History | Directors | Coordinators | Testimonials

History

Mary Brophy opened Kidwatch in 1983 in the Irving Park neighborhood at 3901 N. Ridgeway Avenue as an afterschool program for children attending local schools.  Kidwatch, at the original “Ridgeway” location leased space first from Alvernia High School and later from Chicago Board of Education when the building changed ownership.  In June of 1985, services were expanded to include Preschool, Kindergarten and Summer Camp.

With the opening of the Infant Toddler center in September 1989, Kidwatch was changed to Kidwatch Plus ® and the status changed to a non-profit, charitable, educational (501(c)3) and accredited by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)® in 2000.  Kidwatch is also recognized as one of the first child care centers in Illinois to hold the Gold Circle of Quality from ExceleRate Illinois®.

In the Spring of 2016, Kidwatch moved to the Portage Park neighborhood at 3330 N. Lockwood Ave.  We occupy the school building on the campus of St. Ladislaus Parish adjacent to Chopin Park. Kidwatch Plus is the sole occupant of the single story school building.  We service families from surrounding areas such as Portage Park, Kilbourn Park, MontClare, Dunning, Cragin and Old Irving Park.

Kidwatch services 120 children from over 100 different families.  Kidwatch Plus® Child Care Center is licensed by the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.  Kidwatch implements "The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos" and "The Creative Curriculum for Preschool" documenting growth and developmental objectives via Teaching Strategies and is aligned with the Illinois State Standards.  Our mission is to offer educational programs and to help maintain family life by providing quality care for children while their parents are working or attending school.