Open Space Early Learning Center 4846 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640

"Open Space was the perfect introduction to daycare for us as first time parents! We absolutely loved our experience with our 4 month old! All the staff and teachers were phenomenal, I mean every single person. They loved our son Mister and made him feel so welcomed every time he came in. We would’ve stayed forever but recently moved to another state, so had to say goodbye. They really do care so much about all the littles there, and during the hard winter time of sicknesses and such- they were top notch in their notification and sanitation processes. I love that they send pics/videos throughout the day via brightwheel, and are so easy to contact about everything. We had a special circumstance with our enrollment and they were so understanding/flexible. I would list names, but it would literally be everyone’s name listed as they are all rockstars! Open Space will always have a place in our hearts!"

"TLDR; -Our daughter was bit in the face two different times by the same child (who was also constantly hitting/pushing) and they refused to take any basic steps to keep them apart -The owner and her administrative staff are inattentive, resentful of questions/concerns, and just generally kind of apathetic -administrative staff would often be on their phones or computers and not even look up when we came into the building -continuously increasing prices and charges while decreasing services/hours/days -they ironically have no “open space” for outdoor play, and allow/encourage random passersby on Clark st to tap on the windows and engage with the children -some of the teachers were really good (Miss Megan was her favorite) and kind, but the turnover of staff and their frustration with the owner is terrible, so they never last -They were super nice and cheerful during the application and sign up process, but over time just got more and more apathetic and transactional. Our daughter went to Open Space for 2.5 years, and over time, the owner and administrative staff became increasingly apathetic and unaccomodating. The most concerning experience was when a child bit our 2 year old daughter in the *face*, on two separate occasions, and the owner refused to take any steps to keep the biter away from our daughter, calling it “developmentally appropriate.” It was especially disappointing after we stuck with them and gave them infinite grace through their pandemic struggles, early closures and unexpected closure days— all of which they still required us to pay for in full. As the pandemic ceded, they continuously decreased services and reduced open hours while increasing prices. We never complained until 2022 when vaccines were fully available and the the staff had stopped wearing masks, and our (fully vaccinated) daughter was disallowed from daycare for 10 days because a different child at the school had covid. They said she would be allowed if she got tested *every day* , but they would not accept at-home tests (so take her to the minute clinic *every day*??) They were, however, happy to continue accepting our money while she was disallowed from school. And the staff was allowed to keep working with no restrictions. Our daughter has now been at a new daycare for a year at the same price, and the administrative staff is way more pleasant, the hours are better, they have way more open days, they take field trips and have an intentional learning curriculum and their own dedicated playground. I encourage you to look at other nearby options for a much safer and less stressful experience."

"Our son has been with Open Space since he was 3 months old. We were so scared to start daycare, but from the start Open Space has provided a safe and loving place for him to grow. He’s been so loved and well cared for this whole time, and for that we are so grateful to this wonderful place and community."

"It's high time I posted this overdue review of Open Space Early Learning Center. My son has been attending since October 2021 and the team at OS has been nothing short of stellar. It was important to me to find an environment where he would be safe, they would truly get to know and care about him, as well as nurture his growth and development. It's a tall order but this is my baby so I will only leave him in high quality and capable care. The center itself is bright and cheery. The classrooms are setup with a child at play in mind. Procedures are digitized where possible including check-in and checkout and they use Brightwheel as their parent interaction app. We get daily updates and photos on the app and can see the thoughtful learning experiences that are being provided. On the subject of Covid19 protocols, I have no doubt in my mind that all the protocols enacted are in the best interest of the children and staff. They go beyond what's required and that puts my mind at ease in terms of providing a safe environment. Staff are very responsive and my son's teachers are warm and amazing. They really take the time to listen to him. Open Space has been such a great fit for our family and we truly appreciate the top quality care they provide."

"One of our children started at Open Space shortly after it first opened and stayed until transitioning to public school. She had a wonderful experience with all the teachers and staff. And I was so impressed with how the owner and administrators communicated through the pandemic. They are very professional, have high standards for care, and keep the school feeling warm and nurturing. Now our youngest two children are at Open Space and are loving it! No tears when I drop them off and they come home excited about all the fun things they did during the day. This place is a gem."