Emily Aiken, Center Director
Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years
Open:
Elementary Schools Bussed To:
In Bactavia: HC Storm, Alice Gustafson (AGS), JB Nelson, Louise White, Hoover Wood.
In North Aurora: Fearn, Schneider, Goodwin.
Our center is accredited by NAEYC.
Welcome to Batavia KinderCare
Welcome to Batavia KinderCare, situated on the southside of this charming town in Illinois! Our prime location along Highway 31 allows us to serve families in Batavia and North Aurora. Every day, our highly skilled and educated staff works hard to help children develop confidence for life and foster a passion for lifelong learning. At Batavia KinderCare, everyone belongs in our circle — we love our families and meeting new friends!
Our classrooms are places to thrive!
In our safe and healthy classrooms, your child will be engaged in learning experiences that meet them where they are, both socially and academically. With fun daily activities, passionate teachers, and great friends, a lifetime of confidence starts here. Contact the center director to learn more about our child care options and schedule a tour!
Meet Emily Aiken, Our Center Director
At KinderCare Since: 2009
Education: Master's Degree, Bachelor's Degree
Favorite Children's Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Meet Emily Aiken! She is the Center Director at Batavia KinderCare in Illinois. Emily attended National Louis University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Administration. She has been with KinderCare since 2009 and has worked in the Early Childhood Education field since 2002. Every day, Emily looks forward to providing children with a nurturing learning environment. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." – Nelson Mandela. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and exploring nature.
AMERICA’S MOST ACCREDITED
We’re so proud!
Nationally only 10% of daycares are accredited - nearly 100% of our learning centers are. That’s a big difference, and that means KinderCare kids are getting the very best. Here’s why.
SCHOOL-READY
What Learning Looks Like
Our talented early-childhood teachers set kids down the path toward becoming lifelong learners in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment.
Batavia KinderCare Programs
Infant Programs (6 weeks–1 year)
Leaving your baby in someone else’s care is a big step. Everyone at our centers—most importantly, our naturally gifted infant teachers—will work with you to make sure the transition goes smoothly. When you step into our infant classroom, you’ll see how much we want your infant to feel safe, loved, and ready to explore their world.
Toddler Programs (1–2 Years)
Everything in our toddler classroom is designed for little explorers. That’s because a lot is going on at this age. When your child is wandering all over the place, that means they’re learning and discovering new things every day. We’ll help them explore their interests (and find new ones!) as they play and learn.
Discovery Preschool Programs (2–3 Years)
This age is filled with so much wonder and curiosity. That’s why we offer a ton of books and toys and bring artwork down to kids eye level. Children in discovery preschool also begin to learn how we all work together in a classroom. Simple math and science, pretend play, and group play help them get used to a more structured school setting.
Preschool Programs (3–4 Years)
This age is all about expression, when kids really start to form their own ideas about what they want to play and how they want to create. Every day in our preschool classroom, your child will explore science experiments, create artwork, and play pretend—all the skills needed for their big next step: kindergarten!
Prekindergarten Programs (4–5 Years)
When you walk into one of our pre-K classrooms, you’ll see artwork and writing displayed around the room. Labels are everywhere to help kids connect letters with words. You’ll also see pictures on the walls that reflect the families in our community. Your child will also deepen their knowledge in language, math, science, Spanish, and social skills.
Before- and After-School Programs (5–12 Years)
You can count on us to provide reliable care for your school-ager while you’re at work, with safe transportation from our center to your child’s school and back! Whether your child wants to start a drama club, build a volcano, or create a comic book, they will have a place to follow their dreams. Your child will start and end the day with a whole lot of fun!
School Break Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)
Winter break, spring break, summer break—when school’s out (but you still need to work), you can count on KinderCare to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that’s focused on fun. We welcome children ages 5–12 during school break times and make sure they have a sensational, screen-free experience they won’t forget.
Learning Adventures - Enrichment Program
Cooking Academy™ (3 – 12 Years)
In Cooking Academy, kids learn new recipes from cultures around the world and develop a healthy relationship with food. They’ll whip up everything from Southwest rainbow lettuce wraps to pumpkin muffins, building their skills in STEM, communication, and more along the way. And yes—little chefs get to eat their culinary creations!
Music Explorers™ (2 – 4 Years)
KinderCare families are already giving a standing ovation to our newest Learning Adventures program: Music Explorers! Kids will learn to sing, move, listen, play instruments, and even create their own tunes. Our original curriculum blends math, science, social studies, literacy, and mindfulness (think yoga!) for a uniquely KinderCare way of learning the foundations of music.
Phonics Adventures® (2 – 4 Years)
Learning how to read is a whole lot of fun at KinderCare! We help kids grow to love books and words (and get ready for kindergarten) in our Phonics Adventures program. From discovering the basics of vowels to practicing poetry, kids learn all about letters and sounds in small-group lessons made just for their age group. (Bonus: Kids who attend our phonics program are more prepared than their peers for school—and we have the data to prove it.)
Our Teachers
We're the only company in early childhood education to select teachers based on natural talent. Being a great educator isn't enough though. KinderCare teachers are also amazing listeners, nurturers, boo-boo fixers, and smile-makers. Put more simply, we love our teachers and your child will, too.
Meet just a few of our amazing KinderCare teachers!
