It Takes a Village On Chicago Ave, LLC

I've had my little one at It Takes a Village in Austin for a bit now, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the place stays pretty clean and the teachers are super attentive, which is a big relief for a daycare in the city. They definitely try to keep a nurturing vibe and are good about letting you know if a bug is going around the classroom. My biggest gripe is the food—the menu isn't nearly as healthy as I’d like to see for growing kids. It’s a lot of processed stuff, though they will swap things out if you ask. Plus, with the staff turnover being what it is based on what you hear from employees, I sometimes worry about how consistent the care and sanitizing routines are when they're short-handed. It's affordable and fine for now, but there's definitely room for improvement on the wellness side.

Honestly, I was pretty nervous about daycare germs, especially in a busy city center, but the staff at IT TAKES A VILLAGE have been really on top of things. They are super strict about their sick policy—if a kid has a fever, they are calling you immediately to pick them up, which can be a hassle for work but it definitely keeps the classes from getting wiped out by the flu. The facility on Chicago Ave always smells clean when I drop my little one off, and I've noticed the teachers are really consistent about making the kids wash their hands before snacks and after playing outside. Only downside is the communication can be a bit hectic during seasonal spikes, but overall I feel like my son is in a healthy environment.