Irving Park Early Learning Center, Chicago | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

The MANY pandemic lockdowns of 2020-2021 led my family to try out many different child care situations and when we finally found IPELC in the fall of 2022 there was no need to look any further.

We started at IPELC in November that year. Our son was in the wiggle worms class (1 year olds) and our daughter was in the pre-k/Tigers room with Ms. Xhilda. Though all transitions are difficult (possibly harder for parents than kids), within two or so weeks of starting at IPELC, my kids were comfortable and our daughter was regularly talking about her new friends and teachers with enthusiasm and familiarity. Teachers in both classes seemed to take note of their personalities and needs. It was clear that though there are many others in the classroom, the staff including Bardha, take care to make each child feel seen as an individual.

Though she is now at CPS, our daughter expresses nostalgia for her IPELC days. She definitely misses the meals, and I do too. IPELC feeds the children nutritious and well rounded meals that are appealing to even my partner and me. Our daughter spent a year at IPELC where she learned more than I ever expected and made some very close friendships. In addition, my husband and I have made some great friends at IPELC. The daycare seems to draw a down to earth crowd and we’ve been grateful to find true adult friendships with the parents of our children’s friends.

I’m grateful to know that my son will enjoy consistency through the remainder of his time in daycare until he too begins CPS. When he is dropped off at daycare in the morning he often forgets to say goodbye as he enters into the classroom to begin his daily activities. I love seeing what he’s up to on the app throughout the day and am continually impressed by all of the information that his teachers share with us daily, from when he takes a bathroom break to how much food he eats and the length of his naps. The environment is very caring and at the same time, it fosters the children’s independence. I have been amazed to see my two year old insist on putting away toys and even carrying heavy bins to the shelf to put them away on his own.

I highly recommend IPELC to any parent looking for a group childcare setting in Chicago.

We know how big of a decision it is to send your little one to daycare and how helpful it can be to hear from a family who has been through the process. We have two children, a three year old and an 8 month old, who have both been at IPELC. Our daughter started in the infant room at 7 months and has traversed through the ones, twos and is now loving the pre-k (tigers) room. Our son is 8 months old and has been in the infant room since the beginning of 2022.
IPELC has been a great home for our family. Our children have teachers that they love who clearly care about them and help them to grow and develop. We love the app and that the teachers make notes about what our kids are doing throughout the day. They send photos so that we get to feel part of the experience and see the fun activities our kids are engaged in such as art projects, indoor obstacle courses, show and tell, circle time, and outdoor playtime.
While there has been normal staff turnover, there is a lot of consistency at IPELC and that has been wonderful for our kids. Not only has our daughter had some amazing teachers but Ms. Carmen (2’s) and Ms. Xhilda (pre-k) have been at IPELC for many years and have helped our daughter adjust to her new role as a big sister. The teachers partner with parents, letting us know if something is happening that we need to be concerned about while also calming our fears when there is something occurring that is developmentally appropriate behavior. Furthermore, while it was initially hard to drop off our daughter with people we didn’t know, our son now has one of the same teachers in the infant room and it feels like we’re leaving him with a trusted friend or family member.
IPELC staff and teachers are responsive to questions and concerns. They have had to pivot like us all throughout the pandemic and have worked to put in place safety protocols like mask wearing, which is no easy feat with young kids. We thoroughly appreciate all of the care that is put into ensuring that our children are in a safe environment where they can grow, learn, and develop.

The fundamental contradiction for any parent sending their child to school is that while your child may be the most important person in the world to you, to the teacher they are merely one of 20 in a classroom and one of hundreds or even thousands in a career. That’s how it HAS to be for the teacher to fully exercise their professional talents and for each student to receive the same educational opportunities.

However, the best teachers can make you forget that this contradiction exists. They can make you feel like they see your child the same way you do – as the unique, beautiful, beloved individual that they are. We were fortunate enough to find such teachers at IPELC. Xhilda, Elise, Carmen, Bardha, and all the rest really made us feel like they were caring for our son as if he were their own. Our son spent two years at IPELC and, even though it was his first group preschool experience (due to COVID), he immediately felt comfortable there and I felt secure dropping him off each morning.

Through his experience at IPELC, our son gained social confidence, made some great friends, and learned a TON. We could see his increasing confidence in letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and so much more. He even began reading towards the end of his pre-K year and his teachers encouraged this growth by having him read simple stories to the class.

I’m a worrier at heart and the prospect of our son entering Kindergarten in the fall is a daunting prospect for me (if not for him), but I know that he’s ready to make that step due to the quality experience and education he received at IPELC.