Fantasy Island Schools for Kids is an English-language preschool where most teachers also speak Polish, so your 3- or 4-year-old gets ready for American schools without losing the language of home, across the Northwest Side and nearby suburbs.
Many parents know a family who switched to English when the kids started preschool, and now those children barely understand their grandparents. It is a real fear, and it usually grows quietly, one English-only day at a time.
At Fantasy Island, Polish has a clear place in your child’s week. Structured Polish language classes are held every Friday, and most of our teachers speak Polish. That means Polish is not just a subject on a schedule. It is a language your child hears from adults they trust and like, which keeps it warm and alive between Friday classes and the conversations you have at home.
You want your child to walk into kindergarten ready to keep up, and that means English. English is our language of instruction every day. Literacy, math, science, social studies and art are all taught in English, with one goal: preparing your child to continue their education in American schools.
Polish support sits alongside that, not in place of it. A teacher who speaks Polish can understand a child who is still finding English words, which helps a new preschooler feel safe while English grows. Parents get both things they asked for: a child ready for an English-speaking classroom and a child who still answers Babcia in Polish.
It is one of the most common questions parents ask, and a fair one. Our answer is structure. English is the language of the school day. Polish has its own defined time in the Friday classes and its own home with you. Each language has a setting your child can recognize.
Children pick up a lot from the people around them. One parent who does not speak Polish wrote that their son simply came home speaking it one day. If you ever have questions about your child’s speech development, your pediatrician is the right person to talk to.
Polish heritage runs deep around here. The Copernicus Center on Lawrence Avenue in Jefferson Park reflects it, and Milwaukee Avenue through Niles is lined with Polish shops and bakeries. Our school sits on that same avenue, at Milwaukee and Elston in the Norwood Park area.
For your child, that means a preschool where the language of the weekend bakery trip and the language of grandma’s kitchen are recognized, not treated as something to leave at the door. For you, it means teachers who can talk with you comfortably about your child, in English or in Polish.
Some families come to us because of the Polish support. Others simply live nearby and want a strong English-language preschool. Both are welcome. Children do not need to know any Polish to enroll, and the school day is taught in English for everyone.
We also support Ukrainian-speaking families. Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead language activities for Ukrainian-speaking children, so they can keep developing their native language while learning English with their classmates.
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.
No. English is the language of instruction all day, every day, because our goal is to prepare your child to continue their education in American schools. Polish support comes through structured Polish classes every Friday and teachers who speak Polish. If you are looking for a program taught in Polish, this is an English-language preschool with Polish support instead.
That is a common worry for families who speak Polish at home. Because most of our teachers speak Polish, your child can be understood and comforted while they pick up English through songs, play, meals and daily routines with classmates. Small class sizes give teachers time to notice when your child needs extra help with words.
Structured Polish language classes are held every Friday as part of the preschool week. If you are considering a part-time schedule, include Friday so your child does not miss them. Outside of Friday class, your child still spends the week with teachers who speak Polish, so the language stays familiar.
We believe maintaining and developing your child’s native language is important, and home is where it grows most. We take care of English at school, so you do not need to switch languages at home to help your child succeed here. Reading, singing and talking in Polish with family, alongside Friday classes, helps Polish stay part of your child’s life.
Yes. Ukrainian-speaking teachers lead language activities for Ukrainian-speaking children, helping them keep developing their native language. As with Polish, English remains the language of instruction, so your child is preparing for American schools at the same time. Children do not need to speak Ukrainian or Polish to enroll.
See all preschool options on our Preschool page, compare costs on Tuition & CCAP, or read parent FAQs.
