Chicago · Licensed center

Care-A-Lot Early Learning Center, Inc

What these mean, and where they come from

Small means the smallest quarter of Chicago-area’s 1,949 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 8 to 48 children. Medium is 49 to 118; large is 119 to 487.

How they teach

Developmental and play-based

“In order to fix on children’s developmental needs, we have adapted the teachings and theory of Jean Piaget and his ‘Theory of Cognitive Development.'”In their words, August 2026.carealot4kids.com

“We view play as a prelude to the acquisition and understanding of developmental skills. We regard play as a very real and stimulative learning experience for children.”In their words, August 2026.carealot4kids.com

One of 20 Chicago-area providers that describe a developmental approach, out of 129 that describe any approach at all.

Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies.

What the state has found

Routine visits: 6 of 6 cited something

Chicago-area centers: the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits.

From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.

Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Illinois DCFS

Last visit
March 2, 2026
On file
6 visits since March 2011 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was April 1, 2026. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
Most serious
Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.

Mar 2026 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · March 2, 2026

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2024 Monitoring visit 2 findings

Monitoring visit · March 27, 2024

Personnel Records

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · Violation substantiated

Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.140(c)(2) · Violation substantiated

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2018 Monitoring visit 7 findings

Monitoring visit · March 8, 2018

Personnel Records

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) through (i)(4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · 407.250(i)(4)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected

General Requirements for Personnel

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d) · Violation corrected

Cited: FHSEC305

0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2015 Monitoring visit 1 finding

Monitoring visit · April 14, 2015

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(e)(3) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Apr 2014 Monitoring visit 5 findings

Monitoring visit · April 14, 2014

Health Requirements for Children

2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) through (6) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)

Organization and Administration

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · Violation corrected

Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · Violation corrected

Enrollment and Discharge Procedures

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

Mar 2011 Monitoring visit 6 findings

Monitoring visit · March 10, 2011

Personnel Records

4 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (4) · Violation corrected

89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)

Provisions Pertaining to the License

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g) · Violation corrected

Physical Plant/Indoor Space

1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(b) · Violation corrected

DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 323906 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.

How the comparison is built

Routine visits: across Chicago-area centers, the state cites something at about 5 in 6 routine visits (19,088 visits).

A day here

Outdoors
Daily outdoor playtime weather-permitting; indoor large-motor equipment used when seasonal temperatures don't allow outside time
Calendar
Year round

Details

7737638888

Website
carealot4kids.com
Address
6441 N Central Ave
License
license issued (il)
Ages they serve
15 months - 12 years

Do you run Care-A-Lot Early Learning Center, Inc? Shortlist has no tuition, ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Adding it is free and takes about ten minutes.

Add what is missing
Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

How they teach

How they teach

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

A day here

Details

  • Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "CARE-A-LOT EARLY LEARNING CENTER, INC" under Provider Name and 60646 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 323906).
  • Website — Checked August 2026 carealot4kids.com
  • Ages they serve — Checked August 2026 carealot4kids.com