Wow, we really didn't know how great we had it at SLMS until we moved and switched daycares. Our…read moredaughter started SLMS at 3 months old and we have loved every second of it. Nancy is the lead teacher in the infant classroom and she is amazing. We were new parents at the time and didn't really know what we were doing. Nancy helped us navigate the newborn phase by answering all our questions and gave us advice and resources. Unfortunately, we moved when our daughter was about 20 months old. SLMS was all that we knew at the time so when we began the search for other daycares, there was a HUGE difference in teaching philosophies, cleanliness, and just quality of care. Just a few things I appreciated/noticed at SLMS compared to other schools/daycares: - The infant and toddler classrooms have indoor and outdoor shoes which is great for cleanliness and germs. - The Montessori philosophy teaches them independence. They have self service breakfast every morning in the toddler classroom. Many other daycares do not. I know our daughter misses that. - Many of the other daycares will disrupt the class for parents to tour the school (which i did NOT like). I remember at SLMS, the administration was very cognizant of not disrupting the classes which is exactly how it should be. There are tinted windows so if parents want to see their kids interact or for tours, they are not distracting the students. These are just a few of the things that separate SLMS from the others. While tuition is expensive, it is worth it. We definitely miss the staff and school. SLMS really spoiled us and now we can only hope to find a school of similar caliber where we are.

Run away! They charge fake fees, won't show you an invoice and no teachers just aids that get paid…read morelittle. Save yourself the headache they are a complete ripoff

If only I could give more than 5 stars! That's how highly I recommend and love Prairieland…read moreMontessori! Both of my girls started their pre-K experience here (Lincoln location) and loved every second of it (across 4 years). The entire experience has been stellar from the incredible teaching staff, administration, classroom environment, Montesorri teachings and the health and safety of the kids. A true neighborhood pre-school gem!!!

My daughter recently graduated from Prairieland and we couldn't have had a better experience! She…read morewas able to develop independence and a love of learning, and she has excelled at her new school because of her experience at Prairieland. I would highly recommend this school to families who are interested in a community that embraces the Montessori philosophy in a welcoming, vibrant, and fun atmosphere with fantastic teachers!

We were only at Green Beginnings for 6 months during the brief time we lived in West Town, but GB…read moremade a lasting impact on me and my family! Special thanks to Krissy who did a virtual tour with us via Zoom when we were still living halfway across the country at the time. Once we moved to Chicago, we really appreciated the first few transitional half-days before the official start date. This not only helped ease our child into a new routine, but also eased our minds as well (so helpful as parents who, at the time, were doing childcare for the first time). We loved the community that existed at the center. Krissy and Katie were great at hosting everything from themed events to monthly family gatherings. All the outings were a fun way to meet and connect with other families. Although we're in the Chicago suburbs now and at a different school, we still think back fondly to our time at GB. Thank you for truly being the first place to make us feel at home in Chicagoland!

