What makes a High Quality Childcare Program & Preschool?

Choosing childcare is one of the most important decisions families make during their child’s early years. At Gallatin Premier Childcare, we believe high-quality childcare goes far beyond supervision alone — it should provide a safe, nurturing, structured environment where children are encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and developmentally each day.

From educated teachers and intentional classroom routines to hands-on STEAM learning and fresh-made organic meals, we believe every part of the early childhood experience matters. Here are some of the qualities families should look for when searching for a high-quality childcare program in downtown Elmhurst, IL.

One of the most important factors in a high-quality childcare program is the education, experience, and intentionality of the teachers caring for and educating children each day.

While IL licensing standards may allow lead teachers to work in childcare with as minimal education, Elmhurst Premier Childcare believes children deserve higher standards in early childhood education.

Our educators are required to come to us with childcare experience along with either:
• a degree in early childhood education or a related field
OR
• a commitment to obtaining professional early childhood certification through a CDA or CCP credential program.

A CDA (Child Development Associate) credential requires no less than 120 hours focused specifically on early childhood education and child development. In comparison, a traditional bachelor’s degree often includes similar total educational hours spread across both early childhood coursework and general education requirements.

We believe specialized education and intentional training help create:
• stronger classroom structure
• safer learning environments
• more meaningful teacher-child interactions
• intentional STEAM learning experiences
• stronger communication and emotional development
• better kindergarten readiness preparation

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe the quality of a childcare program begins with the quality, education, and intentionality of the educators leading the classrooms each and every day starting with our infant program, our toddler program and through our Preschool program.

Children thrive in environments that provide structure, consistency, routine, and emotionally supportive classroom environments. At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we intentionally focus on creating calm, organized, low-chaos classrooms where children feel safe, secure, supported, and ready to learn.

Our classrooms are intentionally structured to help children build:
• confidence and independence
• emotional regulation
• communication and social skills
• classroom routine and transition skills
• positive relationships with teachers and peers
• focus, engagement, and kindergarten readiness

Unlike many traditional childcare programs, we do not believe in mass combining classrooms simply for convenience. We intentionally maintain structured classroom environments that allow children to remain connected to familiar teachers, routines, peers, and learning expectations throughout the day whenever possible.

We also prioritize calm, organized drop-off and pick-up experiences. We believe children transition best in environments that feel welcoming, secure, and emotionally regulated rather than chaotic or overstimulating.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe intentional classroom structure and meaningful daily routines help children feel emotionally safe, supported, confident, and prepared to learn each day.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe strong communication between families and educators is essential during the early childhood years. We understand the importance of trust, transparency, consistency, and keeping families connected throughout their child’s day.

Our center utilizes Playground, a secure electronic parent communication platform that allows families to receive:
• daily updates and communication
• photos and classroom activities
• meals and snack information
• diapering and toileting updates
• naps and rest time information
• important reminders and announcements

We believe ongoing communication helps families feel informed, connected, and involved in their child’s early learning experience.

Elmhurst Premier Childcare also utilizes classroom cameras as part of our continued commitment to safety, accountability, training, and maintaining high-quality classroom standards. 

Cameras may be utilized for:
• staff training and professional development
• classroom quality review
• safety monitoring
• review of classroom incidents or concerns when necessary

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe strong communication, accountability, and intentional safety practices help create a supportive, transparent, and trustworthy environment for both children and families

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe children learn best through hands-on experiences, meaningful interactions, creativity, exploration, and purposeful play. Our classrooms incorporate STEAM-focused learning experiences throughout the day to help children build confidence, problem-solving skills, communication, creativity, and early academic foundations.

STEAM stands for:
• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Art
• Mathematics

Children participate in hands-on learning experiences including:
• sensory and science exploration
• early math and problem-solving activities
• art and creativity projects
• building and engineering experiences
• literacy and language development
• music and movement
• fine and gross motor development
• imaginative and dramatic play

At ElmhurstPremier Childcare, we also believe the quality of STEAM learning experiences depends heavily on the education, experience, and intentionality of the teachers leading the classroom.

