Welcome to Bright Horizons at The Esplanade

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Our Early Education Programs Offer More Than Daycare

For ages 1 month - 7 years (periodically up through 10 years)

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Upcoming Events for Families

Artsy Thursday

April 16 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Smocks on – let’s get creative! Join us for fun family art activities.

Summer Registration

June 30 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Join us for an action-packed summer! Rolling enrollment starts in February.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes!  Bright Horizons at the Esplanade has an in house chef that cooks fresh meals daily. We serve breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack.  We are a peanut free center and can accommodate any food allergies or preferences.  Bright Horizons at the Esplanade also uses all fresh fruit and vegetables which are served on a daily basis along with Whole Wheat products!


All Bright Horizons at the Esplanade staff are certified regularly in CPR and First Aid, even though it is not required by the state of Illinois. First Aid is taught as required by state licensing agency/regulations so that you can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible at our center.


We suggest you register with Bright Horizons.  You can select up to 3 locations to be registered at, including the center you are most interested in.  By registering, you are confirming your strong interest in all 3 centers.  We will add you to our wait list and you will be offered a space as soon as one becomes available.  While waiting for a space to become available at your first choice location, many families will choose to enroll at their 2nd or 3rd choice temporarily until space becomes available at the center they are most interested in.  In many centers, a child currently enrolled at a Bright Horizons location has priority over the general community so enrolling at another location will not only solve your care needs but will also give you additional priority in getting into your 1st preference.  Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows.  During the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status.


We encourage any family interested in center information, regular updates and invitations to the many events we are planning, to contact us.


Bright Horizons at the Esplanade has a separate playground for each age group.  The playgrounds were created and are used as an extension of the classroom.  Additionally, each classroom has private access to the playground through the classroom.  On our preschool playground, we have a garden that blooms from spring through fall!  All of our age groups participate in planting a variety of flowers and vegetables which are incorporated into our Garden Works curriculum. 


Bright Horizons at the Esplanade is located in Downers Grove's Esplanade Business Park off of Butterfield Road, close to I-355 and I-88.  We are next to Midwestern University's Downers Grove campus. We are close to a variety of shopping centers and are 2.5 miles west of Yorktown Mall.


Bright Horizons curriculum, The World at Their Fingertips, is our unique curriculum designed to engage children in active learning that prepares them for school while helping them achieve their individual potential and fostering a spirit of community. It includes curriculum elements such as Language Works, Math Counts, Science Rocks, ArtSmart, Our World and Well Aware that cross all age groups. For more on information on our curriculum, click here.



  • Start by selecting the Find a Center link on this page.
  • Under the center you’re interested in, click the Request Details button.
  • Then, select Schedule Your Visit and fill out the form.


This depends on your child’s age, temperament, and level of maturity. General tips for preparing for the first day of child care include:  

 
  • Developing a relationship with your child’s teacher and keeping communication open
  • Labeling all items  
  • Making sure your child has the essentials: bottles, extra clothes, diapers, blanket, and more  
  • Talking about the first day with your child  
  • Setting expectations for the new morning routine
  • Getting ahead of separation anxiety by creating a “goodbye” routine together


Additional information on our research-backed curriculum can be found here. To find a center near you, click Find a Center in the top right corner of the Bright Horizons home page.
 


Please submit an inquiry to your center(s) of interest with a request for tuition information. We recommend scheduling a visit at the same time (this can be done on the same form).


Safety is our top priority, and it’s part of our everyday routine. All of our centers follow expert-informed health, safety, and security policies and allergy protocols. Additionally, health, safety, and wellness are built right into our curriculum, and our classrooms and spaces are safely designed for learning and exploration.