Parenting & Childcare Blog | Children's Land

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Mother holding and looking down at her baby

Infants

Daycare Daily Reports: How to Read Them

Daily reports tell you how your child ate, slept and played while you were at work. Here is what infant and toddler reports usually include, how to read feeding, nap and diaper notes, what patterns are normal, how to use the report at home, and when a report should prompt a question for the teacher.

Preschool children doing crafts together at a table

Toddler

Switching Daycares: Signs It Is Time and How to Do It

Switching daycares is a big decision, but sometimes it is the right one. Here are the signs it may be time to move, the reasons to give your current center one more chance, how to plan the switch around notice periods and waitlists, and how to help your child settle into a new classroom.

Two smiling girls sitting at a classroom table

Early Kindergarten

Pre-K vs Kindergarten: What Changes in the Classroom

Pre-K and kindergarten can look alike from the hallway, but the goals and the pace change. Here is how the day, learning standards, class size, play and expectations differ in Illinois, what kindergarten teachers hope children can do, and simple ways to help your child make the jump with confidence.

Two-year-old boy playing with a wooden toy in a classroom

Early Pre-school

Daycare vs Preschool for a 2-Year-Old: How to Choose

At age 2, the line between daycare and preschool starts to blur. Here is how the two options differ for 2-year-olds, what children this age actually need, Illinois ratios for twos, how hours and cost compare, and simple questions that help you pick the right program for your child and your schedule.

Preschool children playing together outdoors

Toddler

Things to Do With Kids in Palatine, IL

Palatine has plenty of easy outings for families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Here are the pools, parks, nature trails, library storytimes and seasonal events local families enjoy, with tips by age and season and a few rainy-day ideas.