Parenting & Childcare Blog | Children's Land

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Young children learning together in a classroom

Kindergarten

Private vs Public Kindergarten in Illinois: How to Choose

Public kindergarten in Illinois is free, while private kindergarten charges tuition and sets its own class sizes and curriculum. Here is how the two compare on cost, hours, class size, age rules and the move to first grade.

Infants

Infant Daycare Tour: What to Look For in the Baby Room

A tour of the baby room tells you more than any brochure. Here is what to look at in the cribs, the feeding area and the diaper station, how to watch teachers with babies, and the questions to ask before you enroll your infant.

Pre-school

Daycare Hours and Late Pickup: Planning a Full Workday

Most full-time daycares are open about 10 to 11 hours a day, and many charge a fee for each minute you are late. Here is how to plan drop-off and pickup around a workday and a commute, and what to ask about hours before you enroll.

Teacher and young children doing an activity outdoors

Infants

Daycare Near Work or Near Home? How to Choose

Choosing a daycare near your office or near your home changes your whole day. Here is how to compare the two by commute, sick-day pickups, drop-off routines, hybrid work and what happens if your job changes.

Toddler

Daycare With Meals Included: What to Ask About Food

In Illinois, licensed daycare centers must provide the food children eat, with only a few exceptions. Here is what the state rules require, what to ask about menus and allergies, and what changes for babies and toddlers.