Early Childhood
HPNC welcomes families that receive a childcare subsidy through Illinois Action for Children. ​Additional financial assistance is available for qualifying families. Find out more and submit your eligibility information on our Sliding Scale Pricing page.
Please note that an annual and drop-in Access Passes are now available for Tot Lot families. Registration with an Access Pass is required for participation in Tot Lot.
What people are saying:
"Through Tot Lot we have become so much more connected to the community. When we moved here, it was hard to adjust to life in a bigger city. But we immediately plugged in to Tot Lot and started meeting so many friends. Now it seems like everywhere I go I see somebody from Tot Lot. It makes me feel like I belong here."
- Tot Lot parent
Tot Lot
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Spring 2025: Registration is now open!
March 31, 2025 - June 13, 2025
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Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:00am-12:00pm ​
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Cost: Free with HPNC Access Pass
($15 Single Day Drop-In or $120 Annual)​​​​​​
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Access Pass: An annual or drop-in access pass for all program participants and their families is required for registration into HPNC and on-site partner programs. This will aid in building security and communication. A Family Pass includes all individuals living in one household and registered under the same family profile. Fees will recur annually and will be applied at the first check out of each renewal period. Financial assistance is available: hpnclub.org/financial-aid.
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What is Tot Lot? Tot Lot offers opportunities for children ages birth to 5 years to experience the world outside their home with their caregiver. Hosted outdoors or in our expansive gym, children have access to mats, riding toys, play structures, balls, and open-ended building materials. A separate area is available for non-walking children to safely play, explore, and observe.
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We design our programs with the whole family in mind. Tot Lot is a time for caregivers to build strong networks and to boost their mental health through relationship and connection. For young children, our goal is to create a safe space for them to explore their physical limits, build friendships, and experience new and challenging sensations within the context of loving, attuned, and supportive care.
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Self-directed play with peers is intentionally at the core of our programming, because we know that this is the most direct way to foster:
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Healthy social and emotional development
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Self-regulation and self-monitoring
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Joy, curiosity, and wonder
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Motor, language, and problem-solving skills through real-world experience negotiating with peers
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Confidence and sense of self
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Nature Club
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Spring 2025: Registration is now open!
May 16, 2025 - June 13, 2025
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Hours: Fridays, 10:00am-11:30am ​
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Cost: $10 for a Single Day Drop-In or $36 for the Session​​​​​​
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Access Pass: An annual or drop-in access pass for all program participants and their families is required for registration into HPNC and on-site partner programs. This will aid in building security and communication. A Family Pass includes all individuals living in one household and registered under the same family profile. Fees will recur annually and will be applied at the first check out of each renewal period. Financial assistance is available: hpnclub.org/financial-aid.
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Did you know that kids who spend time in nature have stronger self-esteem, are more creative and cooperative, are better at following directions and problem solving, and are physically and mentally healthier?
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We invite you to join our nature-based, child-directed play club intended to ignite a love of the outdoors for our youngest explorers. Activities can be adapted for kids ages 6 months - 5 years.
Expect developmentally appropriate games and conversations about nature and environmental stewardship. We plan to watch the seasons change together, hunt for bugs and the first signs of spring, search for outdoor treasures, dig in the mud, and splash in puddles. Come dressed for the weather and ready to take in the full range of sensational experiences that the outdoors has to offer.
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We’ll be gearing up to plant our garden this summer and may begin some seedlings indoors that the kids can tend, and watch grow.
Nature-based activity offerings will include:
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Natural materials for building, climbing, and balancing
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Nature-based sensory enrichment experiences
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Movement and mindfulness activities to build body awareness and interception skills
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Observation of natural elements in the surrounding environment including bugs, plants, and soil.
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Periodic special guest gardening and local wildlife experts to share experiences about city gardening and environmental stewardship
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Child Care Resource
& Referral
What people are saying:
"I reached out to HPNC because my family and I were moving from St. Louis and needed a nanny until our kids transitioned to daycare. I had a wonderful experience with HPNC with respect to being able to setup interviews and get in touch with nannies.
