Skokie families who work in Chicago or simply want a strong academic start choose Fantasy Island Schools for Kids at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave on the city’s Northwest Side. We are an English-language daycare, preschool, and kindergarten for children ages 2 to 6, offering a gifted curriculum, small classes, three meals cooked on-site daily, and Polish and Ukrainian language support. We have been serving families since 2009.
Skokie is one of the most diverse villages in the Chicago area, home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum, Westfield Old Orchard, the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, and the CTA Yellow Line to Dempster-Skokie. Families here speak dozens of languages at home and care deeply about education.
That diversity is something we understand. Our classrooms are English-language, with support for Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking children, and our hours – Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM – work for parents commuting into the city.
In our daycare, toddlers ages 2 and 3 settle into a predictable rhythm of play, stories, songs, meals, and rest. Certified early childhood teachers help them build vocabulary, independence, and social skills one small step at a time. Choose full-time or part-time care; three freshly cooked meals are always included.
Our preschool channels three- and four-year-olds’ energy into learning: letter sounds, counting and patterns, nature and science, art, and pretend play that builds language. With small classes and weekly enrichment – music, dance, STEM, and Brain Gym – every child is challenged and supported.
Skokie is served by several elementary school districts, and our kindergarten prepares children for any of them – and for gifted and advanced programs. Our rigorous yet fun curriculum focuses on reading, math, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth, and an overwhelming majority of our graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
What matters to Skokie parents – and how we meet it.
English is the language of the classroom and of the curriculum. Alongside it, we support the languages many of our families speak: Polish, with weekly Friday classes and mostly Polish-speaking teachers, and Ukrainian, with activities led by Ukrainian-speaking teachers.
Our experiential, collaborative curriculum covers literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts at an advanced pace. It works: an overwhelming majority of our kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
We cook on-site every day, serving three balanced meals made with locally sourced ingredients – at no additional cost to families.
Our teachers are certified in Early Childhood Education, and our staff complete ongoing training in child development, health and safety, and trauma-informed care. Small class sizes let them use it well.
Licensed by Illinois (#483511) and serving families since 2009, we are proud of our 4.8-star Google rating and 100% recommendation rate on Facebook. Read parent reviews.
Brain Gym twice a week. Our founder Beata Bielic, a certified Brain Gym instructor, leads short, playful movement sessions that build focus, balance, and coordination. Weekly music classes with a qualified music teacher are included too, and we accept families in the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), including through Illinois Action for Children.
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.
Fantasy Island is at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, southwest of Skokie. Families typically drive via Touhy Avenue or Devon Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue. It is a convenient stop for parents heading toward the Kennedy Expressway or downtown.
We also serve families from Niles, Edgebrook, Sauganash, Park Ridge, and Norwood Park.
Yes. Many of our families live in Skokie and other nearby suburbs. As a private licensed center, we are not limited to Chicago residents.
Not at all. Children from many language backgrounds attend. Instruction is in English, and teachers help children build English through daily routines, songs, and play.
Children ages 2 to 6: daycare for ages 2-3, preschool for ages 3-4, and kindergarten for ages 5-6. We do not enroll children under 2.
Lessons are taught in English. Children from Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking homes receive language support – weekly Friday Polish classes and activities with Ukrainian-speaking teachers.
Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are closed on weekends.
Yes – three freshly prepared meals a day, made in our kitchen, at no extra cost.
Yes. We offer full-time and part-time schedules. Contact us to check availability for your child’s age group.
Yes. CCAP families are welcome, including those receiving assistance through Illinois Action for Children.
Call 773-206-4627 or send us a message to schedule a tour.
Tour our classrooms and playground, meet our teachers, and see how a day at Fantasy Island would fit your Skokie routine.
Call 773-206-4627 or contact us to schedule a visit. Read parent testimonials or our FAQ first.
