Seeking Top Preschool in Downers Grove/ Hinsdale/ Lombard/ Oakbrook

We moved from Chicago to Hinsdale about 2 years ago and enrolled our son in Kensington (Highlands location). We couldn't be happier with the experience he has had there. The teachers have been fantastic and definitely seem to enjoy their roles instead of it just being treated as a job. I am constantly impressed with what my now 4 year old is learning and look forward to sending his younger brother when he turns two! I found that visiting the school and spending an hour or so observing the class, really helpful in making a final decision on where to enroll. Good Luck!

My daughter attended both toddler programs (2-3 half days/week) at Seton in Clarendon Hills and absolutely loved it. The only reason we recently left is because we moved. The teacher to child ratio is low and the teachers are very attentive and caring. In addition they have educational qualifications that exceed typical "daycare" and the teacher turn-over rate is extremely low. This says a lot about the school and the staff.
The environment is natural and beautiful and most important the children learn through hands on activities and through play (which is VERY important at this age especially). The school is well established and they have a wonderful "community" of parents.
Choosing the right place for your child is difficult. But you know your child best and you need to feel comfortable with where you choose to put her. I would encourage you to make appointments at several places to not only take a tour of the facility (with your daughter)but ask if you can sit and observe some time in the classroom on another day (without your daughter so you can take notes). Any quality place should welcome you to do this.
Best of Luck!

Although its in Woodridge my girlfriend (who referred me) and I both LOVED Small Miracles. I wish I would have put my son there the year earlier as well. Here is the website - Brenda the director is great.
http://www.woodridgeumc.org/templates/System/details.asp?...

My son, 5, just finished at Chesterbrook in Westmont. Educationally I think they are terrific. My son is already doing things that he should know by the end of kindergarten. He met some wonderful friends at Chesterbrook as well. However, I wish they had some type of "gym" where they could run and play when the weather is bad like Creme de la creme. I have had friends whose kids went there and called it the "Disney Land of Day Care".

Hi J.,

My daughter just finished Preschool at Kensington School of the Highlands (just different location than Oak Brook) and she absolutely loved it! I was very impressed with their curriculum and are a wonderful, nurturing environment. I would highly recommend it!!! She also made some very good friends...and so did I! Good luck with your search. Just so you know, this was her third preschool since we have moved several times, and this was the best of the top schools she attended.

Daycares are personal and everyone has a different opinion so do your research and feel them out. My daughter attended Chesterbrook in Westmont for about 3 months and we didn't like it. She was in the 15 month to 2 year old classroom. I felt the teachers there were not as loving and caring s I had seen in other places. My daughter has never had seperation anxiety but she would scream when we dropped her off there and some days she wouldn't stop until we picked her up. Seriously. I had a few challenges with their nutrional program as well. In one day she had doughnuts for breakfast and a big cookie for snack. This is not how we eat at home and I wasn't thrilled with it there. Kids that young do not need that much sugar in my opinion.

We transferred her to Peter Pan in Westmont. We LOVE it there. Her teachers are amazing, caring and personable. If my daughter needs a hug she gets one. At chesterbrook they couldn't give hugs for some reason. In the two year old classroom she learned the pledge of allegiance, spanish words, different songs, etc. I like their nutrional system and curriculum much better (and they are slightly cheaper!). I pay 196 for a 3 day program (full days).

I looked at Creme de la Creme and it seems to offer very interesting programs but I wasn't sure if it was what we were looking for. Good luck!

If you can afford it, Avery Coonley is nice. I would have had to go back to work to afford it, so decided against it. I have also heard good things about Rosehill Montessori. (My kids went to Trinity in Lisle, which we loved, but it is obviously parochial.)

Russian classes are available in Naperville. My kids (3 and 5) have attended the Russian school in Naperville and the one at our church (Harvest Bible Chapel.) The Naperville school is not affiliated with a church and has Saturday classes (at the Naperville Cultural Center). We were quite happy with it, but switched to classes at church so my kids could go with their friends (and it's much less $). Usually classes start at age 3 or 4. But as you probably know, the most effective way at your daughter's age is one on one time anyway. Good for you. I speak German and Russian, but beyond numbers, colors and the alphabet, have had a hard time teaching my children, despite the fact that my husband is Russian and we have tons of Russian-speaking company! Grandpa was just here to visit for a month, and that did seem to help a bit.

We are sending our oldest to Hinsdale Comminity House preschool. It is actually the same preschool that I went to as a child. It is well established. It is a co-op, so each parent is expected to volunteer two time per school session. There are a ton of other activities they also offer through the community house. I can't remember if you have to be a resident of Hinsdale, or just a member of the community house, to receive the discount. It is non-denominational too.