RESULTS Of My dayCare Search - North Chicago Suburbs

Updated on September 08, 2006
R.T. asks from Waukegan, IL
5 answers

OK mamas, here's what I saw in the past three days, my grades, and what we're doing here in the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago. I hope it helps you find a good place. All rates are for FT 2 year olds (some call it toddlers, some pre-school, some other things), so a little more for infants usually, less as they get older. We live in Mundelein, so proximity and suggestions from here and other online sources is how we started our list. Everything is MY OPINION, so if you have kids at one of these places, I'll assume you are happy with the program. These are IMPRESSIONS, so I could of course be wrong.

BEST:
Big and Little in Mundelein.
Surprised at how clean, fun, and happy it was. They are attached to the Mundelein Parks department, on Midlothian, so they go to the spray park right next door, which is a great bonus. LOTS of art on the walls, colorful, friendly, great director (27 years in the business) who actually wants LESS kids in the rooms then law allows (12/16). Staff has been there for 5 years and 12 years respectively, in the 2-year old room. A neighbor of ours who teaches elementary ed during the year teaches in the summers there, a very nice lady, whose daughter we use for babysitting (and she is a great girl - tennis, show choir, etc.) Nice outside for play - and the spray park I mentioned. Catered meals. AND the kicker, the CHEAPEST of all we saw. About $712 a month for one ($1364 for two). We're wait listed, but will most likely get in, 99% chance of success I'd say. Grade: A.

GOOD-FAIR:
Young @ Heart Center in Libertyville.
Nice, but expensive and some things we didn't like. Attached to a retirement community, which you either like or don't. Great playground. Director complained about large percentage of Spanish speaking kids. OK classrooms, but felt like a hospital environment. $940 a month for one, plus $65 in fees ($1740 for two plus $130 in fees). Grade: B

Bright Horizons in Waukegan
Was disappointed in it, compared to the one at CDW, where we put our kids as infants, which is now closed to the public. The building was very OK, great playground, huge. VERY expensive ($1092 for one plus $100 annual reg, $75 in fees, so for two NO DISCOUNT just double to $2184. I mean, JEEZ, the Montessori School of Lake Forest, one of the best around, is $2700 for an exceptional program). Not worth it for the money. Grade: B

Mundelein Montessori on Lake
I really like the Montessori approach of teaching the kids the basics (letters, colors, language, math, shapes, etc.) through whatever the kids are into (ie, trucks, dinosaurs, dolls, etc.) but the center, in a church, felt very cold and sterile. The kids seemed dulled, sickly at times, and one was screaming not to come in (and he was 5). Tiny playground for 2 year olds. Director had some VERY strong opinions about Mundelein - poor school system, lots of Spanish speaking people distracting the teachers/lessons, drugs, teen-pregnancy and gangs in the high school. And she also didn't like any of the private schools due to religious differences. That bothered me, not because she had a strong opinion, but because I've heard the opposite from every other teacher/parent/student I've spoken to out here. I think they have some great ideas here, and some great programs for extra $ (computers, dance, soccer, art, spanish) but my wife left very upset thinking we might have to put our kids someplace like this. The two year old room stunk of poop. $900 a month for one, $1783 for two. Grade: C-

WORST:
Children's Center of Lake Forest (on Ballard)
Don't let the Lake Forest name fool you, located in an industrial mall. Wow, this place scared me. First, I knocked on the wrong door, and a woman let me into the infant room. Good thing I didn't want to steal one. Bad security there. She barely spoke english, and had Spanish music playing loudly. The director looked high or drunk, both eyes bloodshot (or maybe she's just tired). The staff seemed lethargic and slightly delinquent. The place was dirty, smelled in places. They had a big room, which used to be a loading dock. So much was done haphazardly and seemed very random and amatuerish. The outside area was a bit of a mess, and stunk of a rabbit and poop. And the kicker was that she charged $200 a week. I didn't let my wife even come in. They just had a case of lice, and problems with biting. As she was handing me her card, she was scratching out the name of the assistant director. So cost at $800, she said she'd do $1360 for both. If you have a child here, PLEASE, there are other options out there for a similar price. Grade: F.

Hope this helps. Hope I didn't offend anyone. I'm sure there are other great options out there too.

Peace,
Richard

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So What Happened?

Just FYI - we really liked B&L, but did take out kids out. Two main issues, hygiene and safety. I still think it is a top pre-school, and the rates can't be beat. Our concerns: day one, our daughter got sick, then my son did, then me, then my wife got bronchitis. Sure, kids get sick. But so fast, and so much? We just can't be sick all the time. They said they washed hands and sanitized the place, but we never saw kids wash hands WITH SOAP and for more then 5 seconds. Also, some sicks kids were i the class, when I thought they should have been sent home. Also, the playground - some dangerous slides that weren't being watched. The teachers tended to go by the swings and congregate, sometimes zoning out a little. Saw one girl get hurt while I was there. I brought up our concerns, and they were defensive, of course, and said they would look into it. Since some work fell through for me anyways, we decided to keep the kids home.

We since went to a new Goddard school out here that really seems to be the best, even if it is $2200 a month vs. the $1400 we were going to spend at B&L. They make sure teachers wear gloves when wiping noses, and wash hands RIGHT. They also have teachers stationed at specific spots in the playground and have NO high slides and climbing equipment - so that tells you something about the dangers. They are expensive, but if I land a good FT job or long-term freelance we will most likely put them there.

Just wanted to follow up in case any of you are still looking.

Peace,
Richard

More Answers

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

Hi there...I am originally from the North Shore area and we are moving back from CT within the next month or two. We are looking for daycare for our two children, 4 months and 18 months. We will need full time for both kids as me and my husband work. We are looking to live in Northbrook, Deerfield area. Do you have any suggestions in those areas? I have looked at some and either they are REALLY expensive, or they do not have openings until next year. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you!

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L.L.

answers from Chicago on

Wow I watch six kids three are mine and three are another families and I only charge them $30. a day for each of the three kids. I make a hot lunch and we go to the park. Once a week we go do ceramics and then another day we go the the library. Am I not charging enough? I also drive their daughter to pre-school in the fall which she was already signed up for when I got her. My daughter also goes to the same one. The baby just turned one and they also have an eight year old son who will go to school in the fall.

L.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.D.

answers from Chicago on

Wow! Thank you for taking the time to go into this level of detail and for sharing! While I don't live in this area, it was helpful for me to see things to look for when looking at daycares and the costs were extremely helpful for comparison purposes!

Keep up the great work- your kids are lucky to have you home with them!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.F.

answers from Chicago on

I see that you have your own strong opinions listed on here. My son is currently enrolled at Young at Heart in Libertyville and from the horror stories I hear from other mother's that have their children in daycare I can say with 100% surety that I am more then grateful to have my son (19 months has been enrolled there since he was 3 months old) to be going to such a wonderful facility. Yes they are a little more pricey but for us when I drop my son off I know that he is well taken care of and he truly enjoys going there. As for it being attached to a retirement home, the children get some interaction with the elder which is good for both the children and the residents of the retirement home. That is why it's considered an intergenerational day care. As for the director making comments, as I know them both I am surprised that they would make such a statement but will be sure to mention something about your post.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

I.L.

answers from Chicago on

Did they tell you how long your wait would be, at Big and Little?

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