About Us
Your child is in great hands. Learn more about what makes Harkness House unique below.
Our Philosophy
Founded in 1988, Harkness House for Children is a private, independent, not-for-profit childcare center located within the Winnetka Community House on Chicago's North Shore. We believe that all families deserve a quality and affordable child care program based on exemplary practices and procedures, implemented by a well-trained, professional and caring staff.
We offer quality, full-time care and educational opportunities at an age-appropriate level. We also offer part-time programs for interested families.
Our small classrooms, caring staff, and low student/teacher ratios make Harkness House a warm, nurturing, and enriching environment, with individualized feedback for parents and detailed information on children’s daily activities.
Your child will be paired with a primary teacher in their classroom, allowing caregivers and children to develop strong relationships and a solid foundation for learning.
We offer catered meals, creative curriculum integrated with daily STEM activities, SEL practices, outdoor enrichment, music and art projects, field trips for older children, Spanish, yoga, and more.
Our Staff
With an average staff tenure of 15 years, our staff is experienced and dedicated to caring for your children each and every day.
Our Staff encourages open communication with parents. Daily reports are provided with real time updates with photos and videos. Teachers are always available to discuss needs and strengths for your specific child. Report cards and conferences are also offered.
All staff are dedicated professionals, trained in infant and early childhood development. Every class has a teacher with a college degree in Early Childhood, or a related field. Our director has a master's degree and more than twenty years' experience in teaching and child development.
We maintain a low teacher-to-child ratio:
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Huggy Bears Infant Room – 1:4
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Bumble Bees Toddler Room – 1:5
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Quackers 2-Year-Old Room – 1:8
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Minis Youngest 3-Year-Old Room – 1:8
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Juniors Older 3-Year-Old Room – 1:8
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Seniors 4–5-Year-Old Room - 1:10
Our infant and toddler rooms utilize a Primary Caregiver approach, so each child has a chance to build a strong attachment to a specific caregiver.
Our Families
Harkness House for Children is supported by a tight knit community of families who are dedicated to exceptional childcare and educational enrichment.
Harkness offers fun family events during the year including social events and fundraisers, allowing parents to meet other families and develop connections within the community.
Harkness also offers volunteer opportunities for parents looking for greater engagement with their children's education.
Our teachers and staff stay in close communication with families, providing parents with individual daily notes with photos for every child, weekly lesson plans, and monthly newsletters.