Mission Statement
Members of the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network are dedicated to educating young children to learn, live, and play. Our programs operate in developmentally stimulating home environments within which children’s natural love of learning can flourish. We foster growth of the whole child through age-appropriate activities that address social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development. Above all we strive to be practical, relevant, and lots of fun!
General Information
As of Spring 2009, the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network consists of 10 independently owned and operated in-home childcare sites, seven network-affiliated nanny-shares, and a resource center.
Our home daycare sites are located in North Kenwood, Central Hyde Park, and Woodlawn. Sites vary both in numbers of children served and number of caretakers. Six sites are very small, taking in just 3-4 children at a time. These smaller sites typically have one primary caretaker and a second person (commonly the providers’ spouse) who gives back-up assistance when needed. Our four ‘larger’ sites are licensed home daycares. At full capacity they can take between 8 – 12 children. These sites typically have caregiver to child ratios ranging from 1:2 or 1:3 for infants to 1:4 for 2 & 3 year olds.
While each Baby Ph.D. Network location is unique, we all utilize a similar curriculum & administrative procedures and we connect with one another frequently. Network members located in central Hyde Park frequently get together for play groups, trips to local parks, and to participate in a variety of group learning activities. Larger group activities such as music, creative art, and our Little Readers’ Book Club, are held at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club.
Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network members and the children in their care are a diverse group both racially and culturally. Reflecting this reality, we take advantage of a wide variety of holidays as opportunities for teaching about families and people in this country and around the world.
Network Funding
The Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network is supported in large part through a grant from the Child Care Initiative (CCI) of the University of Chicago and University of Chicago Hospitals. Additional funding comes from membership and class fees. | 
