The whole place is a sham! Bought out by investment bankers who closed it down with no notice and just a sign on the door when they couldn't hit their returns and left families, kids, and employees stranded. Would not refund money to those who paid in advance. Just horrible and thoughtless cutthroats. read more

We left Sonnets Academy about one month ago, but my hands were still trembling as I am typing this review because of our terrible experience when the director Brianne gaslighted our 2.5 year old child and our entire family. During our tour, we told Brianne our kid needs to self-regulate when he is really upset or throwing a tantrum; however, they won't listen. It took them more than a whole week to realize what we told them was the best approach. On day 2, Brianne told us we need to do an OT evaluation and diagnostic evaluation because our kid needs to see snacks before he understand it's time to eat and he grabs a friend's wrist to take a toy. That friend wasn't hurt and we didn't receive any incident report. We asked for a video footage, but received no response. The Monday after day light savings (about 2 weeks in this daycare), our kid had a big fuss being dropped off. We were told he cried for an hour, which never happened in his life before. We were told the teacher couldn't really leave him alone despite the fact that they knew that's the best way. Because of this episode, Brianne pushed again for diagnostic evaluation and said our kid should go to therapeutic daycare. As far as I know, she is not a licensed clinician and all the behaviors she mentioned weren't supported by video footage. My kid is a sweet child in teachers' bi-weekly update, but Brianne accused a 2.5 year old being a safety concern to teachers. Another unbelievable thing is that Sonnets made parents' communications with teachers extremely inconvenient. Parents can see the teacher for 2 seconds during the morning drop off, and only before 8:30 am. All pick-ups are done by the admins and kids meet parents in the lobby. Teachers can't respond to parents' messages directly via the app. The only way to talk to the teacher is through arranging a meeting. Sonnets is very inflexible - Brianne doesn't want to work with parents or therapists to meet the needs of kids, but wants the kids to meet their rigid rules. If your kid doesn't "fit in their box" or there's any sign that your kid needs "more work" from the teacher, which is probably what Brianne uses her claimed therapeutic background for, Sonnets will make you suffer. We relocated a few months ago and started Sonnets, a new daycare for our kid. All those transitions can be hard on a 2.5 year old. Instead of helping the child adjust to his new life, Sonnets is blaming everything on our family. It's hard to believe there is a daycare that doesn't care for the kids at all, or at the minimum, do their job. Side note: our kid is now in another traditional daycare and is doing very well. He is happy and is adjusting very quickly to the new routines. I'm very glad we left Sonnet and hope another child won't have to go through this. read more

We absolutely adored Sonnets for infant care. Our daughter Rory began at Sonnets in Lincoln Park when she was 6 months old. The teachers, especially lead teacher Miss JR, were all so comforting, warm, and welcoming during her first week. Whenever we brought our daughter to the door for drop off, she got happy and cuddled with the teacher. A couple things that make Sonnets for infant care unique: firstly they divide classrooms by age cohort so the babies are grouped by 3 months of age. It is such a huge benefit because the children are on similar nap and play schedules. Secondly, the infant classroom size itself is capped at 8, which makes it a quieter atmosphere. Sonnets is also great at sending updates during the day, so you know how your baby is faring. Overall, could not have had a better experience with Sonnets and we are so grateful to the teachers and staff for keeping up such wonderful work. read more

Sending your baby to daycare for the first time is always fraught, I'm sure, and it takes on a special twinge in the middle of the pandemic. So to say that Sonnets Academy has provided my family the utmost peace of mind is a very high compliment. Sonnets has been incredibly responsible about their COVID procedures, keeping parents completely informed while also making it as easy as possible to navigate day-to-day. Though these safety needs may dissipate soon (fingers crossed!), this experience proves how capable the team is of excelling in even the most trying times. All of the teachers and staff are wonderful. They are communicative and responsive, both about overarching school decisions, classroom-specific learning plans, and the details regarding your own child (for instance, how s/he is doing every week, the skills they're working on improving, or any special needs like allergies). The lesson plans are creative and thoughtful, ensuring that even infants have variety and different kinds of play in their day. And the X-factor--they just really love your baby. My husband and I toured multiple daycares, and the feeling is palpably different with the team at Sonnets. It feels like a community, not a factory. They learn his/her quirks, they are incredibly invested in their development, and that's probably why our little one starts grinning almost every day when we approach the daycare door. Hard to ask for a better endorsement than that! read more