"Our nanny is wonderful. She’s always on time, has never taken a sick day, adores our children (potty-trained our daughter, celebrated her birthday with her), and lives close by and has her own car—very useful in the time of COVID."
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- Father of two, faculty member at
UChicago Medical Center
Childcare Referral Services
Finding the right childcare can be hard for new and relocating parents! HPNC is here to help guide you through the process or just to provide reassurance along the way. We provide private and group consultation for parents who are seeking childcare for young children aged from birth to three years. Parents may sign up for group sessions that include a brief introduction to the basic childcare landscape in and around Hyde Park or for a private 1:1 consultation where time is dedicated to talking through your family's unique childcare needs and personalized referrals are given.
Extra support for parents hiring nannies is also available through 1:1 consultation. This may include guidance on interviewing, contracting, how to prepare for a successful relationship, and how to set up household employee taxes.
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Free virtual drop-in informational sessions via Zoom:
New this month, join Dr. Sarah Diwan and Stephanie Haddad on Wednesday mornings from 8-9 am:
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May 21
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May 28
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June 4
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June 11
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Also on the third Saturday of each month from 10-11 am, summer dates TBA.
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Please reach out to Dr. Diwan at sdiwan@hpnclub.org for any questions or concerns.
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Free in-person drop-in sessions: held at HPNC from 10:30am-12:00pm on pre-scheduled days listed below. No appointment necessary; just stop by! Feel free to bring your child(ren) - they will have a chance to play at Tot Lot after you wrap up with Sarah.​​
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Private 1-on-1 consultation sessions are held over Zoom or in person by appointment. In this session, Dr. Diwan will review your specific childcare needs, help you think through your options, give information on contracting, and provide you with a list of personalized referrals. Private consultations are $25* and can be scheduled here.
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​*If this fee would create a financial burden and prevent your family from participating, please contact Dr. Diwan at sdiwan@hpnclub.org to request a no-fee consultation.
Resources and Support for all Caregivers
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Caregiver support services fall into three categories: connecting caregivers to families, caregiver mentoring, & an early childhood professional development workshop series. Services are available to assist all childcare providers including family caregivers, nannies, home daycare operators, and center-based staff. Priority is given to those providing childcare for families of young children who live and work in the Hyde Park and University of Chicago Communities.
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HPNC maintains a Resource Center that houses a lending library and a variety of resources for parents and childcare providers. Caregivers are invited to check out these resources during HPNC's open hours.
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Caregiver Professional Development 2024-25
This free workshop series is intended for parents, nannies, and daycare providers - particularly those with children ages birth to 3 years. Attendees can register for one, more, or all workshops based on individual interest. ​​​​​​​​​
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Music as a Birthright: Prenatal and Early Childhood Experiences Matter!
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Speaker: Marsha Melsheimer, MA
More information: From the womb to community gatherings, parents can learn how to communicate musically with their child. This supports the parent-child relationship, social-emotional, physical, and language development.
Gross Motor Learning from 0-3: The Caregiver Role and Resources for Gross Motor Play
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Speaker: Stephanie Haddad, Sarah Diwan PhD​​​
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Connecting caregivers with families
Are you a babysitter, nanny or home daycare provider who wants to be connected to Hyde Park area families seeking childcare? Send an email to Sarah at sdiwan@hpnclub.org AND complete this Intake Form to start the process.
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If you'd rather talk to Sarah in person, families and caregivers are invited to connect with Sarah at HPNC's Tot Lot from 10:30-11:30am on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month unless otherwise noted. No appointment necessary; just stop by.​​
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Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR Training
Participants will learn skills required to receive American Red Cross Certification in CPR/First Aid. Emphasis will be on safety procedures for early childhood caregivers including parents, nannies, home daycare providers, and daycare center & PreK classroom teachers. This class is for adults only. It is appropriate for those seeking 1st time certification or certificate renewal.
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*CPR registration closed as class has reached capacity​
The HPNC Child Care Resource & Referral program is funded by a grant from the Childcare Initiative of the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago Hospital and Medical Center