Most kindergarten programs prepare children for elementary school. Ours prepares them for gifted programs. At Fantasy Island Schools for Kids, our kindergarten in Chicago is built around one clear goal – giving children the academic foundation, critical thinking skills, and confidence to qualify for advanced academic placement. An overwhelming majority of our kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs at local schools. That is not a marketing claim – it is a track record built over more than a decade of results.
The difference between a standard kindergarten and a gifted kindergarten is not about pushing children harder. It is about teaching them how to think, not just what to know. Our curriculum is experiential, activity-focused, and designed to develop the whole child across every domain that gifted program assessments evaluate.
Our kindergartners develop strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, science, and social studies through hands-on, project-based learning. Children do not memorize facts for tests – they explore concepts, ask questions, and build understanding through direct experience. By graduation, our students read, write, and solve problems at levels that exceed standard kindergarten benchmarks.
Gifted program assessments do not test knowledge – they test how children think. Our curriculum is specifically designed to build the reasoning, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving skills that these assessments measure. Children practice these skills daily through structured activities in math, science, art, and collaborative projects.
Academic ability alone does not determine gifted program readiness. Children also need confidence, self-regulation, the ability to work with peers, and the resilience to handle new challenges. Our small class sizes and experienced teachers create an environment where children develop these skills naturally through daily interaction, group work, and guided reflection.
Our kindergarten in Chicago teaches in English, with one clear goal: preparing children to continue their education in American schools. Children from Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking homes also receive language support – most of our teachers speak Polish, Polish classes are held every Friday, and Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead activities for Ukrainian-speaking children.
Full-Day Kindergarten runs Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with three meals cooked on-site and included in tuition, so you never pack a lunchbox. Between drop-off and pickup, your five- or six-year-old moves through gifted lessons, music with a qualified music teacher, art, dance, STEM, and time in our indoor and outdoor learning areas, with the same certified teachers all day. Learn more about full-day kindergarten.
An overwhelming majority of our kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs, and that track record starts with a curriculum built for curious five- and six-year-olds. Gifted Kindergarten Prep blends literacy, math, science, social studies, and art through hands-on, collaborative projects, with the Gifted Enrichment Program included in tuition and small classes where a bright child is handed the next challenge instead of waiting. Learn more about gifted kindergarten prep.
Children who switch completely to English at school can stop understanding the language their grandparents speak. Our English-language kindergarten prepares your child for American schools, while Polish-speaking teachers, structured Polish classes every Friday, and Ukrainian-speaking teachers leading language activities keep your home language part of the week. Your child does not need to know Polish or Ukrainian to enroll. Learn more about kindergarten with polish & ukrainian support.
Kindergarten is the year your child's school story begins, and the people in the room shape it more than anything else. Our private, state-licensed kindergarten keeps classes small, places your child with teachers certified in Early Childhood Education, and folds three daily meals, music, Brain Gym, and gifted enrichment into one weekly tuition of about $300 to $400. Learn more about private kindergarten.
Kindergarten asks a four- or five-year-old to sit in a circle, follow a teacher's words, take turns, and share a table with new friends. Our Kindergarten Readiness Program builds those skills through hands-on lessons and twice-weekly Brain Gym movement sessions with our founder, whether your child is headed to a Chicago public school, a suburban district, or a private kindergarten. Learn more about kindergarten readiness program.
Looking for kindergarten near your neighborhood? See Kindergarten by Area, including pages for families near Forest Glen and Edgebrook.
We let our track record speak for itself. An overwhelming majority of Fantasy Island kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs at Chicago-area elementary schools. This consistent outcome is the result of a curriculum specifically designed to develop the skills these programs assess, taught by experienced educators who understand what gifted readiness actually requires.
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research, children who attend quality early education programs with strong kindergarten preparation show significantly better academic outcomes through elementary school and beyond.
Our kindergarten in Chicago is the final step in a complete early childhood program that begins at age 2. Many of our kindergartners have been with us since daycare, building skills progressively over several years. But children who join us at the kindergarten level receive the same rigorous preparation.
Planning ahead for elementary school? Our parent guides explain how CPS kindergarten enrollment works, kindergarten age and attendance rules in Illinois, half-day kindergarten in Chicago, full-day kindergarten in Illinois, and how to compare kindergarten schools in Chicago.
A nurturing introduction to structured learning through play, songs, stories, and sensory exploration.
A gifted curriculum covering literacy, math, science, and art with enrichment classes in music, dance, and cultural studies.
The program you are reading about now – full academic preparation for gifted program acceptance and elementary school success.
Our kindergarten is designed for children ages 5 to 6. Children typically enter kindergarten after completing our preschool program, but we also accept kindergarten-age children who are new to Fantasy Island.
Our graduates are accepted into gifted programs at various Chicago-area public and private elementary schools. The specific programs vary by family preference and school district.
No. Children who join at the kindergarten level receive the same preparation. However, children who attend our daycare and preschool programs first benefit from the continuity of our progressive curriculum.
English is our primary language of instruction. We also offer Polish and Ukrainian language support: most of our teachers speak Polish, structured Polish classes are held every Friday, and Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead language activities for Ukrainian-speaking children.
Yes. Three freshly prepared meals daily at no additional cost.
Call us at 773-206-4627, fill out our contact form, or schedule a tour. We recommend visiting while classes are in session so you can observe our program firsthand.
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 kindergarten in Chicago in action. We invite you to visit Fantasy Island Schools for Kids, walk through our classrooms, meet our teachers, and ask every question you have about how we prepare children for gifted program acceptance.
Read what our families say about us or contact us today to book your visit.