I am writing this review today as a goodbye to Sonnets Academy in Lincoln Park. Our son started at Sonnets when he was 4 months old and went straight through until last week. Today he started Kindergarten. SA-LP is a special place for many reasons but I think one of the most important is the director Brianne and her involvement in every aspect of the school. She is a confident leader and as a parent, I never doubted her a bit. Another distinctive factor of SA-LP is the proximity to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the green space that comes with it. Our son knew how the Zoo was laid out better than we did because he went with his classmates so frequently. They visited the Boardwalk, the farm, the archway and so much more on a regular basis. While other daycares in the city are going to parks, SA-LP is taking the kids to the LP Zoo. It's such a GREAT location. We will truly miss SA-LP, Brianne and all the wonderful teachers and friends we've made along the way. SA-LP make childcare so easy for the first 5 years of our son's life and we couldn't be happier with our experience. read more

My son has been enrolled at Sonnets (formerly American Kidz) Academy since he was 10 months old, and he is now in Pre-School there. We experienced some transitional times in terms of teachers and leadership, but then Brianne become the Director, and it transitioned to new ownership, and we couldn't be happier with this school. Brianne's leadership is a main reason for our happiness here. She has had a hands-on role, especially during difficult transitional times. My son had a hard time when he moved up rooms, and Brianne spent time with him each morning until he settled into his new room. Even now, when he comes in late or something is different, she's available to help him say goodbye and join the rest of the class. The teachers are also fantastic. They truly know and care about my son. They know and communicate to us his strengths, what he should be working on at home, and how we can help him achieve milestones. They know what he's currently interested in, and who his friends are. When he transitioned up to his last room, they planned it so he could move the same week as his closest friend. He's learning and experiencing so much more than I could ever provide to him at home. The other great thing about this school is the location and building. They take walks regularly through Lincoln Park Zoo, or go to one of the many parks around the area. And they have a fantastic gym in the basement - which allows my son to run around and get plenty of exercise year round. This is not just a place that watches my kid while I go to work - it enriches his life, and we're so happy to be a part of it. read more

Incredible daycare with wonderful, caring staff. Our daughter has been going here for the past year, and we all are so happy about the experience. The space is beautiful and clean, the teachers are amazing, they take the kids out for walks to the zoo, and they are great at communicating with parents. Very happy with the choice to send our daughter to Sonnets! read more

My husband and I started looking for childcare for our daughter when I was six months pregnant, and we toured all of the best infant schools in Chicago. Sonnets Academy was this first school we visited, and what we loved was how engaged both the director and the teachers were. At some of the other schools, it felt very much like daycare, but at Sonnets, it felt like the children -- even the infants -- are given the opportunity to really learn. For this review I want to focus on three main areas that have impressed me the most: the onboarding of new students, the teachers and curriculum, and the location. ONBOARDING Our daughter started at Sonnets Academy when she was three months old, and for the first two months she went in three days a week. The teachers spent the first few weeks really bonding with my daughter -- with lots of cuddle time -- and brought extra support into the room so that all of the children would have equal attention. The director sent updates throughout the day during the first few weeks to help put my mind at ease, and each day the teachers provided (and still do), a detailed report of challenges and accomplishments for the day. Additionally, the teachers uploaded (and still do) photos of the children to a private photo sharing website, so that we can see them in action. There are only three other children in my daughter's classroom, with two teachers and several helpers who come in and out of the room throughout the day. That is by far the best student-teacher ratio I saw during all of our tours. TEACHERS + CURRICULUM The director of the school is very involved with each classroom, and the teachers draft customized lesson plans on a weekly basis that promote early childhood development -- even in the infant room. Each week there is a new theme, and all of the activities are designed for sensory and motor skills. I love that my daughter -- at six months old -- does art projects every day. We already have a refrigerator full of art! There are also special teachers who come in the classroom once a week to do yoga, music, and Spanish. My daughter absolutely loves music. Speaking specifically for the teachers in the infant room (since that's who we know) -- they are very hands-on and care so much about the children. They are truly an extension of our family. LOCATION We absolutely love the location! It's across the street from the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the children go to the zoo or the park whenever the weather is nice. The drop-off and pick-up is very simple, and there is on-street temporary parking for easy drop-off if you do drive. The school is close enough to my house that I can walk if the weather is nice. But, there are also several bus stops within a two-block radius of the school. All of that said -- we absolutely love Sonnet's Academy and could never imagine sending our daughter anywhere else. It is the BEST! read more

