Great Beginnings INC is a child daycare & preschools daycare located at 4263 S State Route 159, Glen Carbon, Illinois IL. Find contact info, location details, and similar daycares nearby.
What Parents Say
Great Beginnings receives highly polarized reviews ranging from 1-5 stars. Positive reviewers praise professional staff, strong communication, safety measures, and child development, with many describing long-term satisfaction. Negative reviewers report concerns about staff training, inappropriate child handling, inadequate outdoor time, and facility security.
I don’t understand how this daycare is still in business, I honestly don’t understand how anyone takes their children here AT ALLLL. I hope you guys are asking your kids many questions when picking them up. I have a lawyer that’s been digging into this daycare due to my son being aggressively snatched to the ground, screamed at, and kids punishments were them being placed in a dark bathroom. IDC how affordable a daycare is, ITS AFFORDABLE FOR A DAMN REASON. I really wish that this place was shut down.
I cannot speak highly enough about Great Beginnings Daycare. From the moment we enrolled my children, it was clear that this is a professional, well-run, and credible daycare center that prioritizes the safety, education, and well-being of every child in their care. The staff demonstrates the utmost professionalism in everything they do. They communicate effectively with parents, are always approachable, and are clearly passionate about their work. What truly stood out to me is their unwavering commitment to keeping all children safe. From secure facilities to well-trained staff who are vigilant and attentive, I always feel at ease knowing my child is in such capable hands. Great Beginnings also excels in its educational techniques. They offer age-appropriate activities that cater to the developmental needs of children at every stage. Whether it’s sensory play for infants, hands-on learning for toddlers, or structured lessons for preschoolers, they create an engaging environment where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. If you are looking for a credible and trustworthy daycare, I highly recommend Great Beginnings Daycare. They set the standard for what childcare should be—safe, nurturing, educational, and professional. Choosing them was one of the best decisions we’ve made for our family!
This place is affordable, and they don't have super restrictive policies regarding holding your kid's place if they are out for a bit. that's about all I can say that is positive. The building is not secure for children. There are some good classroom staff, but nearly all lack training and awareness of appropriate modern child are techniques. I have seen staff scream at you g children and grab and handle them in inappropriate ways. They claim to do school work with the kids, but they rarely show what they are doing. They will not put the kids outside if it is slightly hot or cold, and kids who go here will be cooped up in one room most days. They aggressively put children in timeouts instead of addressing behaviors in a constructive manner. The lesson plans are a joke and are not routinely followed (I've openly heard staff saying "should we just put on another movie? I don't know what we're supposed to be doing."). I've heard adult staff ridicule and make fun of children to their faces. Staff have allowed my kid attending here to watch videos on their personal phone. I would not send children here who cannot speak up for themselves and self-advocate (definitely not babies or young toddlers). We only used this place because it was so hard to find anyplace else with openings on short notice. I would only use this place as a last resort. It is not run by people who understand the stages of childhood development or modern childcare practices.
I absolutely love this school! My daughter has been going here for over a year now and I have not had one problem with anyone . They are all very nice and respectful. My daughter is always excited to go to school and she talks about her teacher all the time. She has grown so much since starting here. Not only Educational wise but as a person. My daughter has not one complaint about anyone here and that makes me very happy. It's going to be a sad day when she has to leave to head to kindergarten. We will miss everyone so much. I am so very grateful to all teachers and staff for everything you do for our babies. I know it's not easy and I much appreciate every single one of you. I am very very protective when it comes to my child and the fact that I feel 100 percent at ease when my daughter is at school here says A LOT!! Do not listen to these negative reviews on here. This school rocks and so does the owner!
We LOVE Great Beginnings! I have a 16yr old, a 6 yr old and 3yr old..my 16 year old went here when she was younger. When we sent or middle child there, they had the same staff. I feel like that alone speaks volumes on the schools environment. My middle child who is now in 1st grade loves to go in to get my 3yr old and the staff still greets her and love in her. My 3yr Old's previous teachers from younger classrooms meet him in the hallway to greet him every morning. The communication is amazing, they called me instantly when he was stung on the playground. Love this place and everyone who works there! They've called when he's been sluggish and not his normal self to make sure things werebok...he ended up having an ear infection.