Children's Quest provided a safe, cozy and enriched environment for our children to make friends and play. Our son and daughter knew that when they went "to school at Meredith's," they were going to build a snowman, dance with scarves and listen to Stravinsky because it was "S" week. They knew their questions would always be heard and, if not completely answered, responded to in way that made them want to think about it more. They will always remember the walks to the park and playing in the many shady play areas in the yard. Children's Quest is a wonderful place in a beautiful setting!

Children's Quest is a hidden gem in Evanston. Meredith provided a loving, fun and safe space for our daughter to learn and grow. Every day was a new adventure, as she created the space, structure and consistency for our daughter to experience the arts, sciences, physical activity, and nature (especially in the beautiful wooded preserve that is part of her yard). The small group environment allows Meredith to provide individualized attention to nurture each childs' natural talents and interest. Meredith has years of experience with early childhood development as a teacher and a mom. She was always available to discuss questions we had as parents about our child's behavior and shared her insights on approaches to discipline and addressing issues. Meredith has been such a gift! We are so grateful to have had such an amazing woman be part of our daughter's formative years.

It's impossible, in one short review, to express the depth of our gratitude in finding Children's Quest Home Daycare. We've watched our son blossom from a tentative, somewhat shy 15 months to a confident, self-motivated, exuberant almost three-year-old. This, as any child in Meredith's care will tell you, is SCHOOL, not daycare, and it's an excellent combination of free play, group socialization, and a curriculum that focuses on the natural world, poetry, classical art, and music. We had planned for our son to start at a Montessori school this year, but we are so delighted by the content and approach at Children's Quest that we will stay until the last possible moment.

Children's Quest has just expanded to offer infant care, and in doing so, has taken on a new full-time teacher. All of the children will benefit from this. Meredith, the head of the program, has some 25 years-plus of childcare and early education experience based in respect for children as capable, unique individuals. Anna, who will run the infant program, is a musician with years of early childhood music instruction. Mary, the assistant teacher to the toddlers, enlivens the day with art and drama. Our son comes home talking about the oboe, an expedition to the North Pole, his appreciation of Beethoven, and the fox and deer that make regular appearances in the woods on property (which have just been designated a protected wildlife habitat). From the curriculum, offered in weekly intervals, he's also learning content (colors, states and capitals) and methods (sitting, listening) that will translate to his next educational environment. Meredith also has invaluable experience with the major transitions of this phase of a child's life, and has counseled us and guided our son with love and care.

The children get an extraordinary amount of time outside, playing on stumps and hanging from monkey bars, observing rolly-polly's and bird's nests, running and jumping. The difference between this real encounter with nature and the outdoor time offered at some of the other facilities we considered is vast.

Beyond this, Meredith, Anna, and Mary genuinely love and respect each child in their care, and the children love them, and each other. We couldn't be more lucky in finding Children's Quest. It's teaching us how to be better parents.

I have worked in Early Childhood Education for over fifty years. In all that time, I have never met a better teacher, nor seen a better Early Childhood program. Children's Quest Home Daycare is truly a stand alone, outstanding school for little children. I have known Meredith for many years. I believe she is the most innovative and thoughtful teacher I have ever known.
Childrens Quest has a beautiful campus, housed on a large wooded parcel of land. Meredith has created a virtual wonderland both inside and out for children.
Her belief that children's ability to learn is near endless, has enabled her to create a program that is both unique and exciting. She exposes them to the very best the world has known in music, art, literature, dance, etc., from infancy through the preschool years by using the alphabet...one letter a week. When you walk through her classroom, you see the well organized and fully equipped space that one should expect from a first rate and qualified provider. THIS classroom space is more than that. Beautiful art work...and pictures of the artists are in abundance. In addition, you see the creative energy that her children are daily exposed to, along with evidence of how these works are used to help children expand thier own ideas in art. Classical music wafts through the air. You would likely hear a discussion about the musicians and artists held during a meal. Conversation, real conversation, takes place in every interaction with these children...right from the beginning!

The children in her charge learn HOW to learn...and learn about what the world has to offer, not only in the arts, but in the natural world as well.
When they move on towards kindergarten, if they have been with her from the start, they are not only readers...but also excited learners, able to distinguish the great artists, musicians, poets, countless animals, insects, creatures of the sea, heavenly bodies and so much more!
In addition, her gentle, nurturing style creates a loving and sweet homey feel to each day. The children in her care are such very lucky individuals...and the parents who have chosen this special program, soon learn how lucky they are, as well.