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Welcome To The Blue Gills Room!
Half-Day Preschool Packed With Pre-K Preparation

Morning Pre-K (Blue Gills) | 3 - 5 Years​ | Serving Manhattan, IL

This Mixed 3 thru 5-Year-Old Preschool Program Runs Monday - Friday From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Full Pre-K Curriculum When You Only Need Half-Day Care

If time is of the essence, the Blue Gills class is the perfect fit. This half-day, play-based program is a flexible option when you don’t need a full day of care but want your child to have a preschool experience before kindergarten.
Full Pre-K Curriculum When You Only Need Half-Day Care
ExceleRate Illinois Silver Circle Of Quality Award Recipient

ExceleRate Illinois Silver Circle of Quality Award Recipient

Your family deserves high-quality care and a deep commitment to excellence. You get that, and more at a center awarded the ExceleRate Illinois Silver Circle of Quality award, not once, but for 9 years running!

Family Support Builds A Strong Home-To-School Connection

Teachers partner with you and your family to build a strong home-to-school connection through continuity of care, open communication, and regular evaluations. Keeping everyone on the same page ensures your little one receives everything they need for a successful start.
Family Support Builds A Strong Home-To-School Connection

Teachers enhance your home-to-school connection with:

  • The Ages & Stages Questionnaire so your child’s teachers can partner with you to assess your pre-kindergartner’s developmental and social-emotional milestones.
  • Bi-annual in-person parent-teacher conferences allow you and their teachers to connect face-to-face in your child’s learning environment.
  • Help with finding services if assessments or observations show gaps or delays that need addressing.
A Graduation Ceremony Eases The Transition To Kindergarten

A Graduation Ceremony Eases The Transition To Kindergarten

Celebrating your child’s achievements and milestones with a graduation bash at the end of the year helps give your little scholar a sense of accomplishment and pride while easing the transition to “big school”.

Your Pre-Kindergartner Works Toward School Readiness By:

  • Managing classroom routines, rules, & transitions
  • Showing concern for others’ feelings
  • Taking responsibility for their own well-being
  • Demonstrating complex balancing & motor skills
  • Using refined wrist & finger movements
  • Telling stories about objects, events, times, & places with order and details
  • Thinking symbolically
  • Understanding language
  • Attending & engaging
  • Managing feelings
  • Engaging in sociodramatic play
  • Interacting during book conversations & read-alouds
  • Showing flexibility & inventiveness in thinking
  • Showing awareness of print: letters, words, spaces, upper & lower case letters, & some punctuation
  • Identifying & naming 10 - 20 letters

A Loving Environment That Builds Strong Character Skills

Pre-kindergarten teachers focus on teaching your child the crucial social-emotional skills that will carry them through life. They become a good, well-rounded person by building strong character skills, like respect and empathy, to encourage healthy relationships.
A Loving Environment That Builds Strong Character Skills

Teachers Are Readily Available To Chat About Your Child’s Progress During Drop Offs & Pick Ups!

An Extra Teacher In The Room For Individualized Learning

An Extra Teacher In The Room For Individualized Learning

The Pre-K class has an extra teacher in the room plus a lower-than-state-required child-to-teacher ratio of 7:1, allowing teachers to put more time, energy, and focus on your little one’s unique skills, pace, and abilities, leading to better academic performance.

Amazing Teachers Guide Your Child Through Play

Knowledgeable teachers with years of experience gently guide your kiddo toward school readiness using the Creative Curriculum©, which combines engaging play-based learning with hands-on activities focusing on their social and emerging preschool skills.
Amazing Teachers Guide Your Child Through Play

Interested In Full-Day Pre-K Classes?

Check Out The Orange Owls Room!

Strong Parent Involvement Leads To Long-Term Success

Long-term success begins with good parent communication and involvement. The more involved you are in your child’s early education, the less stress and anxiety they feel, so you’re always welcome to chat or join as a party or field trip chaperone.

