The Early Years, Inc

"My 2 year old has been going to this daycare for a few months now and I cannot emphasize enough how indispensable their support has been through the transition from stay-at-home mom to single working mom. They helped to guide me through the whole process and even helped me with my childcare aid paperwork, when no other daycare was even willing to answer my questions. The difficulty of leaving your child with complete strangers for the first time, goes without question. The staff at The Early Years has gone above and beyond to not only support my child, but to support me, too. Obviously, my kiddo is very attached from spending 24/7 with me for her entire two years, but she warmed up to her teachers much faster than I ever could’ve hoped, which is a testament to the loving care they provide. Dropping her off at daycare is something she’s very excited for now and she talks about her teachers even when we’re home. There are bulletin boards outside each room with details posted about daily activities, meal schedules, and a monthly learning theme. They gently encourage all the children to try using the potty, and are always working on other skills, like numbers and colors, and friendship. Lastly, I will say that their communication has been top notch. Through the brightwheel app, they log each diaper change, meal, start/end of a nap, and send pictures and videos when they can. The thing that has given me the most peace of mind is their transparency and honesty. There was one day that another little one hit mine. It’s unavoidable sometimes, they’re kids. Even though the hit didn’t leave a mark, they still informed me that it happened. I’m certain that there are daycares out there that wouldn’t even mention such a minor thing, but knowing that they will tell me anything and everything gives me reassurance that I’ll never be left in the dark about my daughter’s well-being. Special thanks to Sydnee, Atika, Shyanne, Ciera, and Codi (who moved and now works at the collinsville location)."

"I have been to this daycare several times. Management is incompetent.....I applied when the director told me there was space for both of my children. Waited 2 MONTHS calling everyday for an answer just be told "they will call you back", "they are on lunch" and finally ..."sorry, we actually don't have any space". I called the state department just to find out THEY NEVER TURNED IN MY APPLICATION....now im out a job.... if you want your time wasted by all means this is the place. 0 stars would be more accurate."

"My son has been going to the Early Years daycare for about 3 months now and, although it was an adjustment at first, I'm proud to say he has fully adapted to the new environment and is loving it. The classrooms are diverse and the teachers are very kind. Since enrolling him in the Early years, I've noticed his speech and social skills improve dramatically."

"Where to begin…the staff turnover is horrible. Within 2 months of starting in the preschool room, my child had 5 different teachers. There is absolutely no support or formal training for the teachers/aids. They spent their professional development day painting walls and remodeling. There is zero classroom management, and it was absolute chaos with kids running around screaming, throwing toys, etc. All of the teachers of quality quit long ago. There have been multiple DCFS calls and citations against this center. It is public knowledge and can be searched on the DCFS website. If your child has allergens do NOT send them here. My child was served allergens multiple times, and procedures that were supposed to prevent this from happening were not followed through. In fact, the staff member who was responsible is still employed at the center working in the kitchen. The owners do not care about the well-being of the children. All they care about is money and making the center look nice. There is an app Brightwheel that is rarely used. There is zero communication and important messages are often ignored. The rates are increased multiple times a year. There are other centers in the area that have far better care for about the same price. They are constantly advertising enrollment, yet every other center in the metro east has a year-long waitlist. Immediate red flag. I do not recommend this place to anyone."

"It is such a relief to have a safe and fun place for our children to go during the day. They have a great curriculum and our kids are always learning something new. We love The Early Years!"