5 Star Childcare Development Center INC.

I've had my little one at 5 Star for a bit now and honestly, it’s a mixed bag when it comes to the health side of things. The staff is really friendly and you can tell they care, but the communication when a bug is going around the classroom is pretty hit or miss. I’ve definitely picked up my kid only to find out later that half the class was out with the same sniffles. It’s a smaller facility so things tend to spread fast, and while they say they're cleaning deeply, the common areas don't always look the tidiest at pickup. It’s an okay spot if you need local care in the neighborhood, but I really wish they were more proactive about keeping parents in the loop before everyone gets sick.

As a parent of a 2-year-old toddler at 5 Star Childcare Development Center Inc. in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood (2811 W 5th Ave), I’ve found the health and safety environment to be a mixed bag but generally acceptable for a small, family-oriented center. It’s a licensed daycare with a focus on early learning, STEM activities, and hands-on play for infants and toddlers, offering full-day care from 6 AM to 6 PM, which has been convenient for our family. The facility emphasizes a nurturing environment with circle time, art, and learning centers, and from our experience, the staff promotes basic hygiene like hand-washing and separation of age groups, which helps limit the spread of typical toddler colds and viruses. Our child has had the expected minor sniffles but nothing serious, and the center communicates when kids are sent home sick or if there’s a group exposure, aligning with standard Illinois child care guidelines. Cleanliness seems adequate for a small center—classrooms aren’t pristine but are functional, and outdoor play space is available, which is a plus for physical activity and germ dispersal. For our family, 5 Star has provided reliable toddler care with decent health protocols—no major concerns for our 2-year-old, though we stay vigilant as with any group setting.