After 7.5 years, my family just made our final tuition payment at Green Beginnings and I truly…read morebelieve it to be the best money we have spent in the most formative years of our children's lives. For those of you who are new to the daycare search, you have to know Green Beginnings has the best aspects of whatever it is you are looking for. Admirable, Local Ownership . Green Beginnings is a WOMEN-OWNED, local business, fully operated by two incredible ladies - Katie Darcy and Krissy Ramirez. They are compassionate educators (former CPS kindergarten teachers) and contemporary professionals that just genuinely love kids. They run the whole business and when you see Krissy there at 6am every day and Katie there past 6pm every night, you also just see how your money is going to some strong AF, hard-working women who are physically present, emotionally and professionally supporting the staff and families every. single. day. Reliability & Retention But seriously, I swear these women don't take a day off (probably because they know you can't take a day off!). They are reliable and supportive and it shows in how they retain teacher talent for YEARS. Several teachers that cared for my almost 8 year old as an infant are STILL THERE and they are happy and thriving. (For those of you who are new to the daycare search, this is not the normal. Often times, the door on daycares rotates so quickly it's concerning, but not at Green Beginnings). I see the same teachers welcome my son every single morning and he runs to them willingly, always excited about the day ahead. Teachers The teachers are warm and loving, trained in early education, and also excellent communicators. They send thorough email updates once a week that detail all of what your child learned / studied, while not overwhelming you with too much information. Some daycares have an app where they post pictures all day for you, but I think GB is smart and strategic for not doing that. For one, they want the teachers engaging your child instead of pulling out their phone and photographing them. For two, they also want to let you do your job and don't see value in distracting you all day. Routine I have 3 kids and 7 years of sample data with which I can say GB creates kids that are comfortable with schedules and emotionally regulated. The toddlers know how to follow directions and operate many tasks independently before they even turn 2. Very importantly, they also know how to nap. Sustainability The meals/menu at GB are nutritious - organic, sourced locally and filled with variety. (You send their food for the first few months while they're an infant, but after that - all snacks and meals are covered within the tuition). As a result of all the early food exposure, I have some very open-minded eaters that willingly crush fruits and vegetables. Safety, Citizenship & Diversity GB is located on the outskirts of the West Loop, just as you enter West Town. The spot is close enough to the loop to be convenient for downtown commuters, but just far enough outside of the loop to be safe and easy to park. By nature of the location, the surrounding population is truly multicultural and I love that Green Beginnings doesn't shy away. The teachers routinely take the kids on walks around the neighborhood, often over to Union Park to play. I've seen them do it and the way the kids listen to these teachers, cooperate and hold hands is MIND BOGGLING. The staff is so on it they are basically training your toddler in city safety. Doing so makes you child safety-minded citizens when on walks with you too! Front Desk I can't sleep on the administrative support and front desk staff at GB. They are a treasure. Again, the same trusted women have greeted us every day of the 7 years we've gone there; they keep chit chat short, warm and 100% non-judging (and there were LOTS of mornings that merited judgement!). If you need paperwork for taxes or a schedule adjustment - they've got you. They're easy to communicate with and quick to respond to email. Affordability Lastly (and arguably the most valuable detail) - Green Beginnings is affordable and priced correctly. We're moving and, only because of that, I've recently started looking at the price of alternative child care. The GB monthly tuition is comparable to SOME other full time daycares I've researched but lower and more flexible than MANY. Daycare is a huge expense for most families in the city and GB understands that. They run a lean operation to keep the cost accessible while still paying their team well. Inside the window of their office is a little wooden sign that says "little girls with dreams become women of vision" and seeing it everyday reminds me that their commitment to their careers is what has fully allowed me to commit to mine. I'm eternally grateful to them for providing our family this incredible foundation for the last 8 years.

Our son has attended Ivy Garden since 6 months old. He has now graduated from two infant level…read moreclasses and onto the toddler classroom! As first time parents, we were anxious about daycares and thoroughly researched all nearby options before landing here. We absolutely love this school/daycare! The teachers are so attentive, experienced, and kind. Our son loves each teacher he has had and enjoys going to school everyday. As parents, we trust they have his safety and development in mind. Since starting, he has been coming home with new sign language, words, and preacademic skills (e.g., shapes, letters) constantly. We especially love the academic and events programming. From weekly themes, science lessons, to holiday events (e.g. Valentine's Day dance, Easter egg hunt). I know the older kids go on field trips too. The school also offers organic meals that our picky eater actually enjoys! Personally, it was also very important for our biracial son to attend a school with diverse peers and teachers. He's class is made up of 80% mixed race classmates which is incredible! We couldn't have asked for a better daycare!

I can't say enough great things about Ivy Garden South Loop. I enrolled both my boys there starting…read moreat 2 months old. The care they received at every stage was phenomenal. The teachers were very warm. The curriculum is challenging and stimulating. The parent community is supportive. My kids really thrived at IG, and we will always be thankful for this opportunity.

My family had an excellent experience at University Village Montessori. My daughter started in the…read moreinfant classroom and progressed to the toddler class before we moved away. The teachers and staff members were kind, warm, and attentive. They fostered my daughter's intrinsic motivation to learn and make her environment better. The school's enrichment events are also great. By attending, we got to know other parents and truly felt like we were part of a community. Ms. Kiran was nothing but kind and helpful whenever we needed anything. I would strongly recommend UVMS!

