Child Care and Early Education

One Hope United Child Development Centers cater to the individual needs of each community, child and family in our care. We nurture children’s growth and partner with parents to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners. Our curriculum-based programs focus on preparing students to succeed when they enter kindergarten. Visit your center’s page to schedule a tour!

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Download our FAQ for Parents, a reference tool to help any family choose a child care or early learning program.

Features

Active Learning

At One Hope United, your child will be actively learning throughout the day. Using the Creative Curriculum, our teachers design classroom environments with learning centers based around math and science, literature, music and movement, art, dramatic play, computers, and more. Through hands-on activities and the Respectful Infant Environment approach, children of all ages learn to explore, make choices, and understand the world around them.

Healthy Living

We believe in nurturing each child’s mind, body and soul. Our proprietary Healthy Lifestyles curriculum emphasizes exercise, healthy routines, nutritional practices and environmental awareness. Daily indoor or outdoor activities that promote this philosophy include cooking, maintaining center gardens, recycling, and gym or playground time.

Technology in the Classroom

Technology is a crucial part of any education today. Many of our classrooms incorporate computer activities and SMART Boards—interactive digital screens that support a range of learning styles, from tactical to visual to audio. Our Des Plaines, and Wilmette centers use Tadpoles, an app that allows teachers to send you photos, videos, and updates on your child’s day, straight to your email or smart phone. More centers will begin using tadpoles soon!

Family-Centered Care

We support your child’s healthy development both at our centers and while they’re at home. Our centers build deep relationships with the communities they’re in and customize their care to each individual child and family who attends. Centers offer parent programs to help you bond with your child and support their education, and our curriculum includes events that encourage family participation.

Nationally Accredited

All of our eligible centers are accredited or undergoing accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—a distinction held by less than 10% of centers in the country.

Our Programs

Infant
Toddler/Twos
Preschool
School Age

“Every day, we feel secure knowing that we made the right choice and that our son is in a safe, nurturing, and playful environment that allows him to explore and learn about the world around him.” - Parent

The world is a new and exciting place for an infant! Our infant program offers a safe and stimulating environment which allows children to move freely and explore materials. Nurturing staff engage in meaningful interactions with infants during this critical period of learning. Teachers work closely with families to create an individualized schedule to meet the needs, development and growth of each infant.

Social-Emotional Development
Infants develop feelings of trust in others as their needs for food and comfort are met. The routines of primary caregiving are enacted by caregivers through individualized responsive interactions. Social development begins when infants smile, recognize, and seek out familiar faces.

Intellectual Development
Infants learn through their senses and by active exploration. They are provided opportunities to move about and experience a variety of textures, sounds, tastes, smells, shapes and colors that are challenging and enjoyable. The role of caregivers is to talk, sing and play simple games to stimulate curiosity and to provide materials appropriate to each stage of infant development.

Physical Development

Infant activities enable children to practice basic skills of reaching and grasping, rolling, sitting, walking and climbing. Small muscles develop as children begin to feed themselves, as well as through play with a variety of toys.

Moral Development and Guidance
Infants and toddlers rely totally on caregiver reaction to their behaviors to determine right behaviors from wrong. They have not yet developed internal controls. Caregiver guidance that is consistent, firm and lovingly applied is what these very young children depend on to learn fundamental ways of relating to others.

“One Hope United provides such an enriched environment that I could not provide at home.” - Parent

Toddlers want independence as they are now walking and beginning to talk. Our toddler program allows children the freedom to attempt new experiences through the use of carefully selected materials and equipment. The toddlers and two year olds will gain confidence in knowing what will come next through a flexible yet structured schedule which will include time for self-exploration and group experiences.

Social-Emotional Development
Toddlers develop feelings of independence as they learn to do things for themselves and use language to express themselves. Giving opportunities to make choices, helping children label things and feelings, and giving comfort when children become frustrated are fundamental to the daily routine. Social learning includes being kind to friends, playing side-by-side, turn-taking and simple role-playing.

Intellectual Development
Toddlers learn through manipulating objects and opportunities to find out how things work. They are provided materials for building, for putting together and taking apart and for exploring. The role of caregivers is to ask and answer questions, to acknowledge learning, to model language and to provide appropriate materials to foster curiosity.

