Many families from Niles choose Fantasy Island Schools for Kids for the years before elementary school. We are an English-language daycare, preschool, and kindergarten for children ages 2 to 6, located at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave on Chicago’s Northwest Side – a straight drive down Milwaukee Avenue from Niles. Since 2009, families have relied on our gifted curriculum, small classes, three meals cooked on-site every day, and Polish and Ukrainian language support.
Niles is a busy suburb just beyond Chicago’s northwest border – home to the Golf Mill Shopping Center, the landmark Leaning Tower of Niles on Touhy Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue, the main road many residents take into the city every day. For parents who work in Chicago or commute along Milwaukee, a program on that same route makes mornings simpler.
We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, so drop-off can happen on the way to work and pickup on the way home – no extra loop through traffic.
Niles is a village just past Chicago’s northwest edge, and Milwaukee Avenue runs straight through it to our school. These are the parts of Niles families most often mention when they visit us.
Families living near Golf Road and Milwaukee Avenue can follow Milwaukee southeast all the way to our door. It is the simplest route from the north end of Niles – no turns until you arrive.
Milwaukee Avenue is lined with Polish bakeries, delis, and shops, and many Niles families speak Polish at home. Most of our teachers speak Polish too, and children who are still learning English get help in their home language.
The half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa on Touhy Avenue is the landmark everyone knows. From Touhy and Milwaukee, our school is about 2 miles down Milwaukee Avenue.
Families from the middle of Niles, around the library on Oakton Street, usually come down Milwaukee Avenue. Our hours, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, leave room for a full workday plus the drive.
Families on the Dempster side of Niles sometimes have older children at Dempster-area schools and a younger one ready for preschool. We serve the 2-to-6 group, so the little one can start here.
Niles borders Park Ridge to the west and Skokie to the east, and we welcome families from both. If you live on the line between them, the drive is about the same.
Our daycare program is designed for two- and three-year-olds taking their first steps into a classroom. Children build language, self-help skills, and friendships through guided play, music, and hands-on discovery, with certified teachers who keep routines warm and predictable. Full-time and part-time care are available, and three freshly cooked meals are included.
In preschool, our gifted curriculum introduces early literacy, math, science, social studies, and art through experiential learning – building, experimenting, drawing, and talking about what children discover. Small classes give every child a voice, and music, dance, STEM, and Brain Gym are part of the regular week at no extra charge.
Niles children continue elementary school in several local districts, including Park Ridge-Niles District 64, East Maine District 63, and Niles District 71. Our kindergarten prepares them for any of these paths – and for gifted and advanced programs – with a rigorous yet fun curriculum focused on reading, math, independence, and social-emotional growth. An overwhelming majority of our graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
Niles parents have choices close to home. Here is why many of them still choose Fantasy Island.
We teach in English to prepare children for American schools, and we support children from Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking homes too. Most of our teachers speak Polish, structured Polish classes run every Friday, and Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead activities in Ukrainian.
An activity-focused, collaborative curriculum that stretches curious minds in the arts, sciences, and math. An overwhelming majority of our kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
We cook three nutritious meals on-site daily from locally sourced ingredients, and they are included in tuition – no lunch packing, no meal fees.
Every teacher holds an Early Childhood Education certification, all staff are First Aid and CPR certified, and small class sizes mean individualized attention for every child.
Fantasy Island Schools for Kids holds Illinois day care license #483511 and has served families since 2009, with a 4.8-star Google rating and 100% of Facebook reviewers recommending us. Hear from our families.
Brain Gym, music, and CCAP. Twice a week, children join Brain Gym sessions led by our founder, certified instructor Beata Bielic – short, fun movement exercises that support focus and coordination. Weekly music classes with a qualified teacher are included as well. Niles families participating in the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), including through Illinois Action for Children, are welcome to enroll.
7:00 AM – Arrival – Early drop-off for commuting parents, with calm free play to start.
Breakfast – Freshly prepared in our kitchen.
Morning Meeting – Songs, stories, and conversation that build listening and speaking skills.
Curriculum Time – Literacy, math, science, and art in small groups.
Outdoor Play – Active games and exploration outside.
Lunch and Rest – A hot lunch, then nap or quiet time; kindergartners continue with advanced activities.
Enrichment – Music, dance, STEM, Brain Gym, and language activities.
Pickup by 6:00 PM – Afternoon meal, play, and a recap of the day for parents heading back to Niles.
Our school is at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, about 2 miles southeast of Touhy Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue in Niles, and about 5 miles from Golf Mill.
Step by step:
Without a car? Pace bus route 270 runs along Milwaukee Avenue between Golf Mill and the Jefferson Park Transit Center – check current schedules at pacebus.com before you plan a commute.
No – we are a few minutes south of the Niles border at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, a straight drive down Milwaukee Avenue from Niles.
Yes. Families from Niles and other nearby suburbs enroll with us. As a private licensed center, we are not limited to Chicago residents.
Children ages 2 to 6: daycare (2-3), preschool (3-4), and kindergarten (5-6). We do not accept children under 2.
English is our primary language of instruction, with Polish and Ukrainian support: Polish classes every Friday and Ukrainian-speaking teachers for Ukrainian-speaking children.
Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are closed on weekends.
Yes. Three meals are cooked on-site daily and included in tuition.
Yes. CCAP is a statewide Illinois program, and we accept participating families, including those assisted by Illinois Action for Children.
Our kindergarten-readiness curriculum prepares children for elementary school wherever they continue, and an overwhelming majority of our graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
Call 773-206-4627 or message us to choose a time.
Leave your phone number and your child’s age. We will call you to pick a time to visit our classrooms at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave. Prefer to talk now? Call 773-206-4627.
See our classrooms and playground, meet the teachers, and find out how easily Fantasy Island fits into your Niles routine.
Call 773-206-4627 or contact us online to book a visit, or read our FAQ first.
