Take A Break Playcare

Take a Break Playcare is a reliable drop-​in service for parents who do not have a regular babysitter or need back up care. Having moved here from Nashville, I was surprised to find Chicago totally without drop-​in childcare services! Finding Take a Break Playcare a year later was an absolute relief. We use them for date nights, running errands, evening work events, etc. The facility is clean with plenty of play options for children of all ages. The care providers are friendly and work hard to make children and their parents comfortable. In addition, you have to be buzzed into the facility, which increases the safety of the environment. Definitely give this service a try – you will return.

We love it. I bring my 5-​year-​old son who missed the cutoff for kinder here off and on. We plan on taking advantage of the monthly rate come January when my work schedule picks up. My son always has a great time there, the staff is awesome with children and there are tons of things to do there to keep kids busy. This is a fantastic alternative to bringing him to daycare and spending an arm and a leg for time I don’t need or use.
Keep up the good work!

This place has been absolutely amazing for our family. We cannot say enough wonderful things about this drop-​off play space. We have been looking for a fun, safe, affordable, special play space to send our 2 year old son regularly a couple days a week (2 hours at a time) and after a long search we finally found it. The staff has been so calm and warm to my son who has never really been away from me. They have a very good staff-​to-​child ratio and the women really seem to love their jobs and the kids they work with. After only 2 visits my son has warmed up quickly to the staff and now after a couple weeks he talks about the fun toys and people he played with. I will continue recommending it to friends. Thank goodness for this place!

Very happy to find this place when our daughter’s preschool is closed for staff development and holidays. Our daughter kept asking to go back! Highly recommend, friendly staff.

We have used Take A Break for the last three weeks while our usual sitter is out of the country. Our 1.5 year old daughter seems to do well there and the staff handles her separation anxiety like pros. My husband and I have unusual working hours so it is nice to have a reliable backup to our usual sitters that is open late.
Of course, they have a few bugs to work out in terms of being organized sometimes but that happens when you have lots of kids around. All around two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Brought my son here for the first time today. He is 2.5 and has rarely been away from me… even then only being watched by Dad or Grandma for an hour or so. I absolutely LOVE Take a Break Playcare! The employees are so nice and make you feel so at ease with leaving your child with them. The one who took my son to the play area handled it perfectly, not making a big deal about leaving mom (which would probably lead to a crying mess). When I arrived to pick him up, he was miraculously napping, something I can RARELY get him to do and had eaten his snack and been changed. He seemed to love his time there, and I will DEFINITELY be taking him back. This is a perfect resource for us as we only need here and there childcare. Moms and dads, LOOK NO FURTHER for a last minute childcare option!

I wish they would’ve thought of this sooner! I was desperately trying to find a place for our son to go to. Just to drop off every now and then. Our babysitters have all been flaky and we needed something more reliable, especially when my husband needed to meet with a client for his business. Daycare was extraordinarily expensive and not a viable option so we came upon Take a Break when they first opened. I told Christine that we would be regulars and we are! Our son loves it there! When we drop him off he runs straight to the back towards his favorite toys and friends. I love their hours especially on the Weekends. My only negative point is the weekdays they are open only until 9pm. Alot of plays or schedules we have start at 7 or 8 so 9 pm pushes it to get there on time with transportation.
I love the 10 hour packs. I always buy those and use up the pack as I go. The customer service is great, the place us clean, and there is an abundance of toys to keep your kid occupied. I have recommended it to serval parents and hope they can expand soon!

Perfect solution for your last-​minute or short-​term childcare needs! My kids, ages 2 and 4, had a lot of fun and were happy and relaxed when I picked them up. I asked if they would like to go back, and they both said YES. Both caregivers I came in contact with were friendly and kind to the kids. I was relieved that I could go take care of a dentist appointment (and lunch at Shake Shack) and pick up the kids on my schedule. Billing is down to the minute, so you pay for exactly how much time you need, another bonus. Highly recommend!

Being new to Chicago, I found it challenging to find a place that not only offered quality care, but was close by and affordable. Take a break Playcare was just what our family needed. My 2 year old absolutely loves Take A Break Playcare, and my spouse and I love the convenience. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. We have used their service many times and will continue to do so. I highly recommend them to anyone and everyone.

My wife and I recently moved, and there was a long gap between the move and when we could get our daughter into full-​time daycare. Take a Break has been a lifesaver on days when we needed it. (It’s frankly mind-​boggling there aren’t more drop-​in daycares than there are.) Take a Break is everything parents look for in any daycare: clean, professional, friendly. And they clearly love the kids. Our daughter is in full-​time day care now, but we will continue to use Take a Break for date nights.

I have used several times and always have been very pleased. I usually use on Saturdays for my 3 year old son to get a couple hours free to do errands but have done for an entire day when our pre-​school was closed and we needed coverage. My son always has fun, is well taken care of and usually doesn’t want to leave. Its incredibly well priced, clean and the staff is very friendly

After visiting Take a Break on opening day, we were hooked. The great thing about this play place is parents don’t need to stay. It’s a babysitting service with a wide range of hours to allow busy moms and dads to take a break when needed. Whether you need a few hours to run errands, take a meeting or just have a dinner date — this place is a go-​to especially in this last-​minute world we live in and plans fall through.
The facility practically has a curbside drop-​off. You pull up in front of the building, put your flashers on, wave to someone in the window or ring the bell and walk 10 steps to the counter to sign paperwork. Believe me, your kids will already have their shoes off and getting their games on. The effect this place has is unreal.
There are age-​appropriate areas throughout for newborns to pre-​teen. The Xbox game room and the computer lounge room are separated with glass walls so it’s transparent from the front desk area. The owner & employees are friendly and accommodating. They are available to help with homework and other activities if requested.
The other great thing is the kids get to do something different from their regular routine. Sometimes they need a time out from M & D. Everybody wins!