Harwood Heights families have a trusted option for daycare, preschool, and kindergarten just a few miles north: Fantasy Island Schools for Kids at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave in Chicago. Since 2009 we have taught children ages 2 to 6 in English, with a gifted curriculum, small classes, three meals cooked on-site every day, and support for children who speak Polish or Ukrainian at home.
Harwood Heights and its neighbor Norridge form a unique enclave – two villages completely surrounded by the City of Chicago. With Harlem Avenue as a busy commercial corridor, quick access to the Kennedy Expressway, and many families of Polish and Italian heritage, it is a community where tradition and convenience go together.
Our school sits just north on the Northwest Side, so Harwood Heights parents can drop off on their way to work without crossing the whole city. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
For two- and three-year-olds, our daycare offers a cozy, structured first classroom. Children play, sing, listen to stories, and explore with their senses while certified teachers help them grow words, confidence, and self-care skills. Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking teachers can comfort children in their home language, and three home-cooked meals are included.
Our preschool gives Harwood Heights children ages 3 and 4 a head start with a gifted curriculum – early reading, math, science, social studies, and art taught through experience and play. Small classes keep learning personal, and music, dance, STEM, and Brain Gym sessions keep it lively.
Whether your child will continue at a local Harwood Heights or Norridge elementary school or in a gifted program, our kindergarten builds the skills they need: confident reading, solid math, focus, and the habits of a good student. An overwhelming majority of our graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
What parents from Harwood Heights and Norridge appreciate most:
Our classrooms run in English. Because most of our teachers also speak Polish, children from Polish-speaking homes are always understood, and every Friday they attend a structured Polish lesson. Ukrainian-speaking children get language activities with Ukrainian-speaking teachers.
We teach through experience – building, testing, discussing, and creating. That approach, combined with high expectations, is why an overwhelming majority of our graduates earn places in gifted programs.
We cook on-site every day, serving three balanced meals made with locally sourced ingredients – at no additional cost to families.
With small class sizes, every child gets individual attention from ECE-certified teachers, supported by staff who are First Aid and CPR certified.
We have cared for Northwest Side children since 2009 as an Illinois state-licensed day care center (License #483511), with a 4.8-star Google rating and a 100% Facebook recommendation rate. Read parent reviews.
Extra programs, no extra fees. Children enjoy twice-weekly Brain Gym with founder Beata Bielic, a certified instructor, and weekly music with a qualified music teacher. Families using CCAP or Illinois Action for Children are welcome to enroll.
Early Arrival (from 7:00 AM) – Books, puzzles, and building while friends arrive.
Morning Meal – A warm breakfast together.
Group Time – Conversation and songs that build listening and vocabulary.
Curriculum – Guided lessons from our gifted curriculum in small groups.
Playground – Fresh air, running, and climbing.
Midday – Lunch from our kitchen, then naps or quiet work.
Afternoon Programs – Music, dance, STEM projects, Brain Gym, and home-language activities.
Pickup by 6:00 PM – An afternoon meal and a recap of the day.
We are located at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, north of Harwood Heights. Families usually drive north via Harlem Avenue or the Kennedy Expressway and connect to Milwaukee Avenue – a short trip that fits into a morning commute.
Families from Norwood Park, Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Park Ridge, and Gladstone Park attend too.
Yes. We are a private licensed center in Chicago, and families from Harwood Heights, Norridge, and other nearby communities enroll with us.
Yes. Most of our teachers speak Polish, and we hold Polish classes every Friday. English remains our primary language of instruction.
We serve children from 2 to 6 years old across daycare, preschool, and kindergarten. Children must be at least 2 to enroll.
English is our primary language of instruction. We also support Polish and Ukrainian: most of our teachers speak Polish, Polish classes take place every Friday, and Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead activities for Ukrainian-speaking children.
We are open weekdays from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM and closed Saturday and Sunday.
Yes. Three nutritious meals are cooked on-site every day and included in tuition.
Both full-time and part-time schedules are available, depending on openings in each age group.
Yes. We accept families participating in the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), including families assisted by Illinois Action for Children.
Call us at 773-206-4627 or request a visit online.
See our classrooms and playground and meet the teachers who would care for your child.
Call 773-206-4627 or contact us online to book a visit. More answers are on our FAQ page.
