We joined The Nook last year and couldn't be happier with our daughters experience. She has absolutely blossomed and thrived, has felt very comfortable and happily runs into her classroom everyday. The Nook is an incredibly special place, and that is owed to the caring and attentive teachers and administration. Jasmine made the transition in putting our child into daycare seamless and provided so much comfort in this step. The teachers, especially the Toddler room (Marlen, Yrais, and Daisy) where our daughter spent most of her time, are exceptional at what they do and provides so much love and care for the kids. Sending our child to The Nook was a no brainer and we would choose The Nook over and over again. read more

I have worked at The Nook for 6 years. The Nook Daycare from Jasmin (director) to the higher management provide the tools you need to enhance your skills. From staff development, online training and CPR classes. The Nook daycare is a company that invest in their core values which is Love, learn and collaborate. read more

The Nook has been a part of our family for five (!) years. We've had the privilege of sending both our children there, starting in the infant room. We can't say enough wonderful things about the teachers, administration, community, communication, and overall high caliber of caregiving. We found the Nook when we had a fast cross-country move for a new job. In our previous city (Los Angeles), we had vetted daycares throughout my pregnancy. It's a huge decision to leave your baby in someone else's care. We ended up moving to Bucktown and luckily the Nook had a rare opening for our daughter, who was five months old at the time. Fast forward, our daughter is a Nook preschool graduate and now in a gifted kindergarten program. In our time, there has been little turnover with the teachers. Both my kids started with Ms Mabel and Ms Laura in the infant room. My son absolutely adores his Tike (Ceci and Chiquitha) and Toddler teachers (Jessica and Ellie). Marlen is his best friend in the whole world - he lights up when he sees her! Shira the chef makes delicious organic food, so I know they're eating well. Jasmin and Janette have such a deep understanding of each child's needs, and truly work with the parents on developmental steps. The daily communication, with pics, videos and messages through Brightwheel, is outstanding. Not to mention the wide range of enrichment programs (music, Spanish, sign language, yoga!) The only reason we are leaving is due to a move. We are so broken hearted to leave this wonderful, loving, nurturing community. THANK YOU to the Nook for being part of our village. We are beyond grateful! read more

Deciding to do daycare and then which daycare was a daunting process, but I could not be more thrilled with Nook #1. I just double-checked the calendar because my (now) toddler has been there for almost a year but it feels much longer, in a good way. In deciding between Nook and another school that was newer, bigger, and a bit fancier, I ultimately went with Nook as it had the best word of mouth from parents I talked to and I liked the smaller feel, and am so happy I did. It really feels like a close-knit community, and not only do my child's teachers know her well, all the teachers do. She's about to move to the next class up and she already loves and knows those teachers so well, it barely feels like a transition. I cannot imagine more caring people - from the teachers (shout out to Jessica, Marlen, Ellie, Cece, and Chiquitha!) to Jasmin who keeps it all running seamlessly, to the incredible chef (and goodness knows these toddlers can eat!), they are so invested in my child and asking about every little thing she has going on, if she's out sick or has a doctor's appt, knowing her likes, dislikes, and quirks, etc. I've seen so many positive changes and progress from dramatically improved socialization and sharing, early/advanced communication and verbal skills, and more, and I attribute much of that to Nook, the creative thoughtful lesson plans, and the amazing humans who work there. read more

No matter where you are in your research for selecting which daycare you should enroll your child in, you can stop searching - now. Because The Nook#1 in Bucktown is unbeatable. Under the direction of Jasmin, this daycare is nothing short of amazing. She hires the best staff to care for your children, and knows how to keep her teachers - despite the high turnover rate in Early Childhood Education. Anywhere from Ms. Marlen in the Toddler Room, Ms. Ceci and Ms. Chiquitha being a powerhouse combo in the Tikes Room, to even the magical Chef Shira in the kitchen, somehow convincing your child to eat a salad! Since joining the Nook in March of 2021 (despite the aftermath of COVID), I've felt the strong sense of community that surrounds this daycare and have not worried AT ALL about the quality of care my children have received. Whether you're a parent looking for socialization skills, an enriching curriculum (with Spanish, Sign Language, Music, Dance, Yoga, Sports, etc.), guidance with behavioral issues, support with potty training or picky eating - or simply, just help to raise a good human being - The Nook is the right choice. I never would have anticipated considering my children's daycare as an extension of my family, but here we are with two children enrolled and loving every day of it and without reservations for future children. [For what it's worth, ANY quality daycare will be equivalent to a mortgage payment - the value of this daycare is beyond comparison.] read more