We had two kids go through Sonnets Lincoln Park. Both started at 12 weeks and went until age 5 (and graduated from Sonnets) and age 2.5, when we moved to the suburbs. Sonnets did an excellent job preparing our daughter for kindergarten and beyond both academically and social/emotionally. Not to mention, they helped us potty train both kids and cared for them like family. The staff at Sonnets truly and deeply cared for our kids. The cleanliness of the facility was high and I believe that it contributed to our kids not getting the common "daycare cold" (knock on wood). The menu choices and variety of healthy foods made me happy as a mom who cares about organics and fresh foods. Another thing that I loved about Sonnets LP, in particular, is the proximity to the zoo, boardwalk and green city market. The chance for kids to experience these Chicago attractions weekly is another gift of having my kids at Sonnets. If you want your kids to make lifelong friendships, experience excellent foundational learning, feel safe and well cared for, this is the place for you! read more

We have been at sonnets with our daughter for 2.5 years and sadly today is her last day as she is moving on to big kid school! Finding sonnets was the best thing that happened to our family. Sonnets offered us all consistent, reliable care in a environment that our daughter thrived in. At almost 4 years old now she is a happy, confident, socialable child that loves school and loves her friends. Brianne the director is running a fantastic facility with great staff and has a very good pulse on each child and each classroom. I highly highly recommend this facility to any parent looking for care for their children. We will miss the staff so much and are so thankful for everyone and our time here. read more

I cannot write enough good things about Sonnets in Lincoln Park. As someone who was debating and researched many childcare options, including a nanny and all of the top infant programs in the area, I now will always have my children in daycare (if it's at Sonnets!). I wanted our daughter to be safe and well cared for, and the Sonnets experience has not only done that, but greatly exceeded my expectations. Our daughter started when she was 3 months old and has blossomed in this environment. When I drop her off, she immediately will smile and start playing - she is so happy at Sonnets. Our pediatrician even commented on how 'advanced' she is, and I attribute that to her teachers. They are fantastic, we love them - they always take extra time to talk about our daughter's day (and our day!) and you can tell it's not just going through the motions, but that they really care. We have learned so much from them, I feel like I have a question every day as a new parent, and they are always more than happy to help and work on different things with our child. The 'curriculum' is also very impressive. Each week we receive a sheet with a 'theme' and the planned activities to further the children's development - the variety and creativity blows me away. Our daughter is getting so much more stimulation, socialization, and fun learning - from music class to art to playing with her friends - than I could provide at home. The director, Brianne, is also very involved and goes above and beyond to ensure families are comfortable. It was so reassuring when she spent time with our daughter on her first day and sent us pictures. It is apparent that she is investing in the curriculum and classrooms at Sonnets. Sonnets has played such an integral part in our daughter's young life and made us happy parents, we talk all of the time about how thrilled we are to have found it. It has been an incredibly positive experience, 5 stars isn't enough! read more

We had an amazing experience at Sonnets for the year and a half or so that our 3 year old son was there. The care is unbelievable and it really felt like family. The teachers are truly top notch. We noticed a huge improvement in our son's behavior after switching to Sonnets from his previous daycare (which was also highly rated) that cannot be attributed to him just growing out of a phase. He was much more polite, considerate of others, shared better with other kids and was more understanding when we told him "no". I was a little surprised to have parent/teacher conferences when he was only two years old but that was a great experience as well. They are extremely detailed in what information they record and are able to cater the care to help your child improve in areas that are not their current strengths. For instance, in our first conference, most of the goals were about improving our son's vocabulary and communication skills. In his second conference, a year later, we were all marveling over how expansive his vocabulary was and how great of a communicator he is. The goals in the second conference were completely different than the first because he had improved his communication skill so much. We unfortunately had to pull our son out of Sonnets recently because we moved to Seattle but we were heartbroken over it. read more

