At Fantasy Island Schools for Kids, warm, certified teachers fill your 2 year old’s day with songs, play and new words, so you can leave at drop-off without a broken heart. Serving Chicago’s Northwest Side and nearby suburbs.
Leaving your 2 year old for the first time can feel like trusting strangers with your most precious person. Some tears in the first days are normal, for both of you. What you need to know is that your child is in loving hands once you leave.
Parents say it best. One wrote that she could finally drop off her child and walk out of daycare without a broken heart. Another said her daughter’s two teachers cared for her as if she were their own. Our teachers hold Early Childhood Education certifications and are trained in child development and trauma-informed care, so a hard goodbye is met with patience, not hurry.
Parents looking to switch daycares often describe the same thing: their toddler mostly ate, got changed and played alone because teachers were too busy. At two, your child is ready for much more than that.
We keep classes small so teachers have time for your child. The day is hands-on and multi-sensory: art, simple science and counting through play, outdoor time, and Brain Gym, short and playful movements like crossing the midline and balancing, led twice a week by our founder. For a 2 year old who cannot sit still, movement is part of learning, not a distraction from it.
Two is a year of language. You start hearing new words every week and want them to come from a rich, talkative day. English is our language of instruction, and teachers talk, sing and read with your child throughout the day.
Weekly music class with a qualified music teacher is a favorite. One parent wrote that her daughter had learned so many new words and songs since she started in April. If your family speaks Polish or Ukrainian at home, our teachers can support that too, and our Polish and Ukrainian daycare pages explain how.
Choosing daycare for a 2 year old can feel like the first of many school decisions. At Fantasy Island it can be the only switch your child makes before grade school. Children join our daycare at two, move into preschool at three and four, and can continue into kindergarten at five and six, in the same building with familiar faces.
One parent felt lucky that her daughter spent her first five years with us. That continuity means fewer goodbyes for your child, and you get to know one team of teachers well instead of starting over every year.
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.
Our daycare starts at age 2. We do not care for babies or children under 2, which lets our teachers focus fully on toddlers and preschoolers. Daycare is for children ages 2 to 3, and from there your child can move into our preschool and kindergarten programs, all the way to age 6.
Some tears in the first days are common and usually pass as your child learns the routine and gets to know their teachers. A short, warm goodbye tends to help. Our teachers are trained in child development and trauma-informed care, and small classes let them give your child real attention. If a hard adjustment continues, we talk it through with you.
Your child’s day mixes hands-on play with gentle learning: art, songs, stories, counting and simple science through play, outdoor time, and rest. Twice a week they join Brain Gym, short and playful movement sessions led by founder Beata Bielic. Once a week there is music class with a qualified music teacher. Three meals are cooked on-site.
That depends on your family’s plans. In Chicago, CPS Pre-K applications go through Chicago Early Learning at chicagoearlylearning.org, so check their site for current dates and options. If you prefer to keep your child where they are settled, our preschool program for ages 3 and 4 continues in the same building with the same community.
Not at all. Two year olds learn constantly through play, movement, songs and conversation. Our curriculum is designed to help even our youngest children build words, coordination and curiosity in hands-on, playful ways. Many parents notice new words and songs at home within the first months.
See all daycare options on our Daycare page, compare costs on Tuition & CCAP, or read parent FAQs.
