ABOUT LIZ DAYCARE
A little home where childhood feels like childhood
Bilingual care, home-cooked meals, and a backyard full of laughter — in the heart of Chicago since 2016.
OUR STORY
It started with one mom, one home, and a lot of love
In 2016, Lisbeth Varela turned her home in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood into something the community didn’t have enough of: a daycare that felt less like a facility and more like family. She started with just a handful of children, a warm kitchen, and a promise — to care for every child the way she’d want someone to care for her own.
Nearly ten years later, that promise still runs the place. Children who once napped on our mats now wave from the school bus. Parents who trusted us with their first baby come back with their second. We’ve grown, but we’ve stayed small on purpose — because the magic was never in the size. It was in knowing every child by name, every favorite song, every way they like to be comforted on a hard morning.
That’s still who we are today.
Our Mission
To give every child a safe, warm, and stimulating home-away-from-home where they grow academically, socially, and emotionally — guided by caregivers who work with love, commitment, and responsibility, while standing alongside our community's working families.
Our Vision
To be the daycare our neighborhood recommends without hesitation — a place where children become curious, kind, and school-ready, and where families find not just childcare, but a second home and an extended family they can count on for years.
OUR MISSION
What guides us, every day
Led by Lisbeth Varela — who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education — everything we do comes back to one belief: the early years deserve real care. Here’s what we focus on, every single day.
- Caregivers trained in early childhood care, education, and development
- A safe, comfortable, trustworthy environment grounded in good values
- Activities and programs suited to each stage of a child's development
- Stronger social, emotional, cognitive, and communication skills
- Daily routines that nurture learning, gentle discipline, and getting along
- A space where children feel happy, protected, and eager to learn
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Six little ones at a time. One big standard.
Every choice we make — from the meals we cook to the way we greet a crying toddler at the door — comes back to these.
Safety, always
A fully licensed home, childproofed spaces, smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, and eyes on every child, all the time. Peace of mind isn't a feature here — it's the foundation.
Two languages, naturally
English and Spanish flow through our whole day — in songs, stories, and play — so children grow up bilingual without ever feeling like they're studying.
Real food, made with care
No frozen trays. We cook fresh breakfast, morning snack, lunch and dinner in our own kitchen every day, so kids eat the way they would at home.
A DECADE OF TRUST
The story, in numbers
Years caring for families
Languages, every single day
Licensed & always supervised
Children max — small by design
MEET THE FOUNDER
Lisbeth Varela
Founder & Lead Caregiver
Ask any parent at Liz Daycare and they’ll tell you the same thing: Lisbeth doesn’t run a daycare, she runs a second home. A degreed early-childhood teacher with a BA in Early Childhood Education, she’s bilingual, endlessly patient, and hands-on in every part of the day — from the morning’s fresh breakfast to the afternoon school run.
She leads a small, trained team that shares one belief: that the early years matter more than almost anything, and that they deserve to be spent somewhere warm.
“I want parents to drop their kids off and feel exactly what I feel — that this is home.”
- Bilingual — English & Spanish
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- Leads a trained, caring team
A DAY WITH US
From "good morning" to "see you tomorrow"
A gentle rhythm of play, learning, food, and rest — the kind of predictable day that helps little ones feel secure.
Morning
Warm welcomes, free play, and a fresh homemade breakfast as friends arrive.
Mid-Morning
Circle time, songs and music, letters, numbers and hands-on science — learning that feels like play.
Midday
Outdoor play in our safe backyard or a walk to the neighborhood park, then a home-cooked lunch and quiet nap time.
Afternoon
Art, music, sensory play, the school pick-up run, and a calm wind-down until parents arrive.
OUR PROMISE TO PARENTS
What you can count on, every day
You’re not just choosing childcare — you’re choosing who spends the day with your child. Here’s what we commit to.
- Your child is greeted by name and treated like family
- Fresh breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner, cooked here every day
- A bilingual environment — English and Spanish
- A fully licensed, childproofed home with smoke & CO detectors
- Flexible hours that fit real working schedules
- School drop-off and pick-up handled for you
- Honest, daily communication about your child's day
- Help applying for childcare assistance (CCAP)
BEFORE YOU ENROLL
Questions parents ask us
Is Liz Daycare licensed?
Yes. We are a fully state-licensed home daycare and have operated this way since 2016. Licensing covers safety, ratios, and care standards — and you’re always welcome to ask us about it during a visit.
What ages do you care for?
We care for children from 6 weeks to 13 years. For older kids, we also handle the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up from school.
Do you serve meals?
We do — fresh breakfast, morning snack, lunch and dinner are cooked in our own kitchen every day. No frozen or processed trays. If your child has allergies or specific needs, let us know and we’ll work with you.
Is the program bilingual?
Yes. English and Spanish are part of our entire day — through songs, stories, and everyday conversation — so children pick up both languages naturally.
How do you keep children safe?
Our home is fully licensed and childproofed, with smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors, and children are supervised at all times in small groups. Safety is the foundation everything else is built on.
What are your hours?
We’re open Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM, with flexible scheduling to fit different work shifts. Ask us about early drop-off and late pick-up — we work with real family schedules.
Can I visit before enrolling?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. The best way to know if we’re the right fit is to come see our home, meet the team, and ask anything on your mind. Call us at 773-986-4146 or email daycareliz54@gmail.com to set up a visit.
Do you help with childcare assistance?
Yes. We’re glad to help families apply for the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) so quality care stays affordable. Just ask and we’ll walk you through it.