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:

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:

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?

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...

"I couldn't imagine a better setting for learning and exploring than Kid Country!!"
"I couldn't imagine a better setting for learning and exploring than Kid Country!!"
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My twins have been at Kid Country for almost 2 years now. This is the 2nd daycare they've been to and Kid Country blows their previous daycare out of the water!! ALL teachers there are kind, attentive, helpful, and so nice. I couldn't imagine a better setting for learning and exploring than Kid Country. We love it!!

- Lexi Costa

"I would absolutely recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking!!!"
"I would absolutely recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking!!!"
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Kid Country Childcare has been a fantastic daycare. My oldest Daughter attended for 4 years and now my youngest has started. Both girls absolutely love it there. The teachers are absolutely amazing and do such a wonderful job with the kids! Everyone extremely friendly and make you feel very welcome! I would absolutely recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking!!!

- Shannon Rhein

"Kid Country was highly recommended to us and we fell in love as soon as we visited!!!"
"Kid Country was highly recommended to us and we fell in love as soon as we visited!!!"
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Kid Country was highly recommended to us and we fell in love as soon as we visited. Our boys were welcomed with open arms, the kids were so thrilled to have new friends in their class, the staff was immediately kind and welcoming. I was most impressed with the curriculum, though! The boys get excited to go to school each day and we are confident they are getting plenty of attention, love and good care!

- Stefani White

"I'd highly recommend this school for anyone looking for childcare in the Manhattan area!"
"I'd highly recommend this school for anyone looking for childcare in the Manhattan area!"
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I've had my two sons enrolled at Kid Country. He runs into his class in the mornings, and if we have a holiday break for a few days, he starts asking me when he can go "back to school." I don't know what more I could possibly ask/wish for for my boys. I would highly recommend this school for anyone looking for childcare in the Manhattan area, you will not be disappointed.

- Amelia Wozniak

"I highly recommend Kid Country! The teachers are amazing..."
"I highly recommend Kid Country! The teachers are amazing..."
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I highly recommend Kid Country! The teachers are amazing. They have gone above and beyond to help my girls overcome their social anxiety which is no easy feat especially during Covid. My daughters love going to Kid Country and now have the ability to build relationships and make friends. Seeing them thrive both academically and socially has brought me so much joy as a mother. I have Kid Country to thank for that!!

- Jill Deaville

"My kids were there for 3 years and they loved all of their teachers..."
"My kids were there for 3 years and they loved all of their teachers..."
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We had a great experience at Kid Country. My kids were there for 3 years and they loved all of their teachers and were always excited to go to school. The director was always so helpful if I ever had questions and was great with communication (especially during covid). We recently moved away and were so sad to leave Kid Country!

- Katie Rollins

"I would definitely recommend bringing your children here!!!"
"I would definitely recommend bringing your children here!!!"
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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

"I love that they are play based and that the kids are constantly engaged in activities..."
"I love that they are play based and that the kids are constantly engaged in activities..."
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Our daughter has attended Kid Country since she was 6 weeks old. The staff all took her in as one of their own. I love that they are play based and that the kids are constantly engaged in activities, working together, and being outdoors! She has thrived outside the program because of what she has learned there.

- Becky Kemp

"If you are lucky enough to get a spot at this place you will not be disappointed!"
"If you are lucky enough to get a spot at this place you will not be disappointed!"
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Peace of Mind. I have dropped my three children off here for the past decade. I had peace of mind every time I dropped them off. This place is more than a "daycare" it truly is an early education center. The teachers here are some of the best I have seen, they work hard and are dedicated. If you are lucky enough to get a spot at this place you will not be disappointed.

- Jim Defrank

"I have never ever thought twice about leaving my babies there! They truly feel like family!"
"I have never ever thought twice about leaving my babies there! They truly feel like family!"
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Both of my sons attend kid country, they both started at newborns, the staff has made me and my family so comfortable leaving them in their care, they send pictures through out the day, just to let you know how their day is going good. I have never ever thought twice about leaving my babies there! They truly feel like family!

- With Love, Jessica

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