I have both a toddler (almost 3) and a 5 month old at Sonnets Lincoln Park. My toddler started there at 3 months old (when it was American Kidz Academy). We love the school and it has been amazing for our toddler - she has learned so much and made great friends and is happy to go every day. We love the access to the zoo, nature boardwalk, farmer's market in the summer, playgrounds, etc. - we think it's great they go out on adventures every day (weather permitting) rather than staying in a school playground for outdoor time. The food is great, the director is great and all the teachers my girls have had are great! It's a real community and they do events on the weekends occasionally in the summer (like a music day in the park or an event at the Children's Museum - to which you get a free membership with enrollment) to foster that community. My 5mo also started at 3mo and is in the infant room. I am really happy with her teachers.They have been really helping my daughter learn to self soothe and it is helping my daughter get herself to sleep better at home. My daughter's teachers engage her every day with art projects, books and music and she is happy to see them in the morning and is always happy when I pick her up. I couldn't be happier with how she's doing. They also just started using an app to update us on the kids each day, so you can see each time they eat, poop, sleep and do an activity. They also post pictures. I think it's a great new thing they offer and I love having the updates pop up on my phone throughout the day. Overall, I would highly recommend Sonnets to any parent looking for daycare in Lincoln Park! read more

This is an awesome day care center. I love the decor and comfy environment. I also like the kind hearted staff. The staff make children and parents feel welcome. I also like the positive environment surrounding the center. read more

We started our daughter at 4 months at Sonnets in LP in the infant room and she is now 13 months old in the older infant room. Sonnets has been such an amazing place for our family. It is such a relief as a working mom to drop our daughter off at a place I know is taking fabulous care of her and pick her up happy, healthy, and full of excitement. The teachers are great, super loving and caring. They plan great activities and help the children learn, grow and develop. All the parents are very friendly, and while I am not actually friends with any (yet), it is great to have quick conversations with them in passing. The whole place truly has a great sense of community. The Director, Brianne, runs a tight ship which I really appreciate! The updates on Brightwheel are amazing and truly make my day at work. I would highly recommend this daycare and happy to reply to messages if anyone has any questions. read more

Sonnets is a place I feel 100 percent comfortable leaving my child. They really know my child and care about our family. The director, Brianne, as well as every member of the Sonnets team, is truly invested in the development of all the students. The curriculum is rigorous, but developmentally appropriate. I am amazed at what my child has learned so far. Spanish, yoga, and music enrichment are an added bonus and my daughter loves these classes. Daily outings in the neighborhood are another bonus for this location. The zoo, farmer's market, and local parks are frequent stops for the children. The food is wonderful and they offer a wide variety as well as specialized menus if desired. (Vegan...) I know my daughter is eating well at school so those days or dinner is lacking, I don't feel as bad! Brianne and her team also offer a variety of additional activitiesfor families that make Lincoln Park a special place. The canvases from a recent Family Art Night now grace the hallways of the school and the children love to see their creations every day. The Lincoln Park team is also great when an issue or emergency occur. (You hope you never get that call, but things happen. ) My daughter happens to have a few medical issues and they have been super about accommodations for her. If your child ever gets ill at school, you will find them being given the extra care you would want for your child in that situation. I highly recommend Sonnets. They provide opportunities I would never be able to. read more