A KINDERCARE TEACHER WITH
An Artist's Heart
"My classroom is full of art!” says Mary Annthipie-Bane, an award-winning early childhood educator at KinderCare. Art and creative expression, she says, help children discover who they really are.
We put our best-in-class teachers in a best-in-class workplace. We're so proud to have been named one of Gallup's 37 winners of the Great Workplace Award. When you put great teachers in an engaging center, your children will experience an amazing place to learn and grow.
Family Stories
Don't take our word for it. Hear what our families have to say about our amazing center!
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When we moved to the Batavia area we didn't know where to enroll our kids in a daycare program. So after a lot of research we decided KinderCare was right for us. We've been sending our kids there for five years and have never regretted our decision. The staff members at KinderCare have become like family to us.
”Tiffany B. - KinderCare Parent
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When I was pregnant with my first daughter, my husband and I considered many daycare options. We originally thought that a home daycare situation would be best for our daughter, but quickly changed our minds once we visited KinderCare. I like that there is a set monthly curriculum that combines educational goals along with fun and playful activities that promote creativity. I also like the bonds my girls have with their teachers! There is a perfect blend of structure, consistency, comfort and excitement here! I also love all of the additional offerings, like the cooking, music and phonics classes that my girls have taken. And most of all, I love that my girls like going to KinderCare. We have been with KinderCare since 2007.
”Lesley K. - KinderCare Parent
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A few years ago our family moved from Billings, Montana to Illinois. It was coming back home for my husband and I, but it was leaving the only home that my children had ever known. In Montana we had a wonderful day care where my two older children had grown up and we were all very close with the providers there. Uncertain that we would be able to find that connection in Illinois, we began our search.
We were lucky to make a visit to the Batavia KinderCare and meet Emily, the Center Director. Immediately she made us feel welcome and at home in her center. The center is very clean and organized. That is something that is very important to me especially.
Our kids blended into the environment quite well. They were happy to get there and sad to go home. Our two older children learned leaps and bounds from the curriculum at the center. My son, who is in Kindergarten now, is at an amazing educational level and I owe that to Kinder Care. My daughter, who will be in Kindergarten in the Fall, I feel, will also have this same advantage when she enters school.
The staff at the Batavia Kinder Care is amazing! Absolutely one in a million! They are excited to be there every day. They always have smiles on their faces and they are always full of energy, ready to take on the day and all that it brings. They care about their jobs, they care about their center and they care about the kids. And that shines through each and every time that I interact with any one of them. Having three kids in the center, I find that our kids have worked with pretty much everyone there. They know our kids, they know their likes and dislikes, they know their habits and their routines. And the very best part is that they all work well together. You can truly see that they are one team, or even one family. You never have to worry, "Oh I told someone about something, do you think that they will tell this other person about it as well?" They always do. They communicate with one another on everything.
Our youngest daughter will be the only one left there in the Fall. However, we will always be back each summer for camp. Camp is always something great to look forward to. The field trips that they set up, the activities on the summer curriculum, being outside and having a great time. Summer Camp at KinderCare is something that my kids definitely look forward to.
It is never a fight to get my kids in the door at KinderCare. And as I had said above, they are usually sad when it is time for them to go home. But that is the way that it should be. They even like Ms. Maria's cooking better than mine! I am glad that we found such a great fit for our kids at the Batavia KinderCare Center. I know that every day my kids are safe, very well cared for and happy while they are there.
Thank you!”Allison W. - KinderCare Parent
Who Are KinderCare Families?
They hail from hundreds of cities across the country from countless backgrounds, and proudly represent every walk in life. What our families have in common, though, is the want to give their children the best start in life. We are so proud to be their partner in parenting.
Hear from just a few of our amazing KinderCare families.
A Globe-Trotting Family Finds A
Home in Houston
Four young children, four different passports, two languages, two full-time jobs…oh, and a few triathlons thrown in for good measure. Meet the globe-trotting Colettas—a family on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accreditations does KinderCare have?
We are your trusted caregiver. Our centers are state-licensed and regularly inspected to make sure everything meets or exceeds standards, including child-to-teacher ratios and safe facilities. Our centers aren’t just licensed—most are accredited, too! Find out more.
Do you offer part-time schedules at Batavia KinderCare?
Everybody’s schedule is different. We’re happy to offer quality, affordable part-time and full-time childcare. Drop-in care may also be available. Reach out to your Center Director to learn more.
How does naptime work at Batavia KinderCare?
Our teachers meet every child’s needs during naptime. Our teachers know how to get babies to nap. In fact, they are pros at getting children of any age to nap. Visit our article on "10 Ways We Help Kids Get a Great Daycare Nap" to learn more.
Do you support alternative diets?
We strive to be as inclusive as possible. To that point, we provide a vegetarian option at mealtime, take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s food sensitivities. If your child has additional needs, we’ll work with you to figure out a plan.
Are meals included in tuition? Can I choose to send my child with lunch?
We provide nutritious meals and snacks developed by a registered dietician to meet the needs of rapidly growing bodies and minds. If your child has special dietary requirements and you would prefer to bring in their lunch, please make arrangements with the center director.
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
Every child begins toilet learning at a different age. Until your child shows an interest in toilet learning, we’ll provide diaper changes on an as-needed basis. When your child shows an interest, we'll discuss how to work together to encourage toilet learning.