A Dedicated In-Class Bathroom Means There’s No Need To Leave For Washroom Breaks!

An Acre Of Fun, Friends, & Lots Of Physical Activity

With over an acre of playground, all students can be outside at once and STILL have plenty of room to run around, climb structures, tend gardens, and have wild imaginative adventures with friends while building excellent motor skills.
An Acre Of Fun, Friends, & Lots Of Physical Activity

FAQs

We are open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., year-round.

We have professional cleaners come in every day to ensure sparkling, germ-free spaces. Staff also sanitizes throughout the day, and we have air purifiers and electrostatic sprayers to eliminate any pesky microbes in the air or on hard-to-clean surfaces.

All entrance doors require a coded fob for access, plus the yard is completely fenced. We also have internal-use security cameras throughout the center, and all staff members hold a current CPR certification.

Hear What Parents Have To Say...

"She loves going to school everyday and learning with her teachers and peers..."
"She loves going to school everyday and learning with her teachers and peers..."
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Amazing school! My daughter just started here this fall and she loves going to school everyday and learning with her teachers and peers! Everyone is so welcoming and always has a smile on when I drop off my daughter! We love kid country and cannot wait for both my daughters to join the kid country family next year!

- Cara Bernhard

"The progress that they have all made in their development and social skills is tremendous..."
"The progress that they have all made in their development and social skills is tremendous..."
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Three of my kids have attended kid country. One of them being autistic. And the progress that they have all made in their development and social skills is tremendous. The staff here is absolutely amazing and provide excellent care. They treat my kids like their own. I wouldn’t take them anywhere else.

- Nicole Sparks

"Our daughter is coming home excited about the things she is learning!"
"Our daughter is coming home excited about the things she is learning!"
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We love kid country! And so does our daughter! Everyone is so kind and so patient’ And It’s not just childcare. There’s an actual curriculum, our daughter is coming home excited about the things she is learning! There is great Parent teacher, communication. Overall a great place! 10 out of 10 would recommend!

- Tabitha Pappas

"My children have plenty of time for play, outdoor activity, and learning each day..."
"My children have plenty of time for play, outdoor activity, and learning each day..."
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We have been happily attending Kind Country for 3 years now. We are grateful for the love and care that Kid Country provides for each child. You can tell the thought that is put into each day's lessons. I am comforted to know that my children have plenty of time for play, outdoor activity, and learning each day.

- Kristi Bolbat

"Our son absolutely loves going to school and looks forward to it everyday..."
"Our son absolutely loves going to school and looks forward to it everyday..."
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Our son absolutely loves going to school and looks forward to it everyday. Every teacher and staff member truly cares about each child that walks through their doors! They helped him transition smoothly and he has excelled in so many ways! Not to mention the structure they provide and The endless activities they do everyday! Thank you for providing a safe environment for my son to learn to grow!!

- Ashley Malone

"I love seeing the Conscious Discipline Social Emotional Curriculum being used..."
"I love seeing the Conscious Discipline Social Emotional Curriculum being used..."
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I love seeing the Conscious Discipline Social Emotional Curriculum being used at Kid Country! There is such a sense of calm in the classrooms. Watching teachers help toddlers learn appropriate and productive ways to express their emotions and handle conflict is so refreshing.

- Lisa C.

"He loves going to school every morning to see his teachers and friends..."
"He loves going to school every morning to see his teachers and friends..."
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My son has attended this daycare since he was 8 months old. They have taught him so much! He loves going to school every morning to see his teachers and friends. My daughters started daycare at age 2. They did a great job handling my twin daughters and allowing them to be together and also have space to grow and feel comfortable separating from each other. They are great about communication with parents. I would highly recommend this daycare.

- Jessica Piscione

"the kids get to spend a lot of time outside and playing in general..."
"the kids get to spend a lot of time outside and playing in general..."
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My children love Kid Country. My daughter is particularly energized by KC and wants to go to school every morning, including on weekends. It helps (and I love) that the kids get to spend a lot of time outside and playing in general. (Playing is the best way for kids to learn.) They love their teachers and they’re making good friends along the way.