The Nook Daycare - Preschools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Nook! We started our child at the Nook at just 4 months old. We were initially worried about going back to work and leaving our child in someone else's care, but the Nook made the transition seamless! From the very first moment they sent plenty of messages, took lots of photos, and logged all activities in a timely manner to help reassure us that all our child's needs were being met. They created a loving, happy, friendly, and incredibly helpful atmosphere with a ton of activities, playtime, art, classes, and cuddling. I absolutely LOVED that they provided freshly prepared purées and foods on-site by their excellent chef once our child was able to eat solid foods - this is rare for daycares to do, often you have to provide purées. It was also reassuring that they had formula as backup (even during the shortage!), and they were always super careful with - and followed every instruction for - provided breastmilk, to ensure it was never wasted! We appreciated that they adhered to Illinois regulations and would keep our child in school with minor issues (runny nose without fever - which kids experience constantly), whereas some daycares will send kids home at the most minor symptom. The director, Jasmin, is amazing, organized, thoughtful, and let us know whenever there was anything special going on each week. The teachers in the infant classroom were incredible!! They were so fun and we felt that they TRULY cared about our child. They let us know about everything our child was learning, asked about home life, noted changes in milestones or behaviors, and handled difficult days always with a smile on their faces. We especially adore Ms. Laura, Ms. Mabel, and Ms. Vero! We left the Nook to move to the suburbs but we wish we could take the amazing staff and teachers with us! We could tell that our child really loves them and they love our child in return, so it was a heartfelt goodbye... but we are forever grateful to the Nook and could not recommend them more!! read more

I sent my first two kids here when they first opened 9 years ago. I loved the nook then and I'm glad I can send my third here as well. She's currently in the infant room and is so well taken care of and loved by Laura, Mabel, and Mori. :) They have thoughtful, engaging curriculum including art, music, Spanish, sign language and more. My baby is safe, intellectually stimulated, and can socialize in a healthy, supportive environment. The teachers and director are communicative, pleasant and kind. My older kids are at Pulaski now and are still friends with peers they met at the nook! read more

We absolutely loved everything about the Nook - it was such a wonderful experience. My child attended since he was 4 months old. We recently moved on as he aged out, and wish we could have stayed longer! Always responsive, everyone was incredibly kind and caring - a true community that we loved being a part of. Most importantly, my child was in a wonderful environment where he felt loved and cared for. He enjoyed going to daycare every day and was clearly well taken care of. I can't say enough about how fortunate we feel to have found the Nook for the early years of life. read more

My daughter has been with the Nook since she was 15 months old. She had a hard transition at that age (from nanny to daycare) and the teachers and administrators were SO supportive and made us feel like we could comfortably do the quick hand-off. They would always message us right away to tell us she was doing fine. She's now at the Nook Preschool and we'll be so sad to see her graduate in May. The teachers are playful, nurturing and fun and they clearly took the time to get to know our daughter. It's clear that she's learning so many new things through songs, books, crafts and other activities (spanish, yoga, outdoor walks on the 606). They always greet us with a huge smile and a report on how the day went. The videos, pictures and messages via their app (Brightwheel) keep us in the loop on what the kids are doing daily. And we always get a pile of "beautiful art" to take home :) The classrooms and clean and inviting, and The Nook also cooks their own healthy meals for the kids which is something unique to most schools in the area. While our time at the Nook was mostly consumed by COVID (which the school navigated very gracefully), we have found that the other parents and community around the school are GREAT. Everyone is super inclusive for birthdays, park meet-ups and play dates. And finally, the administrators of the school have been great - keeping us posted on admissions, understanding who our daughter is friends with in the class and transitioning them from one classroom to the next together, giving us a heads up when spots open up for our youngest. So easy to work with. read more

We so miss The Nook and the incredibly competent, responsible, loving, reliable team there-- what a gem! I was so nervous to hand off our then-5-month-old to "strangers," but they quickly assuaged all my concerns with their frequent updates and the obvious care and love they showed for him-- they took such delight in each of his developments. They were also incredibly patient every day in letting me know how he did and answering all of my questions. We miss the Nook team and wish they had a satellite operation in Oak Park! read more

