toddler room at Green Bean when he turned 15 months old and he remained there until he was 2. Prior to that we had him at a place that was walking distance from home, but we just didn't feel 100% about it. Even though Green Bean was a little out of the way, it was well worth the extra effort taking him there. I cannot say enough terrific things about this place. From day one, the teachers and staff created a warm, clean, comfortable environment and I felt so confident leaving him in their care. The Younger Toddler teachers Callie, Katie and Ashleigh are AMAZING! You can tell that they truly love working with children; it is their passion and career direction, which I think makes a huge difference, rather than someone just trying to earn a paycheck. They were kind and friendly and patient and at the end of the day our son didn't want to leave. The day is structured to include lots of play time, arts and crafts, and reading. Our son's language and motor skills blossomed during his time there and everyday he would do or say something that he didn't know the day before. They also have an awesome lot in the back with a giant sandbox and wooden tractor to climb on, and in the winter months, there is a large padded indoor dance studio for the kids to run around and get their energy out. If we hadn't moved, we would have kept our son here through preschool. My only complaint is that they don't have another location in the town we moved to! : ) read more

My son has been attending the Green Bean since he was four months old and started in one of the nurseries. He is now about to transition to the preschool classroom. From day one my husband and I have been thrilled with the care, guidance, and education our son has received. The teachers and directors are engaged, nurturing, and truly invested in the success and comfort of their students. The space itself is light and airy and gives off a sense of being outdoors, even in the dead of Chicago winter! Our son loves going to school every day, and our family has enjoyed getting to know other Green Bean families. The Family Music Nights, holiday parties, and "parents night out" help foster a sense of community and demonstrate the Green Bean's commitment to supporting their students both in and out of the classroom. The Green Bean adheres to the Reggio Emilia philosophy which relies on self-direction and creative exploration. As a result my son and his classmates are not only learning about the world around them, but also developing independence, artistic expression, and curiosity. Our second son will start the nursery program in January, and I am confident he will have the same wonderful and fulfilling experience as his older brother. I would highly recommend the Green Bean to any family who is looking for quality childcare, top-notch early education, and a network of likeminded parents and educators who celebrate creativity and individuality. read more

The Green Bean Nursery & Day School is beyond five stars... GB as we call it, is best described as a warm and nurturing environment for young kiddos. My husband and I became first-time parents in November 2016 and thought finding a perfect daycare was going to be extremely tough until we stepped foot into GB. I can honestly say we felt welcome from day one. While faces may change from time-to-time, our trust and comfort with the teachers and staff has always stayed the same. It is a very special place with some of the most loving teachers. Beyond the warm and nurturing environment, the teachers develop daily activities that always exceed our expectations so much so our daughter is always eager to go to GB every (most) day! Some of our favorite activities/events include - music Mondays, their adjacent playground, seasonal festivals for families and a monthly parents' night out. And the teachers and staff are always willing to go beyond to help make our busy lives easier. We all have much love for the teachers and staff that have had a positive impact on our daughter's early years! read more

My husband and I LOVE Green Bean! The teachers are great - warm, loving and engaging - and the environment is wonderful. We were so worried about finding childcare for our son, but now we feel secure dropping him off knowing they care for him as we would and he loves it. We are moving and sad to leave, but we hope another family gets to experience how fabulous this place is! read more

My son started attending this daycare when he was 18 months old, and we never had to worry about anything since then. I have come to know how good this school is only after I have moved out of Chicago, and relocated to another state. There no preschool that comes close to what the Green Bean has to offer in my area. Everyday my son was looking forward to go to school and was super happy there. The teachers and staff are very prompt in responding to all your questions. In the younger toddler room his teacher miss Victoria had created a great curriculum and play-activities for young children. Later when he moved to Older Toddler, his teachers miss Shannon and miss Heidi were just as amazing and super nice! They try and take the class out and allow them to explore in the nature. When the weather is bad they have a pretty big gym area. This is especially very important during the winter season, as kids never miss out on their play time. I honestly feel that this comes to be the best daycare/preschool in the Chicago area. read more

