Bright Horizons Is Providing Early Education For Your Children

Bright Horizons at Skokie is an early education and preschool center that provides year-round care for children 6 weeks old to 5 years old. With curriculum and spaces that honor childhood and stimulate growth and discovery, children develop confidence and a passion for learning.

Jill Infante, center director for Bright Horizons at Skokie, has had a growing passion for early childhood education ever since high school."It is so rewarding being a part of children’s early education experience, as it helps shape the rest of their lives," she says.

Read on to learn more about Infante's experience in the field, as well as Bright Horizon's 30 years of success:

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Infante: Bright Horizons at Skokie opened in 2016 and Bright Horizons has proudly been in business for over 30 years. For more than 30 years, Bright Horizons early education centers and preschools have been helping children around the world develop confidence and a passion for learning. Bright Horizons is committed to the field of early education and to practices that guide each child’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development.

Bright Horizons' emergent curriculum approach is designed for this purpose, enabling teachers to tailor activities and projects for the specific interests and skills of each child in the class, with the goal of preparing students for success in school and in life.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in and how did you get started?

Infante: The field of Early Childhood Education has been a passion of mine since I was in high school. One of my elective classes was child development, where we spent time at a local school with children (infants through pre-kindergarteners) and studied child development. After taking that class in high school, I continued my study of early childhood education at the college level and onward. My passion for the field continued to grow stronger and stronger.

Patch: Sum up your business mission statement to a stranger in five words?

Infante: Early education for working families

Patch: What is the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Infante: The biggest challenge I have faced in my journey is stepping into a leadership position from a teaching one. This transition was challenging, because I am now the individual supporting the teachers in their roles instead of being the one implementing the activities with the children. I had to realize that each adult learns differently, just as children do, and learn how each one of the staff members learned to help them continue to grow in their career.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Infante: The most satisfying part of my job is watching as infants transition into toddlers and then into preschoolers and graduate onto kindergarten. It is so rewarding being a part of children’s early education experience as it helps shape the rest of their lives.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Infante:

• Our 30 years of being in business
• Proven emergent curriculum that reflects the latest research on early education
• Thoughtfully created environments
• Teachers who are supported to grow professionally and stay current on the most effective education techniques
• Location and hours to fit the way parents work
• Well-balanced programs that focus on the whole child (social, emotional, physical), and prepare children for success in school and life
• A center that makes sure children feel safe and loved from the moment they put their hands in ours, to the moment they put them back in yours
• Our variety of family resources that support parents, as well as children

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Infante: Some of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given when it comes to success is when an opportunity is the right fit it will present itself, and to take in every opportunity as one to learn and grow from.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Infante: We are very excited to be hosting our first Multicultural Fair in 2019! During the fair we will be celebrating the diversity of our community, both within our school and the Skokie area. The event will take place at our school on May 13-17.

On May 18 and 19, we will be present at the Festival of Cultures with the Skokie Park District. This fair is so exciting because it allows us to explore new cultures and educate young children on diversity, and it aligns with Bright Horizons being named one of FORTUNE’s Best Workplaces for Diversity (awarded in late fall 2018).

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Infante: We will be hosting a preschool open house on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is a chance for new families to come see why Bright Horizons is the perfect place for preschoolers to learn, explore and get ready for school.

Families will have the chance to explore our classrooms, see our curriculum in action, learn more about our play-based approached to curriculum and meet our passionate educators. No RSVPs are required and families can drop by to visit at any point during the day.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Infante: Visit our website or follow us on Facebook.

Contact information:

Email: Skokie@brighthorizons.com

Phone Number: 847-583-1052

This Patch article is sponsored by Bright Horizons.

Image Credit: Bright Horizons