My husband and I were a bit behind the ball when we finally made our decision that we wanted our child to attend daycare. We feel so lucky that we got into Sonnets, and are unbelievably happy with our decision. We started when our daughter was almost 4 months old. From the first second that we dropped her off, we felt that she was in great hands. The staff are wonderful, and legitimately care about each and every child at the daycare. They are incredibly receptive to ensuring that each child's routines from home are carried through in the classroom, which is amazing! They manage to do this, and still maintain a thorough curriculum. Each week there is a particular lesson plan, even in the infant classroom. Our daughter is constantly doing art projects, sensory activities, yoga, Spanish, sign language, music, etc. I could go on and on. Additionally, we receive a thorough written and oral report at the end of the day. (And we even see pictures during the day!) It is great to hear about her day, what food she may or may not like, what she's learned, etc. I often feel as though they take much better care of her than I do on the weekends! As I mentioned above, we've been incredibly impressed with the Staff. They are all so caring and dedicated, and this certainly extends to the Director, Brianne, and the Assistant-Director, Ashley. They are hardworking, responsive, and caring. They go above and beyond to know what is going on with each child, and they are constantly striving to make Sonnets and even better place. Brianne and Ashley have made us feel so grateful with our decision. Needless to say, I absolutely recommend Sonnets Academy. read more

My husband and I started to look at daycare options for when our son would turn 3 months old. Nannies were just as expensive but no social interaction and our home wasn't big enough to board an au pair also no social interaction. So Sonnets Academy Lincoln Park (then called American Kidz Academy) was our best option. Of course, you hear stigmas about "daycares" not being safe, neglect children, etc. But we felt it was a warm, safe, educational environment in which we would want our son to participate. It was a little rough at first because of the AKA management. But when Brianne took over along with the new owners, you could definitely tell that they had their stuff together and were determined to make Sonnets Academy the best daycare center. And we feel they have! You can tell that the teachers genuinely care about our son (and all of the kids!). They keep us very informed of how our son's day goes which is helpful to understand his development. They really want to teach children and to have that learning be fun and playful! It's comforting that they have themed weeks and different activities in addition to playing, so they have structure in their day to help them feel secure to enjoy their day there. Sonnets also keeps the families very involved by having various events and family nights to help bring the community together, like a school should. Sonnets Lincoln Park is also very convenient to our home which is within walking distance, close bus stops, and easy drop-off parking area if we need to drive. We also love that it's so close to Lincoln Park where our son can go to the zoo almost everyday and enjoy the park which is right there! Our now 2-year-old loves going to school! We highly recommend Sonnets Academy Lincoln Park. read more

Before enrolling my son in day care we toured several different options. By far Sonnets seemed to be the best, but of course we were still nervous about leaving our son with "strangers". The reality is that the environment at Sonnets is so great that I feel so comfortable leaving him there everyday. The curriculum is fantastic. My son is now in the young twos room. Every weekend we receive a detailed plan with activities for the week. There are also weekly newsletters and a snapfish account where you can see pictures of activities from the classroom where your child is. Children engage in art activities, music classes, Spanish lessons, Yoga, etc. They have a huge gross motor room, which is ideal when the weather does not permit them to go out. They usually go out twice a day (most day cares only take kids out once a day). Teachers are caring and know each child super well. Brianne, the director, is fantastic. Very responsive to requests and clarifications on the care provided and any other administrative issues. I truly love the place and would recommend to anyone that is looking for good quality childcare in Lincoln Park. read more

Sonnet's is hands down the best "daycare" (really early childhood education) in Lincoln Park. When I was pregnant I literally toured every highly rated or recommended infant daycare program in LP (I'm a lawyer and like to be comprehensive) and believed that Sonnet's would be the best fit for our 3 month old when it came time for me to return to work, and a month in I could not feel better about our choice. Both of his teachers are affectionate and caring (sometimes I swear he wants to stay with them at the end of the day haha) and the administrators are easy to reach and often in the classrooms working with the kids. I feel so comfortable leaving him there every day because I can check in on him on their Brightwheel app while I'm at work and see how well he's eating and sleeping and also enjoy the constant stream of photos of him laughing and playing. I think it's great that they take the kids outside and the location being across from the zoo and Lincoln Park couldn't be better. I also love that even though he's so little they still have him engaged in each lesson, project, and activity (he's come home with loads of art work, laughs and smiles while shaking maracas during music and Spanish, etc.). I swear if I had decided to be a stay at home mom I couldn't do a better job. The building is very secure and everything within his classroom and the facility in general seems to run very seamlessly. They have an indoor play area downstairs and organic food delivered by a local company. The rooms are bright and cheerful, filled with constantly changing art and engaging toys. And I think it's so great that they pay attention to the little details, such as adding our family photos to our son's crib so he can see us when he falls asleep and wakes up. I've even picked up some great resources that our son really enjoys (Rockabye Baby! - lullaby versions of popular artists' songs). Basically, I can't say enough great things. I'll be forever grateful for them helping me to make a guilt-free transition back to work. read more

