The last thing busy parents need at the beginning of the school year is another item on their to-do list, but that doesn’t mean children’s health and safety concerns should take a back seat.

If looking for a daycare or preschool in the Chicago area is feeling like a black hole of Google searches and Excel spreadsheets, we’ve got you (quite frankly, because we’ve been there…).

To help put an end to the all-too-familiar chaos of the childcare hunt, we connected with the experts at Bright Horizons–who operate more than 1,000 nurturing, enriching, and convenient early education centers across the globe–to compile a list of the most important things to consider when evaluating a Chicago daycare or preschool. So, before you book that preschool tour or drop a deposit, find out what factors should be top of mind in your preschool search.

While “Montessori” probably conjures up thoughts of wooden toys and independent play, there’s a whole lot more to understand about the teaching method that’s used across many of New York City’s most popular private preschools and elementary schools. Yes, specially-designed materials and child-led activities are definitely part of the package, but there are many differentiators that set the Montessori style apart from a more traditional approach to education. With a focus on children’s individual interests and needs, the approach promotes hands-on, self-paced, collaborative learning, which tends to really resonate with kids and parents alike.

The teaching experts at Guidepost Montessori offered to provide their expertise and breakdown the features you’ll find in a tried-and-true Montessori school. With over 80 campuses across the United States and Asia–including five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, plus virtual programs, Guidepost is the largest Montessori network in the world, empowering and nurturing kids ages 0 to 14 for more than 7,000 families across the globe.