Uchicago Child Development Center Stony

I really wanted to love this BH location but it has fallen short. The facilities are beautiful and well maintained. There are some lovely families you get to connect with. The director, Ashley, runs a tight ship, keeping things orderly. The curriculum is also dynamic and fun, in theory-- little ones do some super cute and fun activities. On the flip side, you can feel that this daycare is corporately run: it is not transparent, and it is efficient and cold in many ways. Turnover is higher than they let off, they are sometimes understaffed, and teachers don't seem particularly happy or passionate about what they do. If you are looking for a daycare/school that feels like a community, this is not it. Parental involvement is limited to events set up by corporate and beyond that there is really no opportunity to get involved as a parent-- as a matter or fact, it seems they go out of their way to make sure you are not too involved in school life (e.g. no visiting during the day, unlike other BH locations, supposedly to prevent the spread of COVID). The implementation of the curriculum is not child-centric-- it is fairly structured and the expectation is that the kids do what their teachers want them to do, when they want them to do it, and how they want them to do it. If your child steps out of those boundaries, you will likely hear about it through some passive-aggressive comment. Most importantly, it is clear that mitigating liability is prioritized and this is evident in the way they label and treat young ones who are neurodivergent or perhaps even just going through difficult toddler periods. If you are looking for a daycare that will keep your little ones safe and busy this may be a good fit for you. If you are looking for a daycare that meets your child where they are and builds around their strengths and interests, this place is not for you. If your child is neurotypical and easy going, this could be a good fit. If your child is neurodivergent or having a tumultuous toddlerhood, this is likely not a good fit because it is not a place that cares to understand and work with you to support your child through challenging transitions. If you want a daycare that feels like family, and is warm and inviting, this is not it.

Our son has been attending Bright Horizons at Stony Island for the past 3.5 years and we could not be more pleased with our experience. The teachers and management team are exceptionally caring and always available to address any concerns or questions we have had. They truly go above and beyond to create a warm and welcoming environment for the children. The daycare hours also align well with our work schedules, making it incredibly convenient for us as parents. We wholeheartedly recommend this center to any parents looking for a trustworthy and nurturing place for their child

Our son was at Stony Island for 2.5 years before he moved to school. I have always highly recommended this center. I have moved across the country with two kids and have used and visited many childcare facilities. I can confidently say this is one of the best daycare centers one can ever find. I moved from a fancy daycare in CA to Chicago and had to enroll my son in the only BH center that had availability in the city, and I was traumatized by that experience. Everything was bad, and I was highly skeptical of enrolling my son here when they had an opening. I am so glad I did. The building is gorgeous, spacious, bright and well-equipped. It was designed after much contemplation by a famous firm and has been featured in some of the catalogs of noteworthy modern architectures in the city. The staff are all courteous and kind. I particularly loved Ms Felicia, Ms Karina, and Ms Jasmine. But, I never had any bad experience with any staff. The food is good and generous. The management, Ms. Daniella and Ms Ashley are so kind and welcoming and punctual and on top of everything. But, I should say that above the material and human resources of the building, the director, Ms. Ashley is probably the reason why the building shines. She is so resourceful and kind and punctual and hardworking. She is always busy doing new stuff, learning new things, doing charity work, and you will feel how her energy fills the building. Highly recommended to everyone.

Bright Horizons Stony Island has truly been the best decision we made for our son’s daily care. My husband and I have a great sense of peace knowing that our son is in the care of people who truly care about his well-being, happiness and development. He has consistently hit his milestones early and has developed a love for learning and exploration for the world around him. BH-Stony Island makes it easy for us to continue to foster his curiosity and eagerness to excel in all aspects of his little life. We are forever grateful for this facility and the staff who have turned into family.

I'm always leery of any organization whose only payment option is direct access to your banking account details, as well as of any organization that has any resemblance bait and switch practices. This review will focus on mainly the first area, but the second area definitely merits being mentioned. Earlier in 2024, after deciding not to align my family to Bright Horizons program tied to the 'second area' noted above, they reached back out with notice that my family could now be aligned to our location preference. I moved forward with an enrollment decision. They have this policy that you have to cancel 30 days prior to the start date. Note that the monies ($1,103) had been pulled from my account on 12/19, for a 1/28 start date. On January 8th, I sent notice regarding the decision to not move forward with their program and was told by their personnel contact via email, that the monies would not be returned to me. However on the same date, their online system allow me to proceed with processing a reimbursement amount that totaled $911 and their system prompted me to enter in the mailing address that the reimbursement check should be sent. Towards of the end of January, the check had not been received. After reaching out again, I was told that the reimbursement amount was going to be $635 on 1.31. The disconnect between their online portal, that in fact processed the refund amount at $911 (based on the accrual as of 1.8) and communication from the personnel connect, demonstrates a glaring disparity. $635 as the refund amount, is what someone personally determined, while their system on 1.8 determined otherwise at $911, and I provided proof of the timestamp details from 1.8. Let this be a lesson for the next family considering this organization. I've since identified another resource for my family and couldn't be happier.