Michelle Scott, Center Director
Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years
Open:
Neighborhood:
Close to Metra Train Station
Elementary Schools Bussed To:
Grayslake School DIstrict, Lake Villa School District, Round Lake School District Woodland Schools, and St. Gilbert
Welcome to Grayslake KinderCare
Welcome to Grayslake KinderCare, located north of Chicago! We are proud to serve the Grayslake, Hainesville, and Round Lake communities with our convenient location for Metra train routes. Our early education programs involve sensory exploration and ensure kindergarten readiness for every child. It's our mission from the moment you walk into our center that you feel welcomed and a part of our KinderCare family. Every day, our staff works hard to help children develop confidence for life!
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 Michelle Scott, Our Center Director
At KinderCare Since: 2009
Education: Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education with Infant/Toddler Specialist Certification
Favorite Children's Book: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Meet Michelle Scott! She is the Center Director at Grayslake KinderCare in Illinois. Michelle has earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education with Infant/Toddler specialist certification. She has been with KinderCare since 2009, and before that she was a teacher. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys crafting, party planning, and spending time with her family. Her favorite quote is, “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
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.
Grayslake 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.)
Spanish
Spanish Adventures provides young learners with a foundation for later success with the Spanish language. Music, games, children's Spanish literature, and other tools give children multiple opportunities to hear, practice, and see Spanish language to develop vocabulary and conversation skills. Curriculum includes lessons on greetings, numbers, colors, animals, family, body parts, and pets, as well as how to engage conversationally during common scenarios at home, a restaurant, or at the zoo.
STEM Innovators (3-8 Years)
You’ve probably heard a lot about how important STEM education is for your child, but what does that really mean? Our STEM Innovators program takes kids’ natural ability to make sense of the world and applies it to robotics, chemistry, coding, geology, and more. While your child experiments, they’ll discover how to use technology to do amazing things!
American Sign Language
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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I’m writing to share my family’s experience attending the Grayslake KinderCare. My husband and I selected KinderCare when we had our son in 2011. Going back to work was the hardest thing I have even done. Leaving my son with strangers was well… painful. I wouldn’t have been able to make it through my first year as a working Mom without Ms. Nikki. Then we were blessed with our daughter. As soon as I arrived at KinderCare with my daughter it was like coming home to family. Ms. Nikki wanted to know everything about her. It was instantly evident that she genuinely cared about her. The center director and staff made every accommodation for us – even with short notice. I can’t say I loved returning to work. I can say I never once worried about my children while they were in their care. Communication was terrific. I am so incredibly grateful for my experience with the Grayslake KinderCare. I would certainly recommend them to anyone looking for high quality, kind, compassionate care.
”Amanda - KinderCare Parent
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I wanted to take a minute to let you know how wonderful Dawn and ALL of your staff have been to my daughter Willow at your Grayslake KinderCare! Our family moved to Grayslake in May and we transferred from another center. I completely expected Willow (15 months) to have a really hard time with the transition to a new center. I have been amazed with how easy it has been! Willow LOVES her new school! She is thriving there in just a few weeks! The teachers are warm and friendly. I’ve gotten to bring home some of her art projects and even have framed some pictures… Such a joy!
”Shari - KinderCare Parent
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Callie has interacted with just about every teacher at this Kinder Care facility. You have all made a profound impact on the way Callie has grown and developed a love of learning over the last 2 years and 8 months. She adores coming to school every day and interacting with her friends and teachers. Of course we always knew Callie was special, as every parent says about their own child, but Steve and I never imagined that our little girl could be so smart and so socially engaged. We honestly believe that Kinder Care gives her advantages that no other daycare could even come close to providing. Every one of her teachers has taken care of her and loved her, just as we would have, every day. You have given us peace of mind, and for that we are truly grateful to you all. Sincerely, Melissa and Steve P.S.: Callie says she likes all her teachers because they teach her lots of songs and her ABC's.
”Melissa and Steve H. - KinderCare Parent
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Miss Anna – Thank you so much for all of the time and attention you’ given to Ava. Just last week she was telling me how she missed being in your class! As a parent, you made drop-offs for us very easy because she enjoyed going to your class so much!
Miss Carly – We just wanted to say thank you for being so wonderful with Ava. She absolutely adores you and feels so comfortable with you. As a working mom who can’t always be there for Ava, this puts me at ease and is how we know we have chosen the right daycare with the right people such as yourself to care for our children.”Norie K. - KinderCare Parent
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I wanted to recognize another very special moment at your center. As you know, recently Rya started attending your center. It's always a bit challenging for me to leave my kids especially being that both of them were premature babies. On Rya's first day, Ms. Nikki took some adorable pictures documenting her "first day" and also took the time to call me and let me know how Rya was doing. This was so thoughtful and reminded me of the great care my daughter was receiving. It was certainly above and beyond what I expected. In addition the fact that Ms. Nikki is still the teacher in the Infant room after five years is terrific. To know that she will care for my daughter as she did my son five years ago is great.
”Kari Gumbiner - 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 Grayslake 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 Grayslake 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.