My daughter was at the Nook from 6 mo to just over 2 years old. We had a fantastic experience from day one to the very last day. The teachers are amazing. They truly get to know your kid and really care. They understand milestones and transitions and help all they can with every step along the way. They were very helpful with some of the little transitions that, for a first time mom, can be a head scratcher. For example the transition to a sippy cup and sleeping in a cot, were just magically done for me. Phew! Also, on days full of anxiety (like the first first day, or first day back after international trips with jet lag babies) they were extra hands-on and communicated more than usual to help report back how the day was going. Just want to add a note here that on the very first day, they (aka Maria) were amazing. Truly. I think they sent me a pic every 20 minutes which helped me stop crying as I sat at the Starbucks a block away freaking out for no reason. They very much understand that day one is so hard, and they did everything they could to help mama feel better. (because obviously the baby was fine and having a blast!) The place itself is great as well. The location is smaller than other daycares so there are less kids per room so it just all feels a lot more intimate and less commercial. They have an in-house chef who cooks meals that make me jealous! My daughter is a picky/light eater at home, but with the meals given at daycare, I'm happy knowing she gets full healthy balanced meals there to offset her nighty 2 bites of noodles. My whole experience at The Nook was during Covid, so lots of the social activities were cancelled so can't comment on those, but I will say that Jasmin and everyone went out of their way to decorate and incorporate as much social fun stuff for families as possible. There were treats and a balloon artist once! So props to them for making the most of the hard times. In general, leaving this daycare is so hard and I'm so sad. I only hope our future daycares are as good as this one. Jasmin, the director, is a gem. She runs the place very well and therefore has really happy dedicated teachers. Every single one of the teachers cares so much and the whole Nook feels like a second home. Send your kid here with a happy heart knowing they will have the best experience from day one to the last day when you say bye bye read more

I've worked at The Nook for eight months and have loved every second of it. They are attentive and our director Jasmin is a phenomenal leader. We are given training opportunities monthly, employee outings once a month, and are taken care of like family. I can't wait to hit one year! read more

I cant say enough amazing things about The Nook! Our son went to the nook for couple of years, there is no better feeling than knowing your child is being loved and taken care of. The teachers and staff are amazing, they take care of each kid like they are their own! They also go above and beyond with how well they maintain the classrooms and constantly sanitize. There is also an in house chef always make amazing food. The teachers always support kids to be creative! Thank you the Nook! You guys will always be part of our family. read more

It's hard to find the words to express what this place means to us. Our son started at the West Town location a few months before the pandemic hit. My wife and I can't work from home and had some serious anxiety about how this all would unfold. The Nook team sprang into action. They consolidated schools and asked us to move to this location in Bucktown. They pulled all the required emergency childcare permits they needed and Ms. Jasmin and her team welcomed us with open arms. The communication was direct and transparent and we never had to wonder where we would send the little man for care. Life, for us, went on as "normal" and we are grateful to The Nook for saving two careers. Lucas has grown leaps and bounds while under their care. He is excited to see his friends and teachers (almost) every morning and ALWAYS has a new learning to share from the day's adventures. It's very apparent they engage the children consistently throughout each day and we love following along through regular updates, observations, pictures, and schedule tracking in the Brightwheel app. During the hardest of times, our family is thriving and we can only thank the team here for that. We really don't know where we'd be today without The Nook and HIGHLY recommend it. Thank you to the entire team, but especially Jasmin, Heather, Cristal, and Marlen for an incredible tenure and we only wish The Nook would open a location in South Florida. read more

My daughter loves The Nook. As a first time mom, I had no idea what to look for in a daycare, and found The Nook through a friend who was on the wait list here. We've been really happy with our decision and my daughter will be there for a year next month. In the infant room, Miss Shannon is warm and nurturing and cares for the children with a lot of love. She shows so much empathy and understanding of their development that I even got some good baby care tips from her. Since my kid graduated to the Wobbler room, she's been growing a ton: learning to eat in new ways, to play with that other babies, and to discover new things. They do a lot of sensory activities in this room and her favorite thing is music class once a week. Miss Tammie is awesome and down to earth, and as a mother she knows all about kids at this age. I can't say enough about the assistant teachers as well. I seriously adore them. Anything I've asked of this crew they've done their best to accommodate. It's been so easy with them, and is one less thing I have to think about in this hectic baby life. Oh, and Chef Ashley's cooking is thoughtfully sourced and, honestly, delicious. Every morning I kind of wish I was having some of my kid's breakfast to go. Bonus points: love the online booking option. We're part-time, so any find my mom can't babysit it's been really easy to add a day. read more

The Nook Daycare - Wish I could spend my day this way. - Preschools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We cannot say enough good things about The Nook! Our little guy started when he was 3 months old and they took the best care of him at such a young age. They've loved him like their own since the beginning, they've taught him so much and have given him so many fun experiences. The teachers there are the best and put so much effort into caring for the kids each and every day. We highly recommend The Nook! read more

