Choosing an infant program is an incredibly personal decision. You are evaluating safety, location, and logistics, but you are also trying to answer a deeper question: Who are the people who will be with my child every day?
When touring infant programs in Chicago, it helps to look closely at the small, everyday moments. The way teachers speak to infants, approach care routines, and arrange the environment can offer useful clues about the school's philosophy.
Relationships Before Routines
When comparing infant programs, you might look for responsive relationships. Infants often communicate through a change in expression, a shift in movement, or a particular cry. Notice whether teachers watch for those cues and how they respond.
Ask how care routines become opportunities for connection, language, and trust.
Notice how teachers approach feeding, diapering, and comforting. Do they talk to an infant before picking them up? Do they make eye contact and explain what is happening? If a program describes its approach as RIE-inspired, ask what that means in everyday care and how teachers involve infants in those moments.
Freedom to Move and Explore
Ask how the classroom gives infants opportunities for floor movement and how teachers decide when different equipment is used.
During a visit, notice whether infants have room to reach, roll, pivot, crawl, or pull up as those movements emerge. You can also ask how teachers observe children and adjust the environment when a child is working on a new movement.
Communication from the Beginning
Even in a room of children who are not yet speaking, listen for how adults use language. You might hear teachers describe what is happening, sing songs, read stories, or pair words with simple signs. Ask how the program supports early communication in ways that fit each child.
Questions for Your Tour
- How do teachers get to know each infant's individual needs and cues?
- How is floor time and physical movement supported throughout the day?
- How does the school communicate with families about sleep, feeding, new movements, and emerging interests?
- What happens when an infant is upset or having a difficult day?
To see our infant environments in person, schedule a tour at one of our locations.
See It for Yourself
There is only so much a screen can show you. A tour gives you the chance to see how teachers interact with children, how classrooms are arranged for movement and exploration, and how the small moments of care actually feel.
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