Explora Learning Center 1

Honestly, Explora is a bit of a mixed bag. The staff is really sweet and they do a lot of cute activities like Spanish and art, but I’ve had some frustrations with how they handle the 'sick season.' It feels like every other week there's a bug going around the toddler room and the communication about exposures is usually pretty late. The space is on the smaller side and it’s a typical urban facility, so germs just spread like wildfire regardless of how much they say they clean. It's a decent, nurturing spot if you're in Portage Park, but definitely keep your pediatrician on speed dial because the illness policy feels a bit lax compared to other places we've been.

Honestly, been pretty happy with Explora so far. It’s a city daycare so you expect some germs, but they seem really on top of cleaning the toys and the common areas. My little one hasn't caught half the stuff my neighbor's kid has at their center! They're pretty strict about the '24-hour fever free' rule which is annoying when you're a working parent, but I get it's for the best. The teachers are sweet and always give me a quick heads-up if there’s a stomach bug going around the classroom so I can prepare.