Physical Development
Toddler activities encourage children to develop strength, balance and coordination as they practice jumping and running, as well as more controlled activities like moving to music. Small muscles develop through activities such as playing with playdough, interlocking blocks and coloring with crayons. Children gain independence through self-help skills such as using the toilet, washing hands, using a spoon and fork, and dressing and undressing themselves, with the assistance of teachers as necessary.

Moral Development and Guidance
Toddlers rely totally on caregiver reaction to their behaviors to determine right behaviors from wrong. They have not yet developed internal controls. Caregiver guidance that is consistent, firm and lovingly applied is what these very young children depend on to learn fundamental ways of relating to others.

“What impresses me most about One Hope United is the curriculum. The teachers focus on the different personalities and different interests of the children.” - Parent

Our preschool program builds a foundation for a child’s future success in school. The children are active learners, meaning they will learn through hands-on experiences. Every classroom has the following areas: art, science, math, language, and dramatic play. Within the centers, materials are available for children to use independently or in small groups. On any given day, walking into one of our preschool programs you may see children tracing letters at the writing table, exercising self-expression through art materials, or sorting items according to color and size.

Social-Emotional Development
Preschool children develop feelings of competence through successful accomplishment of tasks and positive play experiences with others. Social learning includes taking direction from others, as well as being a leader, and using language to promote friendship and problem solve. Providing opportunities for children to appropriately express their feelings is fundamental to the daily routine.

Intellectual Development
Preschool children learn through experiences and opportunities to integrate them into what they already know. Children’s readiness for formal schooling is most effectively promoted by play experiences in which they feel the freedom to try out new ideas, practice skills and imitate teachers roles. As part of our play based philosophy the children’s knowledge and skills in literacy, prereading and prewriting, mathematical concepts, scientific methods and social studies are expanded. They are provided materials for pretending and role playing, as well as for drawing, writing and creating. The role of teachers is to provide experiences that will challenge children to ask questions, to risk trying new ideas, and to encourage problem solving and teamwork.

Physical Development
Preschool children gain strength, coordination and mastery through games that involve running, skipping and hopping, through balance and creative movement. Small muscle development is facilitated through activities of writing, cutting and building with small manipulatives and zipping, buttoning and tying shoelaces.

Moral Development and Guidance
Preschool children begin to develop feelings of empathy for others and are developing greater control of their emotions and behavior. Teachers guide children with firm, consistently applied limits and use instances of inappropriate behavior as teaching opportunities to help children learn self control and respect for the rights of others. Teachers serve as role models providing necessary reinforcement to positive behaviors. Principles of equity, tolerance, honesty, honor and loyalty are demonstrated by teachers and reinforced through play experiences, appropriate discussion and children’s books. Techniques for guiding behavior include setting clear limits, providing positive redirection, helping a child express feelings and offering alternatives to inappropriate behavior. We value the partnership of families in this process and will seek extra help from families as necessary.

“I’m impressed with how much interaction the teachers have with the students” - Parent

After School, Vacation and Holidays, Summer Camp
One Hope United’s School Age Program offers children a well-rounded before and/or after education that includes academic enhancements, group activities to promote social and emotional development and plenty of exercise. Our school-age children have opportunities to choose activities that will provide a change of pace from the structured school day. We promote self-expression through art, singing, dancing and drama. Cooperative group activities build language and social skills, while time in the gym and on the playground strengthens their bodies. One Hope United’s School Age Program emphasizes healthy lifestyles and proper nutrition with the understanding that a healthy body fuels a healthy mind.The centers also follow the hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) philosophy where children learn problem-solving skills that help bolster their academic performance. Additionally, homework time is provided with assistance by qualified teachers.

Social-Emotional Development
School-age children have opportunities to work together on creative projects, play board games and be with friends in a supervised setting.

Intellectual Development
School-age children can choose activities to challenge their developing skills. The role of teachers is to seek out their ideas and involve them in setting up the program.

Physical Development
School-age children need opportunities to unwind through physical games and team sports. They are encouraged to make independent choices with the teacher’s support and supervision.

Moral Development and Guidance
School-age children can set rules for their own behavior and that of others. They need a teacher’s guidance in helping them apply rules of fairness to situations they encounter in a relaxed out-of-school setting.

Summer Camp
One Hope United Child Development Centers’ Summer Camp offers children fun hands-on academic activities along with sports, cooking, arts and crafts and opportunities to make new friends and experience diverse cultures.