I absolutely love this school with my whole heart. I honestly wish this level of care and creative fostering for all children, and have felt so fortunate to be here over the last 2.5 years. When we first started our daughter had already been in PT for low tone and did not start walking until pretty late in the game. During this challenging time of development for her, from 2-3 especially, every teacher she had went the extra mile to make sure her needs were being met. From our physical therapist being welcomed to show her teacher's how to help her during the day to receiving extra help with her orthotics. Above all, she is currently doing awesome. It takes a village! As we prepare to relocate in 2 months, I can't help but to feel emotional every time I drop her off. Our moving away is what prompted me to write this review, to give thanks and appreciation for what has been such a rich experience for our entire family. It's a truly beautiful community of teachers, children and parents. Please don't take seriously any reviews from people who are obvious bullies themselves with unkind things to say. Those are not the kind of people who you find within this school. I feel the need to step up on this one and say...Jessica, your smile and heart is one of the most genuine and my child loves you. Thank you for all you've done for so many families. Miss Lindsey...you already know how we feel about you. We were the squeaky wheels who had our kiddo placed back into your class after it divided. You are so intelligent, nurturing and inspiring. You certainly helped me to grow into a more confidant mother. Miss Melissa, Miss Angela and Miss Ali, just wow, where do I possibly begin and end with you three? I will miss knowing my child is in the best care possible but feel more prepared through your examples to advocate for her in the most positive way. Nicole, you're brilliant and are a wonderful mother yourself. Thank you for the village. We'll miss you all so much. If you're considering the Green Bean for your child, I'm excited for you. read more

My son has been enrolled in the two half day a week preschool program and we couldn't be happier! It was our first drop off program and the entire staff was so understanding with the transition. The Regio Emilia play based learning approach they use at Green Bean is amazing. My son comes home from school in the best mood and talks about his teacher, Ms. Melissa (T) all the time. She is wonderful- caring, yet firm. I completely trust the entire staff with my little guy, which is a rare quality, I've found, when it comes to childcare. I also very much appreciate the daily blog and photos each teacher posts, I use then to talk to my son about what he did at school that day. read more

Our son spent over 2 years at the Green Bean from 5 months old to just over 3 and our daughter is there now, starting at 3 months. The staff and teachers at GB have loved and nurtured our children with the same tenderness, compassion and consistency that we strive for at home. There have been so many times over the past couple of years that my wife and I have said to each other, "We made a really great decision to send our kids to the Green Bean." The sense of security and comfort that our children feel when they walk into GB is unmatched by any place outside of our home. Our son was always excited to be there in the morning and sometimes he just didn't want to leave. Our daughter claps when she gets to the baby room in the morning. The teachers and staff are simply amazing. They're knowledgeable, creative and patient. In fact, we've become better parents as a result of borrowing what they do at GB. Through our children's friends we've also met some truly amazing people. We look forward to birthday parties and other social events at GB not only because our kids will have fun, but because we will enjoy the company of the adults as well. If you trust the Green Bean with your children, you be thrilled with your decision, we certainly are. read more

Our daughter has been in the younger toddler and older toddler classrooms at Green Bean. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. Within the first week, the teachers and directors got to know our family well and created a warm, loving environment for our daughter to thrive. The management puts a lot of emphasis on staff training, and the teachers go out of their way to answer parent questions and give feedback. This is the first daycare I've worked with where all of the teachers are fully engaged and love their work. Many of the teachers plan after-hours activities and field trips for families. Blog photos give parents a glimpse of daily activities. The facility is also top-quality, with tons of artwork, natural light, a brilliant garden/sandbox/play area and a large indoor exercise room. I have spoken with several parents in the infant program that are also having a great experience. The school is also very flexible with part-time jobs, which is very rare in the city. If you are searching for a daycare for your little one, I highly recommend this option. read more