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
​​​​​​
Fall 2025: Registration is open!
August 18 - December 19, 2025
​
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays | 9:30am-12:00pm ​
​
Cost: Free with HPNC Access Pass
Access Pass options:
$10 Single Day Drop-In
$20 per monthly installment (x6)
$120 annual​​​​​​
​
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. A Family Pass includes all individuals living in one household and registered under the same family profile. Monthly installments and financial assistance are available: hpnclub.org/financial-aid.
​​​
​
​
​
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.
​
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.
​
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:
-
Healthy social and emotional development
-
Self-regulation and self-monitoring
-
Joy, curiosity, and wonder
-
Motor, language, and problem-solving skills through real-world experience negotiating with peers
-
Confidence and sense of self
Nature Club
Fall 2025: Registration is open!
October 3, 2025 - November 7, 2025
​
​Dates:
Friday, October 3
Friday, October 10
Friday, October 17
Friday, October 24
No Nature Club October 31 - Halloweenie!
Friday, November 7
Hours: 10 am-11:30 am ​
​​​​​
​
​​​​​
​​​​
This Early Childhood Program is led by HPNC’s gardeners, for young children crawling to 5 years old accompanied by an adult caretaker (parents, nannies, grandparents). Activities are specially designed to ignite a love of the outdoors, to introduce children to gardens and gardening, and to support child-led, imaginative outdoor play.
​
Expect sensory exploration of all aspects of an urban garden that is planted by and for children. Engage in fascinating adult- and child-initiated conversations about gardens, plants, soil, and bugs. Watch the seasons change! Make art, harvest from the garden, water the plants, hunt for bugs, discover outdoor treasures, dig in the mud, make some imaginative creations, splash in puddles, and more!
Come dressed for the weather and ready to take in the full range of sensory experiences that fall has to offer.
​​​
Access Pass: An annual or drop-in access pass for all program participants and their families is required for registration. 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. Financial assistance is available: hpnclub.org/financial-aid.
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."
​
- 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.
​​​​​​​
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. University of Chicago affiliated families, please contact Sarah Diwan directly at sdiwan@hpnclub.org. ​​Community families, please register with the button below; consultations have a $50 fee.
​
​
​
Group consultation sessions are held over Zoom every third Saturday. In each group session, Dr. Diwan will review common childcare needs and local options, give information on contracting, and answer questions. University of Chicago affiliated families, please contact Sarah Diwan directly at sdiwan@hpnclub.org. Community families, please register with the button below; consultations have a $50 fee.
Dates for Fall 2025 group sessions:
-
Saturday, August 16
-
Saturday, September 20
-
Saturday, October 18
-
Saturday, November 15
-
Saturday, December 20
​​​​​​​​​
​
​
​​​​Please reach out to Dr. Diwan at sdiwan@hpnclub.org with any questions or concerns.
Resources and Support for all Caregivers
​
Caregiver support services fall into two categories: connecting caregivers to families, and caregiver mentoring. 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. ​
​​​​​​​​
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.
​​​​​
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.​ Dates for 2025-2026 to be announced.​
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.