Green Beginnings

My son attends GB, he attended two other childcare centers prior to GB. We just weren’t crazy about the level of care he was getting at the other two. He settled into GB so nicely. the teachers and staff are amazing. Katie, Krissy and the entire GB staff are genuinely interested in the progression and well-​being of each child.
They really nurture the children by working with them on all of the behavioral engagement, but also with sensory skills and exercise. GB isn’t just a day care, it’s more like a school.
Our son loves it there, and everyone who works there, knows him by name. I would recommend to anyone!

We started our childcare search when I was 7 months pregnant (knowing the good options are in high demand). We had a spreadsheet of over 15 daycares, home daycares, and nanny options within a 2 mile radius. We decided on GB because of the warmth of the staff. The main thing we want for our daughter is to feel loved.
The staff have provided a rich, educational experience since day one. It’s been 4 months since we started (little one is 6 months old) and has been awesome getting to know the Seedling Teachers. They all have a unique relationship with our baby, have been consistent (no turn-​over), and many of the staff are working towards or have an early childhood education degree. The curriculum is very creative, and we love getting weekly reports and pictures of the little one.
GB offers plenty of opportunities to get to know other families and participate — which definitely feels more like a school than a daycare. We look forward to watching our baby girl grow up within the GB community!

We sadly just left GB to start a pre-​k program but Ms. Devon, Katie and Krissy are amazing. My son was in the morning glories program 3 days a week. He was always so excited to see Ms. Devon and learn from her. GB is one of few half day options in the area and the only one that lets you pick days. The flexibility, cleanliness, awesome staff, communication are just a few things I love about this place. Katie and Krissy, the directors, are involved on a day to day basis. I saw one, if not both of them, everyday at either drop off or pick up. You can really tell they care about this place.
My son really thrived here… I was so sad to leave. They do so many neat things here… hatch chicks, kids kitchen which was always a hit at my house, grow plants, family breakfasts so parents can meet other parents, I could go on and on. Thank you GB for a great experience!

Our daughter has been in the Green Beginning’s Blossom Room for almost a year, and we could not be more pleased by the experience. We are moving out of the area and are sad to leave the school. Our daughter attends the full day program 3 days/​wk and loves it. In fact, she asked if she could go everyday.
Their program offers a great mix of self guided exploration in play centers and structure with projects and experiments. The kids spend a good amount of time in the kitchen and work on themes/​subjects through a variety activities.
The entire staff is engaged and caring. Ms. Devon, the Blossom’s teacher, is outstanding — gold standard! She makes learning fun and challenges the kids to be and do their best. She reviews the week to parents in an email and suggests ideas for expanding the learning at home, as well as sending along a few pictures too.
The facility is spotless; very open and bright. I can’t say enough about the program and the school. We will be forever grateful to the team at Green Beginnings for the experience our daughter has had. So sad to leave…

Don’t waste your deposit because you are never getting in.
Total communication breakdown with the management of the waiting list. They have no method. They just take your money and keep pushing the date out further and further. They never contact you that availability is pushed back.
Go elsewhere.

My 3 year old son just started at Green Beginnings about a month ago and I cannot tell you enough how happy I am with the growth I see with him, in just a month.
Every teacher here seems to love what they do: nurturing, caring, patient with kids. And most importantly my son love it here.

GB is a wonderful place. I never wanted to send our daughter to any of the chain daycare centers and wasn’t sure what I would do for child care until I met Katie at the park one day. I could tell after talking to her that Green Beginnings was going to be something special. Both of the owners have a teaching background and are committed entreprenuers and I could tell they would give their all to make GB a success. I find the teachers at GB to be similarly committed to providing a stimulating, safe and nurturing environment. I love the open feel of the center and feel my daughter is really thriving there. When I come to pick her up she is always engaged in story time or busy playing and always looks happy. We feel very grateful to have found GB!

Our daughter has been a Seedling at GB for almost 7 months and our experience has been beyond positive. Prior to finding GB, my husband and I toured other daycare facilities and interviewed nannies but it wasn’t until we visited GB with our 8 week old that we finally had the «aha» moment and got the positive vibes.
At first glance, we loved the lay out, the vibrant colors and the small to medium size. The facilities are immacutlate and cleaned daily. We also loved the green mission. We were also really impressed with the owners/​directors and their longterm plan for GB and the CPS teaching background.
The teachers in the Seeding room are amazing. We receive weekly emails of the Seedlings lesson plan and photos all the time of the kids interacting and learning.
All the teachers are extremely friendly. I have first hand experience with the Seedling teachers and they are wonderful. We feel that our daughter’s activity level, language and growth is a direct result of the care and attention that the teachers give her all day long.

Our daughter has been attending Green Beginnings for almost 6 months. Going back to work and leaving her was hard enough, but knowing she was going to Green Beginnings made things a little easier. The dedication and passion that the staff has for teaching children shows every day and shines through in my daughter. She learns so much while she is there and participates in all kinds of activaties including art, music, and even baby yoga moves! The space is clean and everything is well kept. The staff does a great job keeping parents up to date with the lesson plans for the week. When I drop her off in the morning she gets so excited about being there. I highly recommend Green Beginnings.

After having our son with a nanny up until 20 months, we were terrified of the daycare search. We toured almost 10 places and kept feeling overwhelmed at the spaces, amount of kids, cleanliness & overall atmosphere. Until Green Beginnings — the space is clean, the kids are having a blast but with an overall sense of calm. Our now 2 year old is happily thriving there — eats, sleeps, learns & plays well. Talks about his teachers and friends at night and on the weekends. Couldn’t be happier!

We’re sending our infant son here to the Seedlings room and could not be happier. The space is beautiful, all new with bamboo flooring, high ceilings and overall just feels warm and «homey.» It’s run by two former school teachers who are young, energetic and passionate. Their programs include some really thoughtful and creative ideas that I didn’t see at all the other daycares in Chi including a kid-​friendly kitchen. They get outside a ton, which is awesome. The whole staff has been really helpful, considerate, patient and flexible during my and my little man’s transition into daycare. It’s also convenient to driving into the loop and right off the green line. I’m very comfortable leaving my son here everyday in their care and will recommend to friends.

What a well-​thought out and planned child care center!
This shiny and new operation opened this month and is quite impressive to see. I was lucky to tour Green Beginnings and I highly recommend doing this. The space was re-​done with bamboo floors, brand new kitchen, spacious bathrooms, etc. Much of the furniture is from the company Community Playthings, which is top of the line.
Ok, enough about how it looks because the most important part of a child care center are the teachers and curriculum/​programming. Started by two long-​time CPS teachers, they know their stuff. The programs cover everything to make children well-​rounded and ready for school. I have no qualms about enrolling my child here. This new child care center will fill up fast once word gets out. What a gem to have in Chicago and I love the «green» theme!