Did a tour here and the owner Kiran was very rude. Not at all warm. It seems like she only cares…read moreabout the curriculum and not the actual babies well being and absolutely doesn't care about the parents emotional concerns. I would never send my child here.

Our son started at the Goddard School part-time at 12 months and has since transitioned full time…read more The Goddard School staff has been incredibly supportive of our family and their willingness to accommodate us as we transitioned into daycare for the first time was above and beyond. In addition to their support, our son is growing and learning each day. We are impressed with the amount of continuous exposure he receives to new curriculum, diversity, and care. The Goddard staff has built our trust!

Picking a daycare is one of the most difficult things to do as a new parent. I have to say we are…read moreso unbelievably grateful to have found the Goddard School West Loop. The administration was ready to work with us and support us the moment we stepped in the door. They truly care about our family and ready to help us with any and all questions. The kitchen staff went out of their way to even give us meal plans for home when we weren't sure about serving sizes based on our baby's age. Lastly, the teaching staff. They are truly the most amazing group of people. I feel like I am dropping my girl off with family every day. (Family that is trained and skilled in early child development!) My daughter is loved and being taught important life skills every day. We are beyond blessed to have this village of incredible people on our team!

First I'd like to say that my child does not go here and this review is solely based on my tour…read more The staff seemed okay. The tour was enough to make me want to escape run. This place was so overcrowded. Kids sitting on the floor in line in diapers waiting to use the bathroom. I could barely talk to the staff because it smelled so bad that I wanted to throw up. The small was a combination of feces and sweet potatoes. The place is too small for so many little ones. They did not seem like they were getting the proper attention. I was looking for an affordable place for my toddler in a neighborhood full of expensive preschools but there is no way I would send my child here.

its 6th month that we are sending our son to l and l academy. He is 19 months now. I dont have a…read morecomparison place, this is the first time we send him to a place away from us. But the 5 star is based on the intercation and learning curve of my son. He learns new thing and seems to be enjoying. He des cries when he goes and comes back but then he was so used to staying with me that i think the change was oo big for him but he has gotten better each day. The teacher always answer question, very adjusting with our schedule and there are fun activity all the time. Photos are send every friday and what they do are put up on noticeboard everyday. I am specially impressed with Miss Danielle's flexibility and ease of conversation and Miss Lindsay's dedication towards I can only say abut my son :)

My son has been at LPP for about a year now and LPP is truly fantastic!…read more Prior to enrolling my son, I did a thorough search and visited 5-10 different daycares/preschools before selecting LPP. Every aspect of LPP is very well thought out -- whether it be how they manage food allergies (my son has several) to how they prepare and execute parent teacher conferences to the weekly curriculums to how they retain their staff (teachers sign a year long contract). And most importantly, the teachers really care and know the students. Each day, they send home little notes about what each student did and details of my son that they provide can only captured by listening and knowing him. I know it can be tough to get into but it is absolutely worth it.

We looked far and wide in our search for preschools for our daughter when she was 2-1/2. Since it…read morewas her first school experience, it was really important to us that she love it (we wanted the first associations to be great). There are many great preschools in Chicago, and particularly the Near North Side, where we live. But LPP was really the right choice for us. The space is open and full of light (no windowless tunnels of classrooms, as we saw in lots of schools). The kids go to Lincoln Park, Astor Park, the zoo, or the tot lot every day. There is lots of imaginative play. But most importantly, the teachers are AWESOME. They are young, motivated, passionate about what they do, loving and nurturing. When you walk into the school to drop off or pick up, you just start to feel happy. Everyone is greeted and gets a smile (and the kids get hugs). There is a huge teaching emphasis on positive interactions with others -- sharing, kindness, laughter. Also, attitudinally, the school (and the parents who seem to end up there) is just mellow and sweet. Highly recommend. My daughter has such a great time there, and we've seen her skills and confidence grow in the past year. Of course, it all comes at a price -- but if you can afford it, it's certainly worth it and not out of line with other schools in the area. P.S. If you really want your child here, you may have to do as we did - keep calling back after you are waitlisted to remind them of your interest, and be flexible about your schedule -- days you are willing to come.