La Petite Academy of Champaign - Champaign, Illinois

Naila B.

My daughter has been going here for about 2 years. The staff and teachers are amazing people. The classrooms are spacious and the playground area is also larger compared to the other ones we had visited. The live camera feature is the best part for us as we can see our child whenever we want.

Allison C.

My son had been going here since he was 2 months old. La Petite has been amazing to us. In the mornings at drop off we are always greeted with a smile and a “good morning”. The infant teachers have been hands down amazing. I get pictures everyday. It’s actually the number one thing I look forward to while I’m at work! They truly work with your little ones to reach all of their milestones. They sent me a video when my little one started crawling and saying dada. It made me feel amazing that I wasn’t missing any important events! Every teacher and administration in that building knows you and your little one and they all are always excited to see you. When I leave I never have to worry about my little one because I know he’s in amazing hands. At pick up you’re always getting a run down on your little one’s day. You get painting and art work from you little one. I love it! My son loves his daycare so much and so do I. As a first time mom I highly recommend La Petite. Thank you all for truly caring for my little one!!

Lindsey H.

My daughter had been going here since she was 7 weeks old and I'm so glad i chose this place. The teachers here have treated her with nothing but the best and are always keeping me informed throughout the day and sending me pictures that really brighten my day at work. I can not thank these women enough for treating us like family and i can not say enough great things about this place. Thank you guys❤️❤️

Zach B.

Our boys have been going here for a few years and they have had a great experience. I haven’t witnessed much turnover in the teachers at all. The facility is clean and the staff takes good care of the kids. I feel like they really try to get to know each child.

Our boys love going to school here, and they have definitely grown in their time at LPA. My son always comments about his conversations with his teacher, Ms. Robin. Very good experience for us.

Rebecca R.

This daycare was recommended to me by several people. I am so glad I listened to them. Heidi is a great director, she is personable and professional. There are so many good things about this place I will try to summarize but just know if you are considering a daycare in Champaign, this one should be very high on your list. The teachers are friendly, they are great with the kids. My daughter has been there for over a year (she is 21mo old at the time of this review), and she has been with mostly the same children the entire time. Somehow these teachers are magic, I have done several random drop ins, during nap time, they get all the toddlers to lay on their cots, during meal times, they get them to sit at their tables, getting one toddler to do that is a feat all its own, I have no idea how they do it with an entire group of them. All babies/children have their moments, and these teachers are well versed in how to calm them down.
My daughter was in a in-home daycare from 7weeks to 4 months, when I switched her to La Petite she wasn't taking her bottle. Heidi and the teachers went above and beyond to help her get to eat and they called me to let me know if she ate or if she didn't eat. It took a couple weeks, but after that my daughter did just fine, she started sleeping better, she was happier, I am so glad I made the switch.
When it was time to sleep train my baby so that she could get on a good schedule, again the teachers went above and beyond the call of duty, sleep training didn't take very much time at all and for me getting more than 6 hours of sleep was a godsend.
They were very good with the fact that I was exclusively breastfeeding, they were careful with the milk, making sure not to have it sit out or use too much in one bottle so that very little was wasted. Even when it was time to stop using the pacifier they were up for the challenge and it took no-time to get her napping with no pacifier.
There aren't many negatives, if any, one of them should be taken with a grain of salt. This is a college town, a lot of the people who are working are also working on their degrees, this means when they graduate they are going to leave or go to a different job, so yes there is turnover here, but that is the same as any business in a college town. I love the fact that the teachers that are hired are well educated and have credits or degrees in early childhood education. It isn't just some random person who needs a job, it is someone who has a passion for working with and educating children.
Above all this is a great place, they work with each parent to make sure their child is cared for in the way they would like them to (be it formula or nursing, cloth or disposable diapers, paci or no paci). I know my daughter is in great hands, if there is a problem I know they will call me if it is something serious. I cant say enough good things about this place. Take a tour, do a random drop in, you wont be disappointed.

Kate W.

We have been using LaPetite in Champaign for almost a year now and have been beyond impressed. We have a child in the infant room and an elementary aged son who has been here for occasional after school activities (pre-COVID). The faculty and staff are all professional, knowledgable, warm, and friendly and have done a great job caring for our kids. Everyone there is communicative, and willing to answer any questions. They have worked with us to help focus on developmental areas for our infant.
The protocols put in place since COVID have really allowed us to feel as safe as anyone could expect.
We highly recommend LaPetite Academy in Champaign!

Cory C.

When my daughter first came, to the acadamy, her previous daycare had complained about her behavior labeling her "a challenge" as she has settled into La Petite, we find she no longer fits that category and she is thriving in this environment. The teachers are great and the director, heidi is awesome!

Vanessa S.

Do NOT send your child to La Petite. This is probably the worst school/daycare in Champaign. One of my biggest regrets is sending my child to this school. Below are SOME of my complaints..which I even discussed with the program director; but they fell upon deaf ears.

-the teacher turnover rate is extremely high. My child had 8 different teachers in a period of 8 months. And we only liked 1 of the teachers. Most of the teachers are rude, unprofessional, not interested in the children, or hate their jobs.
-the teachers do not work with the children. They rather put them in a bouncy chair, exersaucer, vibrating chair or boppy. In addition, Heidi Parker (the director) loves to rattle on and on about all the activities they do with the children. False advertising. La Petite is glorified babysitting at an extremely high cost.
-toys are very limited. They have lots of $1 or garage sale toys. No educational or challenging toys.
-dirty. Everything is dirty- the exersaucers, boppy's, swings, toys, floor, .... They even let the children have boogies dripping off their faces instead of wiping them away.

STAY AWAY. Better options are available in Champaign/Urbana.