Nook Bucktown #1 Childcare & Preschool - Chicago, Illinois

Ashlea D.

The Nook 1 in Bucktown has been nothing short of amazing for our family. My oldest daughter has been in the Pre-School classroom for over a year now and has not only grown so much, and made so many friends, but she also has four amazing teachers, who have been the same four teachers since she started: Ms Reyna, Ms Ashley, Ms Vero and Ms Yesenia. My youngest daughter started at The Nook last Summer in the newborn room and then moved up to the Toddler room in the fall, and she also loves it. She’s learned to walk and talk at school, made friends and doesn’t even say goodbye to us anymore, just gets so excited she runs into her classroom. It’s a great feeling to know your children are excited to go to a place they love day in and day out. Honestly couldn’t be happier with The Nook.

Amy H.

My son was born premature, which he had an adjusted milestone chart for things like sitting up or pinching with his hands. We had work to do to make sure he catches up with his gestational age group. I was very lucky to work from home and take care of him at the same time, but I reached a point where he was moving and needed more engagement.

He joined the nook on Armitage and Leavitt when he was 9 months old. We noticed a considerable difference in his mobility. Not only that, but he was really engaged in the activities and learning. He was stimulated. We also don't have a lot of friends with children yet, so it is nice he gets to interact with children his own age.

Since then he has moved onto toddler and then tikes. He loves school so much and he likes showing us his artwork. He tells me which teacher helps him with projects. As parents, we are happy to see him thriving in a safe environment, and learning basic manners like sharing and saying please and thank you.

We like working with the nook, because they are reenforcing our child's development and are willing to adjust on how we want to raise him. Secondly, the administration does a great job of organizing parent and child events, so we meet other parents and see our child's learning environement. Lastly, even though, he is in the tike class now, he still runs around to his old teachers and hug them. It is a collective effort and every teacher participates in our child's wellbeing.

We have a newborn and we plan on enrolling her in the Nook when the time is right for us.

These are the people that are important to my son and enriches his life from 9 months to present:

Infant: Laura, Mabel & Mori
Toddlers: Marlen, Yrais & Daisy (Special shout out to Jessica, who was also my son's teacher but moved to the Nook across the street)
Tikes: Ceci & Chiquitha
Admin: Jasmin & Janette
Chef: Shira (My son loves the food. He eats so much, especially the meatballs, which he told me a couple of days ago is his favorite.)

Thank you, Nook on Armitage and Leavitt.

We love you all so much.

Laura M.

My name is Laura Martinez I have been working for The Nook Day Care for almost 7 years. I got the call that said I was hired a day before my birthday. I was very excited to put my expertise in child care to good use and also the fact that I am a mom gave me a great advantage.

My favorite part of the job is to greet my little human friends every day and to see how excited they get when we bring on new activities for them to play with and discover.

It's rewarding to me to see a family who has their child in day care for the first time and how they rest easy to know how well and love their child is being treated. Or have a conversation with a parent and share stories, give suggestions and help with transitions.

It's all part of the love, learn, collaboration this company stands for.

Samantha N. Y.

Our son started at the Nook parttime when he was a toddler. We were initially nervous because he had been primarily receiving care at our home but the staff at the Nook made the transition seamless! Their caring and attentive approach helped our son adjust quickly and comfortably. All of the teachers are all so kind and I can tell genuinely care about the kids (shoutout to Ms. Marlen, Ms. Yrais, and Ms. Daisy in his current classroom!). I appreciate the small and tightknit community-- even the teachers outside of his classroom know his name.

Additionally, the communication from the staff has been fantastic; we always feel informed and involved in our son's daily activities and progress. It's heartwarming to see him walk in with a smile every day, excited to spend time with his friends and teachers.

We highly recommend The Nook to any parents looking for a nurturing and supportive daycare environment!

Reyna L.

Being a teacher at The Nook daycare & Preschool has been incredibly rewarding. The combination of a rich learning environment, a thoughtful curriculum, and a supportive community makes it an ideal setting for both children and educators. I feel privileged to be part of a team that is dedicated to fostering a love of learning in our students and preparing them for their future educational journeys.

