Dream Big Scholastic Academy

Toured Dream Big on Stony Island and honestly, I was pretty underwhelmed with how they manage health. The space felt super cramped for the number of kids they have in there, and you could tell the staff-to-child ratio is pushing the limits, which makes it impossible for them to actually keep up with sanitizing toys or checking on the kids properly. Several little ones had really bad runny noses and were just coughing openly without anyone wiping faces or encouraging hygiene. Communication about when kids are getting sent home sick seems spotty too, and with the overcrowding, it just feels like a germ factory. I'm looking for somewhere that feels a bit cleaner and less chaotic for my toddler.

My little one has been at Dream Big for a few months now and I’m honestly pretty happy with the health side of things. It’s a smaller spot on Stony Island, so you definitely get that neighborhood feel where the staff actually knows your kid. They're super strict about their sick policy—if a kid has a runny nose or a fever, they are calling you to pick them up ASAP, which is annoying when you're at work but honestly keeps the flu from spreading through the whole classroom. I've noticed they're always wiping down the play mats when I drop off in the mornings, and it doesn't have that 'stale' daycare smell, which is a big plus for me!