Both of our daughters attended the Nook full time starting from infancy, and we couldn't be happier with their experience. The teachers in each room are so caring and attentive to every child, and they do an amazing job of teaching and keeping the children active and engaged through fun and age-appropriate enrichment activities (art, music, Spanish, yoga, dancing, sports, etc.). They send detailed updates, photos, and videos throughout the day which are fun to see and helpful for keeping track of the kids' health and education. At pick up time, both the teachers and girls always have stories they're excited to tell us about what happened that day. In addition, the teachers would do lots of thoughtful things on a daily basis that seem little but demonstrated how much they cared - like doing the girls' hair, sending them home with an extra baggie of their favorite snack, or printing out a particularly cute photo and giving it to us. The Nook really was a second home to our kids, and the teachers were like family. Our girls are kind, intelligent, playful, respectful, and confident, and we attribute that in large part to their upbringing at the Nook. read more

This is a wonderful daycare option. We had 2 kids here for a year and half, part-time. They have an awesome program, called "Hopping In" which allows you to swap days with other families, in case of vacations, etc. and allows you to get $ back for unused daycare days. They use a fantastic app for pictures and updates throughout the day. The director was very flexible and accommodating when she could be. They allowed me to try having both kids on the same schedule, then I tried alternating schedules for one-on-one time with each toddler at home. We truly felt supported here. It's a small community and our children learned a lot, including manners, empathy, kindness. They were introduced to yoga, Spanish, soccer, music and more. It's around the corner from Ehrler Park, which they visit daily in nice weather. The Nook was a great introduction to "school," and we are forever grateful for the experience. read more

Our son goes to Nurture Nook and is currently in the toddler room. He started there at about 12 months after staying home with me for that year. It was a rough adjustment and today was the first day I dropped him off and he seemed excited to be there. He goes twice a week and always comes home happy and is madly in love with Delilah, the lead teacher in the toddler room. It is extremely hard to drop your kid off at daycare after spending every day with him for a year - but Delilah, Hannah & team made it easy. He gets hugs and cuddles and is taught all sorts of things. He comes home and will remember the songs they learned that day if we sing them to him and seems to enjoy his time there. They keep you informed through an end-of-the-day email that tells you all about their day. It is super clean, friendly and overall just a great place to send your kids. They are very flexible too which makes it so much easier on me as I work part time and my schedule flexes. I just cannot sing their praises enough. Highly recommended from someone who was so panicked to send their baby to daycare. I worried for nothing. read more

The staff is amazing and love to help everyone out. Jasmin and Janet are amazing directors .When the kiddos come to the daycare they are so happy everyday. This has been the best experience by far. read more

It's not easy dropping off your baby somewhere for the day, so it really helps when you can be assured he/she is in good hands! We have been really happy at The Nook so far. The infant room has really caring teachers who are great with the babies. They have been doing theme weeks in their room and will incorporate books, songs and art projects around the theme. So fun and I think it's so great for the babies to be around this kind of creativity! I also love the Brightwheel app The Nook uses. They can communicate meals (bottles), diapers, naps, etc. through this app, along with sending pictures and videos. It makes such a huge difference being able to see what their schedule is throughout the day. Stephanie (the director) is also super great and is very responsive to any question or concern you might e-mail her about, which is very helpful. Overall the Nook feels like a warm, safe place for babies and toddlers and there are lots of smiles every time you walk in the door. Definitely recommend! read more

Our son has been in the infant room for almost 5 months now, and I can't say enough wonderful things! The main teachers [Miss Jackie & Miss Ashley] are so attentive and instantly put this first time mom at ease. Miss Jackie works to develop the infants in so many ways; planning art projects [something I would have never thought to do with an infant], hosting holiday themed photo shoots [FREE! We used the one from December for our holiday card!], and having interactive play time [singing, reading books, Spanish class, etc]. The daycare uses an app where teachers can communicate with parents, share photos, share videos & give updates on the children throughout the day. Both my husband and I look forward to getting the updates throughout the day - when I talk to other couples, I realize just how lucky we are [not just because of the exceptional care] but because of the amount of updates we receive. read more

I love The Nurture Nook and so does my daughter! She started at 4 months old and we've been there for over 5 months. The facility is clean, bright and safe. They have an in-house cook who makes all the organic meals. The staff is wonderful - caring, knowledgable, and happy. They truly love what they do and I couldn't ask for better people to take care of my daughter when I have to be at work. read more

The Nook is a fabulous preschool. My daughter Lily went to school 1 day a week for about a year that we scheduled regularly from the Drop-In Care site. Ms. Eboni, Pavlina were a few of Lily's favorite teachers and Mr. Stephanie was so helpful in accommodating our schedule. Lily learned so much, and most importantly it was a great place to introduce her to Care outside the home, and transition her to preschool. We moved to the suburbs but were very sad to say goodbye to The Nook Preschool. read more

