TIGER TOTS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

TL;DR – Incredible teachers, great education, convenient hours/services Tiger Tots CDC has been a godsend for our family in so many ways! Our son, now 9 ½, has been cared for at Tiger Tots since he was 13 months old (8 ½ years!), and our daughter, now 2 ½, has been there since she was 3 months old. I cannot say enough about the love these teachers pour into the kids in their care — truly, into all the Tiger Tots kids. Most, if not all, of the teachers know both of our children, whether they’ve had them in class or not, and always greet them warmly when they cross paths. Having seen our kids with their teachers, we never worry that they don't get the individualized or one-on-one care they need and deserve. In fact, on our daughter's first day, one of her amazing teachers even wore her in a baby carrier all day because that was the only way she was happy! Their classroom teachers take the time to really get to know each child, which makes all the difference in helping the kids feel safe and loved. They’ve also taken the time to know our family, which gives us confidence in their care. When concerns have come up over the years, we’ve always felt comfortable reaching out so we can be on the same page and move forward together. When we took our son to his kindergarten assessment with CPS, the student teacher asked if he had done summer school because he already knew all of his Fundations (the reading/writing program used in the schools). Nope — Tiger Tots had it covered! They also use Conscious Discipline, the same classroom management/social-emotional curriculum used in CPS, which I believe made his kindergarten transition much smoother. Tiger Tots’ hours start early enough and end late enough to work well with our schedules. What really sets them apart, though, is their program for school-aged kids. We can drop both children off at the same time, knowing our son will get a healthy breakfast before being taken safely to school, then be brought back at the end of the day to enjoy a snack and fun activities before pickup. On no-school days — even snow days — we know he has a safe, fun place to be so we can go to work without scrambling for childcare. The before- and after-school services give us peace of mind and provide our kids with a familiar, comfortable routine, especially valuable when starting school and everything else in life is changing.

All three of our kids have gone through Tiger Tots, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Our oldest was well-prepared and even ahead of the curve when starting kindergarten, and our younger two are learning and growing every day. The teachers are incredibly communicative and caring...we always feel in the loop and supported. Most importantly, our kids love going to “school” every day. Tiger Tots has been a wonderful start to their education!

When I first enrolled my 2 boys I was extremely nervous. I had been a stay at home mom with them and one was in the process of weening from breastfeeding. The older of the two fit right in and began making friends immediately and engaging with staff right off the bat. My baby was having a harder time adjusting, as was I at the whole process. But every day the staff was encouraging and attentive to me as a mother as well as being understanding of where my son was in his transition. They helped all of us thru what felt like an impossible situation. Fast forward to today they are both flourishing! Their personalities have blossomed as has their independence, and development. They are excited about going and actually get upset when they don’t and I get excited to hear about their days and what they did. I am so glad we joined this community of awesome people and kids!

Both my kids have attended Tiger Tots for years. Their schedule is excellent for parents that have to work. Our previous childcare followed the CPS schedule and that meant a ton of days that they were closed. Tiger Tots is always open except for the major holidays, and they cover my son's half days as part of their after school program. My youngest son has thrived in their pre-school program and the teachers have been incredible. I think their tuition rates are very fair.

I strongly suggest tiger tots for your kids. The teachers and admin have amazing communication skills and bonding techniques with the children. I’ve seen it first hand! Bree,Caleb,and Gretchen are the main admin at this location and they are spot on. Bree is a recommendation of mine. She is gentle and kind with the kids, is also an amazing help for any questions about tiger tots.