At many daycare and childcare centers, tuition decreases as children get older because class sizes grow and teacher-to-child ratios widen—meaning fewer teachers per child.

At Bright Beginnings, we intentionally take a different approach. We keep all classrooms small and maintain low ratios across every age group, from infants to preschoolers. This allows us to:

• Provide consistent, high-quality care at every stage

• Offer truly individualized attention

• Support deeper relationships between teachers and children

• Ensure a calm, nurturing environment where every child thrives

We believe every child deserves the same level of care and connection—no matter their age.

We welcome infants and toddlers, ages 6 weeks to 48 months. Our programs are tailored to meet the developmental needs of each age group, ensuring a nurturing and educational environment for every child.

Every family has different needs, and many begin their childcare journey exploring options like nannies or nanny shares. While those can offer personalized attention and home-based comfort, high-quality childcare centers provide unique advantages for both infants and toddlers—especially when it comes to development, socialization, and long-term growth.

At Bright Beginnings, we offer:

• A Community of Care
  Your child isn’t cared for by just one person—we offer a whole team of trained educators who collaborate to support each child’s growth. This means consistent care even when one teacher is out and a variety of perspectives guiding your child’s development.

• Socialization from the Start
  Even infants benefit from observing and interacting with other babies and adults. As children grow into toddlers, daily peer interactions support language development, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building in ways home care can’t always replicate.

• Environments Designed for Learning
  Our classrooms are thoughtfully prepared with age-appropriate materials and sensory-rich experiences that stimulate curiosity, movement, and early problem-solving—tailored to infants and toddlers at each stage.

• Structure That Nurtures Confidence
  From infant feeding and sleep schedules to toddler routines and transitions, our daily rhythms are comforting, developmentally supportive, and help children build trust in the world around them.

• Strong Family Partnerships
  We believe in open communication, regular check-ins, and ongoing support for parents. Whether it's your baby's first day away from home or you're navigating toddler transitions, we’re here with you every step of the way.

Many families who begin with a nanny or nanny share later transition to a daycare center for more consistency, social growth, and developmental enrichment. At Bright Beginnings, your child receives the loving care of a close-knit team and the benefits of a broader learning community—right from the start.

We use the Brightwheel app for daily updates, including your child’s progress, activities, and any important announcements. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to chat in person with your child’s teacher every day. Our teachers and director provide in-person conferences and assessments to keep you attuned to your child’s development.

Elephants are socially and emotionally complex animals and their tradition of raising their young is positively inspiring!

Baby elephants are taken care of by a network of older elephants referred to as Allomothers. Allomothers offer nurturance, guidance and stability to babies--while also serving as support systems for their parent(s). The Allomother concept parallels our own beliefs in strong family systems and the importance of community. The Allomother is an embodiment of healthy individual development through community support. We hope that when you see our logo you will know that our elephant symbolizes the expression of the guidance and support you can expect at Bright Beginnings.

We encourage families to apply as early as possible, as we typically have a very small waiting list. We keep our list small, as we require all parents to first attend a tour and pay a $75 waitist fee.

All rooms are named after rescue elephants in Africa that Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center has adopted and sponsors.

KIASA was rescued at the age of 6 months, where she was found being taken care of by two young male elephants after her family had fallen victim to the effects of a severe drought. She is now thriving in the Nairobi Nursery and Bright Beginnings is proud to be contributing to her continued care and recovery.

MALKIA was orphaned and rescued at a very young age. With the aid of our sponsorship, she has assimilated well to life in the nursery and has formed strong connections to her fellow orphans and human caretakers.

KORA is our oldest adopted elephant, as he was orphaned at a young age due to poaching. After being in the safe and loving care of the nursery, Kora was successfully reintroduced to the wild in a protected national park. He frequently stops by the nursery to say hi to his old friends and caretakers.

Yes! In early 2025, Dr. Bob and Martese made Ms. Elin, our Director, an offer to join our ownership team. She excitedly said yes and is now a proud co-owner! The children and families of Bright Beginnings are rewarded with the consistency and stability that comes with her additional role.

All children aged 12 months and up receive our full catering service, including breakfast, snacks and lunch. Catering is provided daily from Healthy Organic Kids. Prior to catering, parents are responsible for providing breast milk, formula and solid foods.

We have applied to be part of the Illinois Action for Children program. and awaiting finalization. In addition, many families in our program use our Brightwheel invoices to apply for FSA and other tuition reimbursement programs. For more information about FSA please visit their website here: https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/dcfsa. We also encourage families to check in with their employers about any tuition reimbursement programs they might offer.

Yes — Bright Beginnings is a fully DCFS-licensed childcare center in Chicago, meeting all state safety, staffing, and health requirements. Licensing ensures high standards of care and oversight, giving families peace of mind as their children grow in a nurturing, professional environment.