An untrained or uneducated staff member simply cannot provide the same level of intentional learning, classroom engagement, developmental understanding, and meaningful educational interaction as an educated or professionally certified early childhood educator.

Educated and certified teachers better understand:
• child development
• age-appropriate learning experiences
• classroom engagement and communication
• emotional development
• problem-solving and critical thinking opportunities
• how to intentionally guide children through hands-on learning experiences

We believe meaningful early childhood education requires more than supervision alone. At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, our goal is to create intentional classroom environments where children are actively engaged, emotionally supported, challenged appropriately, and excited to learn each day.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe nutrition plays an essential role in children’s growth, development, focus, emotional well-being, and overall health. Our ChildEats® program was intentionally created to provide children with fresh, nutritious meals while helping create positive, meaningful mealtime experiences that feel calm, engaging, and relationship-driven.

Unlike many traditional childcare programs, we proudly provide fresh-made breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks daily featuring all-natural and organic ingredients whenever possible, along with organic milk served daily. We believe healthy eating habits begin during the early childhood years and that children deserve meals made with intention, quality ingredients, and care.

Our classrooms participate in family-style dining experiences where teachers sit alongside children to encourage:
• manners and respectful mealtime behavior
• gratitude and positive conversation
• healthy relationships with food
• self-serving and utensil-use skills
• communication and social interaction
• independence and confidence

We believe mealtime should be more than simply serving food — it should provide opportunities for children to build life skills, communication, social-emotional development, and positive daily routines in a nurturing environment.

 of intentional nutrition during the early childhood years. He holds certifications in Food Handler Safety, CPR & First Aid, and Allergy Awareness & Management while continuing his professional development within the food service and childcare industries.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we are proud to help pioneer higher standards in early childhood education by combining intentional nutrition, educated teachers, structured classrooms, hands-on learning, and meaningful family-style dining experiences designed to support the whole child.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe emotional development is just as important as academic learning during the early childhood years. Children thrive when they feel emotionally safe, supported, encouraged, and confident within their classroom environment.

Our teachers focus heavily on helping children build:
• confidence and independence
• communication and social skills
• emotional regulation
• problem-solving abilities
• positive peer relationships
• self-help and classroom participation skills
• resilience and self-esteem

We believe children learn best in nurturing, relationship-driven environments where they feel valued, heard, supported, and encouraged to explore and grow at their own developmental pace.

Our classrooms intentionally focus on:
• positive guidance and redirection
• meaningful teacher-child relationships
• calm, structured classroom environments
• encouragement and emotional support
• opportunities for independence and leadership
• social-emotional learning through purposeful play and daily interactions

At Gallatin Premier Childcare, we also believe strong family partnerships are essential to supporting children’s emotional and developmental growth. We proudly offer parent-teacher conferences twice yearly to help families stay informed, connected, and involved in their child’s progress, development, classroom experiences, and goals.

We believe children develop confidence when families and educators work together to create consistent, supportive, and encouraging learning environments both at school and at home.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, we believe kindergarten readiness begins long before a child enters a traditional classroom setting. The early childhood years play a critical role in helping children build the confidence, communication skills, emotional development, independence, and academic foundations needed for long-term success.

Our programs intentionally focus on helping children develop:
• early literacy and language skills
• communication and listening skills
• problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
• independence and self-help skills
• social-emotional development
• classroom routine and transition skills
• fine and gross motor development
• confidence and positive peer relationships

Through hands-on STEAM learning experiences, structured classroom routines, meaningful teacher-child interactions, and intentional learning opportunities, children are encouraged to actively explore, create, communicate, and build confidence in their abilities each day.

We believe kindergarten readiness involves far more than academics alone. Children also need emotional security, independence, social confidence, communication skills, and the ability to navigate classroom expectations successfully.

At Elmhurst Premier Childcare, our goal is to help children feel emotionally prepared, socially confident, academically supported, and excited to continue their educational journey long before kindergarten begins.

We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Contact us today to schedule a tour or to learn more about how we can support your child's early learning journey.

https://abcquality.org/blog/what-are-the-top-7-qualities-to-look-for-in-a-child-care-provider/