My 2 year old son has been attending Sonnets Academy for the past year and I can't say enough good things about it! He absolutely thrives in the challenging, nurturing environment provided by Sonnets. From the weekly yoga classes, to Spanish music class, he looks forward to every day he spends there. The facility is located near the Lincoln Park Zoo and the children spend time there frequently. The staff is amazing! Always willing to answer questions no matter how odd they may seem. The children seem to be taught true love and empathy and affection is encouraged among them. I frequently get photos showing my son hugging his teachers and classmates. The Bright Wheel app they use for communicating information to parents about their children is AWESOME! I look forward to receiving my daily photos! The children are provided with wholesome, healthy, organic food options. They've really helped us in potty training our son. I really can't say enough good things about Sonnets Academy. Even though our family recently moved to Evanston we continue to make the drive to Sonnets because finding a more convenient alternative of similar quality has proved to be difficult. As a working mom, knowing my little boy is absolutely thriving in his daily activities offers such peace of mind. It's an incredibly loving and positive environment for children and it is worth every dime! read more

Sonnets Academy is a wonderful, loving place to send your child. The teachers care deeply about the children (and their parents) and want to ensure they have the best educational experience possible. They are incredibly attentive to developmental milestones and have creative, interactive and fun ways to teach the kids. They work with each child to help them learn in a way that is best for them. Our child was in a bad environment at his previous school and we needed to move him out quickly. We toured several schools, and knew immediately that Sonnets was the perfect place. The Executive Director and the teachers spent hours with us during that time to ensure our child's transition was a positive experience, and it went so well. He loves going to school now. We are grateful for the attention and kindness we received (and continue to receive). We just had our first conference and it was clear that his teachers spent hours preparing for the meeting to ensure we had very comprehensive feedback. We just enrolled our second child at Sonnets and her time there so far has been excellent. Although she is very young, she is doing art and sensory projects, going on walks, having Spanish lessons, and enjoying circle time with her friends. She seems very happy to be there. Sonnets is a warm and nurturing place that seeks to provide the best education for all of its students. read more

I have a 7 month old daughter who has been attending Sonnets for the past 3 months and I cannot say enough good things about our experience. The teachers are fantastic and it is evident that they really care. They were able to connect with my daughter immediately and learn her wants and needs. They have kept her on the specific schedule we requested which made the transition seamless. They keep track of her schedule and share very detailed information on feeding, naps, activities etc. They are constantly coming up with fun activities for the little ones that are engaging and educational and it is clear she has a great time from the pictures that are sent to us each day. It feels like a family and I enjoy the fact that my daughter shows clear excitement to be there each day as she lights up when she sees her teachers. The classrooms are very clean, well organized and full of fun toys for the little ones. I would highly recommend Sonnets to anyone looking for a great daycare! read more

Our daughter started at Sonnets Academy (FKA American Kidz Academy) in late 2013. Since Sonnets has taken ownership we have been very, very happy with the attention and care our daughter receives. Prior to Sonnets taking the over, we did have several issues with teacher and administration turnover, the care of our daughter was never in doubt, but the frustration of dealing with new teachers and a revolving door of directors was frustrating. A sense of direction and leadership was clearly lacking. And then Sonnets stepped in. We have been so very pleased with the availability of not just the administration, but the Executive Leadership of Sonnets. My wife and I cannot speak highly enough of Brianne, the Director of the Lincoln Park location. She has not only done a wonderful job helping right the ship in terms of stabilizing the staff and drastically reducing teacher turnover, but has driven the school with enhanced curriculum. Brianne has also spearheaded several school-wide events like the annual Holiday and Spring shows. As parent these events are a pure joy to attend. I would highly recommend Sonnets Academy to those considering daycare for their children. read more