The classrooms are bright and colorful, filled with age-appropriate materials that encourage exploration and creativity. Each area is thoughtfully organized into learning zones, such as art, stem, reading, and sensory play, allowing children to engage in diverse activities that cater to their interests. The curriculum at The Nook is play-based and child-centered, which aligns with best practices in early childhood education.
As a teacher, I appreciate the flexibility in lesson planning, allowing us to adapt activities to the unique needs and interests of our students. We emphasize hands-on learning, encouraging children to ask questions, solve problems, and collaborate with peers. The incorporation of art, music, and movement enriches the learning experience, making it both enjoyable and effective.

I highly recommend The Nook to any parent seeking a nurturing and stimulating environment for their child's early development.

Ashley D.

The Nook preschool is simply amazing!!!! I have been working here for almost 3 years now and this daycare/ preschool is hands down the best daycare I worked at! I have the most amazing co-workers who is so patient and awesome with the kids. and I can't forget the most wonderful director ever Jasmin!!! Who is so kind, understanding and go above & beyond for her workers, the kids and the parents! I highly recommend the nook preschool/daycare for your child care needs and employment an awesome place for growth!

Brittney L.

No matter where you are in your research for selecting which daycare you should enroll your child in, you can stop searching - now. Because The Nook#1 in Bucktown is unbeatable. Under the direction of Jasmin, this daycare is nothing short of amazing. She hires the best staff to care for your children, and knows how to keep her teachers - despite the high turnover rate in Early Childhood Education. Anywhere from Ms. Marlen in the Toddler Room, Ms. Ceci and Ms. Chiquitha being a powerhouse combo in the Tikes Room, to even the magical Chef Shira in the kitchen, somehow convincing your child to eat a salad! Since joining the Nook in March of 2021 (despite the aftermath of COVID), I've felt the strong sense of community that surrounds this daycare and have not worried AT ALL about the quality of care my children have received. Whether you're a parent looking for socialization skills, an enriching curriculum (with Spanish, Sign Language, Music, Dance, Yoga, Sports, etc.), guidance with behavioral issues, support with potty training or picky eating - or simply, just help to raise a good human being - The Nook is the right choice. I never would have anticipated considering my children's daycare as an extension of my family, but here we are with two children enrolled and loving every day of it and without reservations for future children. [For what it's worth, ANY quality daycare will be equivalent to a mortgage payment - the value of this daycare is beyond comparison.]

Chelsea H.

Update: My daughter has graduated to the next class. Teachers Miss Maria and Miss Janette are simply amazing. The consistency in quality of teachers, creativity with curriculum, and inclusive community feel continues to impress me. The wonderful director, Miss Jasmin, takes great care in hiring and supporting the teachers. This is so important to fostering the positive energy that envelopes the center.

We joined the nook community after our previous daycare abruptly closed (and we were at a different daycare prior to that as we lived in a different neighborhood). So, after experiencing three daycares, I can confidently say the Nook is extraordinary - a notch above the rest.

The director, Jasmin, provides a fun, loving and safe environment for the children and staff - it’s evident the moment you walk in. Not only is Jasmin an excellent communicator with parents but she’s never shy to jump in a class room and have fun with the kids.

My two year old is in the tikes room with Miss CeCe and Miss Chiquita. I couldn’t imagine two better people to take care of our daughter. Their activities are play based, stimulating, fun and educational. My daughter is always so excited to tell me about the different things they did and learned that day. Miss CeCe and Miss Chiquita go above and beyond to make holidays and celebrations fun and memorable. Our daughter loves both teachers so much - she tells us she misses them on the weekends and calls them her best friends.

Our four year old was in the same center in the preschool room before graduating to the Nook studio. It was (and is) the same experience for him.

Miss Reyna, Miss Ashley, Miss Vero and Miss Yesenia make managing a room full of three and four year olds look easy.

In addition to the wonderful people that make up the Nook, the curriculum is wonderful (Spanish, gymnastics, sign language, dance, yoga etc), food is prepared fresh on site every day, they get outside whenever they can and all holidays are celebrated (I love that my kids learn about other traditions and beliefs).

We are so grateful for the Nook and all the people who make it what it is!