I enrolled my son in the Toddler 2 community when he was 19 months old. Prior to enrollment, my son…read morehas been in Early Intervention since he was 7 months old, working with both an Occupation and Speech Therapist. He was speech delayed and developing areas of concern within his development, along with his emotions surfacing = very tough time! Transitioning from his sitter 5 days to Montessori setting 5 days was certainly an adjustment for him. It took my son a few weeks to stop crying at drop off, and months to get acclimated to the routine, work periods and the environment, and even then, still working through normal toddler behavior ie. biting, hitting pushing. As a single mom, with an only child, it was important to me that my child become independent, resilient and was within a supportive environment where his development can continue to progress regardless of the phases he is experiencing. By far, this was the BEST DECISION I have ever made. The Lead Guides and Leadership team work super hard to invest in training to ensure the classrooms are lead professionally with love. It genuinely warms my heart to know that my son has developed close relationships with his teachers and has learned to really care and love his classmates. My son was diagnosed to be on the Autistic Spectrum right around 2yo, which increased my concerns for him to develop emotional connections. I deeply know that if my son was not supported in the way he was at Guidepost, he would not have developed his emotional muscles as strongly, and build true personal connections like he has. I believe in Montessori philosophies and approach, and with the school's help and practicing this approach at home, has made me believe that my son will have equal opportunity in the world and positively make a contribution, (ok ok I know he's only two :). ) All this to say, if you're looking for an extension of your own home, where structure, community, kindness, genuine care and development opportunity is present, this is THEE PLACE. The experience is truly invaluable, no amount of money can actually repay the hard work these teachers put in every single day. Genuinely, you cannot put a price on, peace of mind, circle of community, support and programming. You will not be disappointed. Shout out to Carolyn, Sam, Taylor, Ms. Jenny, Ms. Carmen, Ms. Mariela, and Ms, Dono (many others who's names I can't spell I am so sorry). Chauncey and I will always have a special place in our hearts for you all.

We have been so happy here! The whole team from Sam down feels deeply invested in giving our child…read morethe best possible experience she can have, and the moment you walk in you can feel what a happy, thriving community they've built. They go above and beyond to keep the children engaged, happy, comfortable, and active - proactively identifying any concerns and raising them to parents to ensure their little ones live their best lives and get all their needs met. The facility is attractive, clean, well run, and always filled with laughter. And our child is absolutely thriving. We could not recommend it more!

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!

They are simply great! My 28 mo baby loves to go there and play with her friends. She eats well,…read moreplays, dances, and takes naps like she does at home. She talks about her teacher at home and loves them. I am at peace when she is there.

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 aren't regular members here anymore now that they are in Winnetka since it's not as convenient…read morefor my kids, but occasionally I call for tutoring when my kids need extra help on a concept or want to review before a test. My 2 older kids had tests this week and asked me to book sessions with the House so i called and they were able to set my daughter up with Silas and my son up with Emmy at the exact times I wanted. That alone is a win! We've used many of their tutors (Kyle and Young to name a few) at this point and they've said great things about all of them. Silas and Emmy were no exception and helped them review for their math tests. I also received notes from each of them a few days later recapping how the session went, which is super helpful for a parent. When my kids attend New Trier at the Winnetka campus I could see us resuming our membership, but in the meantime it's a great option for sporadic tutoring.

This place is such a great concept for kids. It gives them the freedom they need to get their…read morehomework done and ask for help, have a safe place to hang out with friends, awesome tutors, and best of all my son looks forward to being there.

My son attended the Elementary and Middle School here. The staff is wonderful. Principal is very…read moreinvolved and has great relationships with the students. I would highly recommend this school.

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!

For the last year, my son & I have participated in Forest Playschool's parent/child program and we…read moreare so grateful for the experience. I believe, even at one day a week attendance, he's grown into an nature-loving, all-weather-kinda-kid that's shaped his adaptability and appreciation for all things outdoors. As a mom who gets to be there each week, I observe the faculty and how they interact with the children. It's beautiful and respectful. I'm very hands-off with my kid and I don't take on the role of entertaining him because I believe he should figure this out himself. I hinder this a bit by being there but for the drop-off kids, their imaginations are incredible because they relate best to their peers and have the space to do so. When they want a big person to join in, one does, happily. But they wait for the invitation. They don't force themselves into the kid's world and play time. Having just finished weathering our first winter in Forest Playschool, I'll add this last detail. I saw so much love around our campfires. When the kids just needed some arms to hold them to shake off the colder weather, there were more than enough open sets. And as I sat there wondering if I could ever drop my kid off and leave him in the forest, that sealed the deal for me.

Forest Playschool has been a great experience for our small daughter. Having grown up playing in…read morethe woods as a child in Texas, I am very happy that I we are able to access that type of play in our sometimes too urban landscape. I attend with my daughter one day a week, so I have gotten to see first hand what a wonderful opportunity Forest School has been not only for my child, but for lots of the older kids as well. The strength of the program, in my opinion, is that it is relatively unstructured. There are some teacher-led activities for the children to do (i.e. making candles, crafting cornhusk dolls and felt birds, filling the bird feeders, etc.) but kids fluidly move between these activities and climbing a tree, rolling down a hill, or making "cookies" out of mud. It is great to see children using their bodies, their imaginations, and the natural environment to develop their sense of confidence and competence in the world. These are opportunities that are sorely lacking for many of our urban little ones. I do also want to mention that the teachers provide a great balance of providing an environment for children to independently find and create their own challenges, while also providing a totally appropriate degree of redirection and expectations for appropriate and safe behavior. I would also be remiss if I did not mention everyones favorite part of Forest School: The "stick bread." Watching a group of 2-6 year-olds cook salted and herbed dough on a stick over an open fire, you get the sense that there are some very special early memories being formed here. We are very grateful to have found Forest Playschool.

Learning Linx is exactly what I've been looking for! My little ones are eager to go to their…read moretutoring sessions. They love their instructor and talk about her all the time. I believe she loves them as much as they love her. I highly recommend Learning Linx Tutoring!

DeAnna is kind and caring. She really puts her heart into her students learning and celebrates…read moretheir accomplishments!