My daughter has been going to nook for a little over two years ( since she was 3 months old) and we have had such a great experience. The teachers have all been amazing and really go above and beyond with making sure she is learning and having fun. They've always had Spanish and music classes but recently added clayangue and yoga and so every day is a different sensory experience for her and fun. She has always been really excited to go see her friends and her teachers and she talks about them all the time at home. Drop offs have been really easy because she gets excited to play with everyone. We lucked out to have such an amazing school so close to us. One thing I've always liked about the nook is that they are very accommodating and open to feedback. They seek feedback and implement suggestions so it's nice to see that they, too, are always seeking to grow. Also, we gets tons of pictures and updates throughout the day so I can see what my daughter is doing and it makes my day! read more

After I became pregnant, I placed myself on several wait lists and visited numerous daycares in the area. However, none of them felt like the right fit! Flash forward to a few weeks after my daughter was born, and much to my horror, I was STILL driving around checking out daycares. For whatever reason, Nook had not been on my initial list and I literally saw their sign as I was driving back home from an interview at another daycare. Nook's director Hannah welcomed me with open arms from our first meeting. Even though they had a crazy long wait list for infants, Hannah did not discourage me from taking a tour (unlike another popular daycare in the area which refused to even give me a tour or take my name because of the insane wait list). From the moment I walked in to the Nook, I felt my anxieties melt away. Even now, over a year later, I still feel that way when I walk in. I thank my lucky stars, I was able to snag one day a week at the Nook while I was still on maternity leave. By the time I went back to work, Hannah worked with me to add the other days I needed as they became available. The teachers at the Nook are more than just caregivers, they become family. They truly care about your child and it shows. All the teachers in both the infant and wobbler room have been incredible and have taught me so much. Because it is a small daycare, everything is personalized and you get to know the teachers in all the rooms. Hannah is incredible and always on it- she is an amazing asset to the Nook. My daughter has thrived and hit her major milestones early. The kids are constantly engaged with weekly themes involving art projects, music, Spanish classes and sign language. They use an app that allows you to read about your child's day and see exactly when they slept, what they ate etc. I also receive photos or videos during the day that make me smile while I'm at work. Really, I cannot say enough good things about this place- my husband and I are both so happy and satisfied with our experience. I just started dropping off my second child in the infant room this week and I am so excited to watch him grow and learn with his sister at the Nook! read more

I have to say that The Nook was one of the few places that offered everything we needed when our daughter started daycare: infant care (she was 5 months old at the beginning), 7am-6pm hours (with relaxed drop of and pick up times), a part-time slot, and easy to schedule drop-in days (I have some steady work days mixed with freelancing). The software they use makes scheduling and communication pretty easy and convenient (and I have to admit that I love getting picture and video updates during the day. Too cute.) They offer totally adorable music, art and yoga classes for even the tiny infants, which is great, because our daughter loved that stuff right away. The food is great too! The kids eat better than I do, and the Nook has been really good with the conversion from milk to solids. Our baby eats just about anything and progressed with self feeding really quickly with the help of the Nook. All of the staff is so nice and attentive, and it's great to chat with them about how she's doing at the end of the day. Our daughter has really grown to feel comfortable at the Nook and in the arms of the teachers. The tuition isn't the cheapest option out there, but you get a lot for your money. read more

We had a wonderful experience with the Nook. Our son was in the infant room from 3 months old to one year, and he loved going to the Nook every day. The teachers there were wonderful. (We only left the Nook because we moved from the area.) read more

Our daughter, who was 10 months old at the time, started at The Nurture Nook when they 1st opened in August 2014. Prior to enrolling here, we had been using a in home sitter who was watching 3-4 other kids, but were actively looking for more of a full serviced day care. We cannot be more happy with our choice. From Day 1, the staff and teachers have been great to interact with and, most importantly, our daughter has been happy and growing. The attention focused on each child has shown by the steps she has taken in growing the past 5 months. The facility itself is a great environment, always clean and comfortable and provides a great leaning environment with plenty of activities and materials. All of the staff is great, friendly and a great asset to the Day Care. We have been comfortable with all of them enough so to have a few of them over to babysit our daughter. The Nurture Nook is a wonderful Day Care provider and we have no second thoughts about enrolling. read more

My toddler loves being at The Nook and doesn't want to leave when I pick him up each day! He embraces his teachers and I know he feels comfortable and happy in their care. The staff do a great job engaging the kids in dynamic activities and also communicating with parents via app. I appreciate seeing photo and video updates throughout the day! read more