- Nicholas M

"There so much space to play outside, the teachers are phenomenal..."
"There so much space to play outside, the teachers are phenomenal..."
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Can’t say enough good things about kid country! Our child loves it there and gets mad at us if we pick up too early. There so much space to play outside, the teachers are phenomenal, and it doesn’t sink of dirty diapers. Very happy with our choice of sending our child here.

- Jennifer Goodman

<div class="pad80">"They are attentive and I’ve really enjoyed the experience..."</div>
"They are attentive and I’ve really enjoyed the experience..."
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My son loves going to Kid Country. They are attentive and I’ve really enjoyed the experience! I also have a baby in the nursery and it is so nice to not have to worry about her during the day and I know she is in good hands and loves seeing the teachers there.

- Lori Jenen

"Communication is great, I receive daily emails summarizing the day..."
"Communication is great, I receive daily emails summarizing the day..."
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Staff are outstanding and always go above and beyond for my child. Facility is very clean, organized with a friendly atmosphere. Communication is great, I receive daily emails summarizing the day and it’s nice to open pictures showing the fun activities. I highly recommend Kid County to any one looking for a great environment for their child.

- Nick T

"My daughter loves to go to school and I love picking her up and hearing how her day was..."
"My daughter loves to go to school and I love picking her up and hearing how her day was..."
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It’s so nice to have your child attend a place that feels like they are your family. Kid Country is our second home and I am so happy we are able to send our daughter there. The Blue Gills program is 10 out of 10!! Miss Rhonda, Miss Wendy and Miss Sam are the best! My daughter loves to go to school and I love picking her up and hearing how her day was. Nothing but the best. Thank you Kid Country!!!!

- Emily H

"everyone of their staff is friendly and knows my children by name..."
"everyone of their staff is friendly and knows my children by name..."
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Kid country has provided such high quality care for both my children, everyone of their staff is friendly and knows my children by name. Always greeted kindly. Highly recommend! They continue to amaze me with their dedication to safety and kindness.

- Yesenia Chavez

" It’s great for my daughter to have such a safe connection with one of her teachers..."
" It’s great for my daughter to have such a safe connection with one of her teachers..."
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Absolutely love sending my children here! My daughter has a special connection with Ms. Elly! Whenever she is having a bad day, I know Ms. Elly will find a way to cheer my daughter up. My daughter barely allows me to brush her hair, yet allows Ms. Elly braid her hair in all these fun ways. It’s great for my daughter to have such a safe connection with one of her teachers.

- Carly Benard

"The children are taught strong social skills and he has made incredible friends..."
"The children are taught strong social skills and he has made incredible friends..."
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My son loves going to Kid Country. He started as an infant and is now in pre-kindergarten. Kid Country is family. The caring and dedication of the staff cannot be beat. The children are taught strong social skills and he has made incredible friends that will last a lifetime.

- Erin Malinowski

"Everyone is so nice, helpful and professional. They do so much with them..."
"Everyone is so nice, helpful and professional. They do so much with them..."
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My 8 month old grandson has been going to Kid Country for a few months now and he gets so excited when we walk through the door in the morning. Everyone is so nice, helpful and professional. They do so much with them. They keep you very well informed. I would definitely recommend bringing your children here.

- Kim Bottema

"The staff at Kid Country were extremely helpful and understanding with our concerns..."
"The staff at Kid Country were extremely helpful and understanding with our concerns..."
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We have had nothing but a wonderful experience at Kid Country! The staff at Kid Country were extremely helpful and understanding with our concerns and made the transition seamless. Our son truly loves going to school and all of the activities. The stuff is involved with the development of all their children and always have the child's best interest in mind. We love knowing our son is in such good hands! I would recommend to any parent!

- Brittany Creen

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