Growing Kids on South 11th Street provides daycare and preschool in Chesterton, Indiana, for children from six weeks through age 12. The center is NECPA accredited and holds Indiana’s Level 4 Paths to QUALITY rating. It opens 5:45 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, at West 1100 North and South 11th Street. Families will find monitored entry, biometric access, classroom observation windows, shaded playgrounds and a Main Street mini town.
1828 South 11th Street, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 929-5559
Monday to Friday, 5:45 am to 6:00 pm
The Chesterton center is at the intersection of West 1100 North and South 11th Street, a few minutes from the Highway 49 and I-94 interchanges, which makes it the easy stop for parents commuting toward the mills, Michigan City or the South Shore station. Large observation windows into the classrooms mean you can linger at drop-off and watch your child settle in. The playground is shaded by mature trees and has age appropriate slides, swings and climbers, plus a blacktop with tricycles and basketball nets for the older kids. Parents enter with a key code and a biometric scan, and cameras cover the whole property.
An early door on the way to the highway. 5:45 am open, a few minutes from Highway 49 and I-94. For a town where a lot of parents commute west, that is the whole decision.
Security designed by people who do it for a living. Growing Kids' safety protocols were designed with a child care security company run by former Secret Service agents. Key code and biometric entry for every parent, one monitored entrance, cameras across the property and an emergency call system in every room, coordinated with local police and fire departments.
Main Street. At the heart of the center is Main Street, a child sized mini town where kids play through real life, running a cafe, a post office and a store.
You can see the room. Observation windows into the classrooms let you watch your child without walking in. New parents use them every morning for the first few weeks.
Accredited, not just licensed. Indiana licensing is the floor. NECPA accreditation and a Level 4 Paths to QUALITY rating are earned on top of it. The Chesterton center participates in CCDF vouchers and On My Way Pre-K.
Open when schools are not. Eight closure days a year. Two hour delays, snow days and in-service days are covered for Duneland school age kids.
What daycare costs in Chesterton
Tuition at Growing Kids depends on your child's age and the days you need, so the accurate number comes from the center. Call 11th Street and ask for current weekly rates, or request them when you book a tour.
Several things can bring the cost down. The Chesterton center accepts Indiana CCDF child care vouchers and participates in On My Way Pre-K, which provides free prekindergarten for families who qualify. Families who set up weekly AutoPay earn a weekly tuition discount. The Refer-a-Friend program typically credits $100 to the referring family and $100 to the new family, with no cap. Growing Kids also has child care benefit arrangements with a number of area employers, so ask HR whether yours is one of them.
Families come to 11th Street from across the Duneland area, including Porter, Burns Harbor, Dune Acres, Beverly Shores, Liberty Township, Jackson Township and the north edge of Valparaiso. It is also a practical option for Portage families on the east side and for parents commuting from Michigan City who want drop-off before the highway.
Your Chesterton daycare questions, answered
Is there an accredited daycare in Chesterton, Indiana?
Yes. Growing Kids Learning Center at 1828 South 11th Street is accredited by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) and holds a Level 4 rating from Indiana's Paths to QUALITY, the highest level the state awards.
What time does Growing Kids in Chesterton open?
5:45 am, Monday through Friday. The center closes at 6:00 pm.
Does Growing Kids in Chesterton take infants?
Yes. The infant program accepts babies from six weeks old until they are walking, with low teacher to child ratios and your own feeding and nap schedule. Infant rooms fill first, so join the waiting list early.
Where exactly is the Chesterton center?
1828 South 11th Street, Chesterton, IN 46304, at the intersection of West 1100 North and South 11th Street on the south side of town.
How much is daycare in Chesterton at Growing Kids?
Rates depend on age and schedule, so the center gives you a current quote. Growing Kids accepts CCDF vouchers, participates in On My Way Pre-K, offers an AutoPay discount and a Refer-a-Friend credit. It also has benefit arrangements with several area employers.
Does Growing Kids offer before and after school care for Duneland schools?
Yes. The School Age program covers children 5 to 12 before and after school, plus full days on two hour delays, snow days and breaks. Ask the center about transportation to and from your child's school.
How does the Chesterton center keep kids safe?
Every parent enters with a key code and a biometric scan. There is one monitored entrance, security cameras across the property and an emergency call system in every room. The protocols were designed with a security firm run by former Secret Service agents.
Can I watch my child in the classroom?
Yes. The Chesterton center has large observation windows into the classrooms so you can stay a few minutes at drop-off or pick-up and watch without interrupting the room.
Is there a preschool program or just daycare?
Both. Preschool for ages 3 to 5 runs on the Learning Beyond Paper curriculum and is built around kindergarten readiness. Younger children move up from the infant and toddler rooms when they are ready.
How do I schedule a tour in Chesterton?
Book online at growingkids.com/book-a-tour or call (219) 929-5559. Tours take about 30 minutes and children are welcome.
Come See It For Yourself
Book a 30 minute tour at 11th Street. Bring your child, see Main Street and meet the teachers.
