Bridgeport Child Development Center 1
Bridgeport Child Development Center 1, 3053 S. Normal Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
About
Bridgeport Child Development Center 1 offers activities such as art, music, hands-on projects, and daily homework assistance. Children also plant, care for, and harvest vegetables and flowers, and take part in family activities throughout the year, including family outings, parent workshops, parent-teacher conferences, and home visits.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: Weekdays, 7:30AM to 6PM; full-day summer camp program for school-age children 6–12 years old
The program uses The Creative Curriculum® and an after school curriculum that follows the STEM philosophy. It offers a Healthy Lifestyles program that introduces children to nutrition, movement, and environment, and uses Food2You catering with nutritionist-approved meals, including breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack at no additional cost. Children have access to two outdoor play areas, an indoor gym, and a garden, and the program teaches the importance of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Bridgeport Child Development Center 1 works with dual language learners to support home language and enhance parent-child relationships, and shares quarterly child outcome data with parents. Teacher-to-child ratios are 1:6 for toddlers, 1:10 for preschool, and 1:15 for school-age children. The program works with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to provide child care services at a reduced rate.
The stated mission of Bridgeport Child Development Center 1 is to provide individualized care in an environment tailored to enhance growth and development, including for children with special needs. The leadership team includes Director Marybeth Mlikotic and Assistant Director Roberto Recio Jr., both of whom joined in 2010. The program holds credentials and recognition from the Council on Accreditation, DCFS Illinois, ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality, and NAEYC. It partners with Start Early to provide Head Start services for children 3–5 years old and with Chicago Public Schools to provide State Preschool and Prevention Initiative Programs, and it works with community programs that offer social service resources, education, and training opportunities for families.
Parent feedback includes comments that Bridgeport Child Development Center is “a great place to be” and that parents feel safe dropping their child off each morning. Parents report that they “love it here,” feel that parents “have a voice,” and say their children have become more independent and shown growth in development since enrolling.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: Weekdays, 7:30AM to 6PM; full-day summer camp program for school-age children 6–12 years old
The program uses The Creative Curriculum® and an after school curriculum that follows the STEM philosophy. It offers a Healthy Lifestyles program that introduces children to nutrition, movement, and environment, and uses Food2You catering with nutritionist-approved meals, including breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack at no additional cost. Children have access to two outdoor play areas, an indoor gym, and a garden, and the program teaches the importance of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Bridgeport Child Development Center 1 works with dual language learners to support home language and enhance parent-child relationships, and shares quarterly child outcome data with parents. Teacher-to-child ratios are 1:6 for toddlers, 1:10 for preschool, and 1:15 for school-age children. The program works with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to provide child care services at a reduced rate.
The stated mission of Bridgeport Child Development Center 1 is to provide individualized care in an environment tailored to enhance growth and development, including for children with special needs. The leadership team includes Director Marybeth Mlikotic and Assistant Director Roberto Recio Jr., both of whom joined in 2010. The program holds credentials and recognition from the Council on Accreditation, DCFS Illinois, ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality, and NAEYC. It partners with Start Early to provide Head Start services for children 3–5 years old and with Chicago Public Schools to provide State Preschool and Prevention Initiative Programs, and it works with community programs that offer social service resources, education, and training opportunities for families.
Parent feedback includes comments that Bridgeport Child Development Center is “a great place to be” and that parents feel safe dropping their child off each morning. Parents report that they “love it here,” feel that parents “have a voice,” and say their children have become more independent and shown growth in development since enrolling.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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