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Award-Winning Early Education
Backed By Parent Support, Love, Laughter, Community, & Dedication

Preschool & Child Care Center Serving Manhattan, IL

A Safe Place Where Your Child Learns To Grow

Parents, teachers, curriculum, and materials all play a vital role in your child’s growth and development. Our mission is to provide an early learning environment where your child feels safe while learning the necessary social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills for success.
A Safe Place Where Your Child Learns To Grow

“I lead with my heart and children in mind.”

~ Donna Naleway
Founder & Owner

Core Values That Promise The Very Best

teaching is a work of heart

Together we empower

Committed to passion, perseverance and excellence

Strength thru compassion and teamwork

Joy and laughter in all experiences

Loving Owner With Over 20 Years Of Extraordinary Service

Opening Kid Country Childcare in 2002 was a dream come true for Miss Donna, who began the center with her aunt, Miss Loretta, as co-owner. Miss Loretta fully retired in 2017, while Miss Donna, her husband, sons, and daughters-in-law carry on a legacy of providing safe, fun, loving child care and early education for the community’s next generation of leaders. Family means everything to Miss Donna, so she makes you feel like part of the family by encouraging strong interpersonal connections.

Miss Donna holds an associate degree from Joliet Junior College and a Level 1 Director’s Credential from the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development system. She loves to travel, walk on the beach, read books, and spend time with her grandbabies.

Family-Owned & Operated Means Strong Interpersonal Connections

Loving Owner With Over 20 Years Of Extraordinary Service

Owner Donna opened her doors in June 2002 as Manhattan’s first child care center. This year she celebrated a huge milestone—20 years of providing extraordinary care! Miss Donna holds an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Level 1 Director’s Credential.
Loving Owner With Over 20 Years Of Extraordinary Service
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Over-Staffed Classrooms For Personalized Attention

Over-Staffed Classrooms For Personalized Attention

All classrooms have one extra teacher than the state-required ratio so you can be sure your child receives the best personalized care and attention possible. Smaller class sizes allow tenured teachers to focus on your kiddo’s unique skills, pace, and abilities.

An Illinois ExceleRate Silver Circle Of Quality Recipient

Your family deserves award-winning early education. Recognized for a deep commitment to excellence and high-quality care, the center earned the Illinois ExceleRate Silver Circle of Quality every year since 2015!
An Illinois ExceleRates Silver Circle Of Quality Recipient
Family Support For A Strong Partnership

Family Support For A Strong Partnership

Practicing continuity of care between school and home, open communication, and regular evaluations help you stay on the same page as your child’s teachers. Here are just a few ways teachers partner with you:
  • Bi-annual Parent-Teacher conferences bring you and your kiddo’s teachers together to connect face-to-face in their loving home-away-from-home environment.
  • An Ages & Stages Questionnaire enables you to work with teachers to assess your child’s social-emotional and developmental milestones.
  • Help with finding services should observations or assessments show any delays or gaps that require attention.

Focusing On Social-Emotional Growth Builds Self-Esteem

Using the play-based Creative Curriculum©, teachers help your little one recognize their emotions, put them into words, and speak for their own needs. This helps build the foundation for resolving conflicts, standing up for themselves, and lifelong confidence and self-esteem.
Focusing On Social-Emotional Growth Builds Self-Esteem

Teachers Use Play-Based Academics & Practical School Skills To Help Your Little One Head Into Kindergarten Successfully:

  • Managing feelings
  • Healthy relationships
  • Responsibility for their own well-being
  • Managing classroom rules, routines, & transitions
  • Positive interaction with peers
  • Good manners
  • Taking turns & sharing
  • Attending & engaging
  • Thinking symbolically
  • Complex motor & balancing skills
  • Flexibility & inventiveness in thinking
  • Showing awareness of print
  • Identifying & naming 10-20 letters
  • Interacting during read-aloud & book conversations

Put Your Child On The Path To Excellence With

Support From Tenured Teachers & Award-Winning Care

How Old Is Your Child?

Infants

6 wks - 15 mos

Toddlers

15 - 30 mos

Twos

24 - 42 mos

Preschool

3 - 4 Years​

Pre-K

4 - 5 Years​

Before & After
Camps & Breaks

5 - 12 Years​

Morning Pre-K

3 - 4 Years​

Owner’s story

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Donna Naleway, Owner -Opened June 2002, just celebrated 20 years. I have owned/operated Kid Country since we opened in 2002. I have an associate's degree in early childhood education. Kid Country was the very first childcare center I ever worked in! I find that as a benefit as I didn't come into the field with any preconceived notions about how things are supposed to be done; I lead with my heart and children in mind.

Miss Donna holds an associate’s degree from Joliet Junior College and a Level 1 Director’s Credential from the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development system

Manhattan’s very first childcare center

Donna Naleway has been the Owner since Kid Country Childcare opened in 2002. In 2022 she moved to more of an owner role and passed the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Kid Country Childcare to her administration team. Donna now focuses on quality improvement, growth and marketing. The business remains family-owned and operated with Donna’s husband, sons and daughters-in-law having roles within the organization, some behind the scenes and some on-site. Family means everything to Donna and she hopes you get a feel for the Kid Country Family as soon as you walk in the doors!

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Opening Kid Country Childcare in 2002 was a dream come true for Miss Donna, who began the center with her aunt, Miss Loretta, as co-owner. Miss Loretta fully retired in 2017, while Miss Donna and her family carry on a legacy of providing safe, fun, loving child care an early education for the community’s next generation of leaders.

Miss Donna holds an associate degree from Joliet Junior College and a Level 1 Director’s Credential from the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development system. She loves to travel, walk on the beach, read books, and spend time with her grandbabies.