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A Therapeutic Preschool & Kindergarten That Feels Like School

At Blue Bird Day, children experience all the joy of preschool and kindergarten — with therapeutic support built in.

We are a therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program designed for children who benefit from additional support while learning and playing alongside peers. Our integrated team delivers individualized therapy throughout the school day, in partnership with families, to help children reach meaningful developmental and educational goals.

As the nation’s first therapeutic preschool and kindergarten, our approach continues to evolve — always centered on what works best for each child and family.

Children enrolled in the program receive daily services within small group rotations that simulate a preschool or kindergarten day; they may also receive individual therapy sessions. We work with our families to ensure they have all the services they need in a given week, and goals are created for each client and the family’s unique needs.

Blue Bird Day offers 3 locations for Chicagoland families.

  • Blue Bird Day – West Loop -Chicago

  • Blue Bird Day – Northcenter- Chicago

  • Blue Bird Day – Wheaton

Trusted by Chicagoland Families Since 2014.

Evidence-Based Therapeutic Preschool & Kindergarten Program

At Blue Bird Day, our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program is grounded in evidence-based practices that support meaningful growth for each child. This means every decision we make is guided by research-backed methods, professional clinical expertise, and most importantly — your child’s unique strengths, needs, and family values.

We continuously stay up to date on the latest research in early childhood development and therapy, thoughtfully integrating proven therapeutic approaches into each child’s individualized learning and therapy goals. Our evidence-based model allows children to build skills in a supportive school environment while making real, measurable progress.

Some of the evidence-based approaches we use include:

  • Sensory Integration
  • DIR/Floortime
  • Zoo-phonics
  • Handwriting without Tears
  • TEACCH
  • Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Therapy
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Therapeutic Support Integrated Into Every School Day

Blue Bird Day provides multidisciplinary therapy services delivered by highly trained therapists who collaborate throughout the school day. Our team partners closely with families to support children in building skills, confidence, and independence through individualized, evidence-based care.

Our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten services include:

  • Speech Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Social Work/Counseling
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
  • Feeding Therapy
  • Nutrition Services

Individualized, Relationship-Based Therapeutic Support

At Blue Bird Day, we believe every child is unique — and no diagnosis defines who they are or what they can achieve. Our relationship-based therapists take the time to truly know each child and family, building individualized goals that reflect strengths, needs, and meaningful priorities for everyday life.

Through close collaboration with families and our multidisciplinary team, we design therapeutic programs that support long-term success at school, at home, and in the community — helping children grow with confidence, independence, and joy.

Our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten programs are designed to support children with:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Speech and Language Delays
  • Sensory Processing Differences or Sensory Needs
  • Developmental Delay
  • Attention & Focus Challenges (e.g., ADHD)
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Down Syndrome
  • Fine & Gross Motor Delays
  • Social-Emotional Regulation Needs
  • Feeding & Oral Motor Challenges
  • Rare Genetic Disorders

What do our clients have to say?

Meet Our Experienced Staff

Dr. Laura Mraz, OTD, OTR/L

CEO and Founder of Blue Bird Day, Merlin Day Academy and Eyas Landing

Sarah Hirschman Regional Clinic Director

Sarah Hirschman. OTR/L

Regional Clinic Director of Blue Bird Day, Merlin Day Academy and Eyas Landing

Monal Patel, OTR/L, Clinic Director of Blue Bird Day

Monal Patel, OTR/L

Clinic Director Blue Bird Day West Loop

Dr. Jennifer King, DPT, Clinic Director of Wheaton

Dr. Jennifer King, PT, DPT

Clinic Director Blue Bird Day Wheaton

Dr. Naila Ludwig, DPT, Clinic Director Blue Bird Day Northcenter

Dr. Naila Ludwig, PT, DPT

Clinic Director Blue Bird Day Northcenter

Have Peace of Mind with our Concierge Administrative Team

Our dedicated concierge administrative team is here to help you every step of the way. They provide a personalized verification of insurance benefits, along with an estimate of coverage with payment options, and manage all of the intake, scheduling, and billing for your child throughout enrollment. With our concierge administrative services, parents can enjoy a hassle-free experience, knowing that every detail is being expertly managed and allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your family.

We are In-Network with the Following Insurances:

  • Aetna PPO
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO / Blue Choice
  • Blue Cross PPO Gold / Silver / Bronze

Now Offering: Diagnostic Testing and Assessment

Diagnostic Testing and Assessment at Blue Bird Day is a non-medical testing and assessment process conducted by our Clinical Psychologist. We focus on assessment and diagnosis to identify the strengths and needs of children at all stages of development. We take a therapeutic assessment approach, meaning that we help individuals and families identify goals for testing, and collaborate to identify what they hope to learn about their children in the assessment process.

We know that testing and getting a diagnosis can be stressful for many families. Our team wants to make sure that families feel supported in the process, and we strive to present clear communication and feedback with resources and recommendations for the next steps.

Take a virtual tour of our Northcenter, West Loop, and Wheaton locations.

Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There are three child-sized tables with blue chairs.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter lobby with two black chairs, children's toys to play with while you wait, and boards filled with notices on the wall.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Northcenter Chicago location. Contains a rainbow lycra swing, a flexion disc swing for vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation, stepping stones, and a foam wedge. The floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter lobby with black chairs and couches and children's toys to play with while you wait.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Northcenter Chicago location. Contains a platform swing, an exercise ball, a balance beam, a bolster swing, walking steps, and a foam wedge. The floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There's a child-sized table, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a cabinet filled with colorful plastic tubs, and rainbow paintings on the walls.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with brightly colored cube chairs, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a cabinet filled with toys, and a white rocking chair.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter hallway filled with cubbies
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Includes a therapeutic web tower swing hanging from the ceiling for sensory seekers that helps improve balance reactions and motor planning and provides calming vestibular input. On the floor is a child-sized green and red trampoline with a handle for balance and safety to provide stimulating proprioceptive input, help kids release energy, and promote motor skills. There is also large colorful blocks for creative and gross motor play, two round wooden climbing ladders, and a play house cube with two circular openings to climb and explore.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a wall filled with windows that has stickers of animals on them.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Includes a therapeutic rainbow platform saucer swing for vestibular and proprioceptive input, a steam roller ramp (for sensory stimulation, heavy work, bilateral coordination and motor planning), a set of monkey bars for gross motor play, a set of climbing steps with a handrail for balance, crash pads and mats for safety and deep pressure input, a rolling tunnel, and a bosu balance ball. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.
Therapeutic classroom with a big rainbow rug, tables and chairs for children, and a whiteboard. Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are three child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a whiteboard with markers, child-sized cube seats in many colors, a child sized couch, a puppet station, and a wall filled with windows.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Hanging from the ceiling is a flexion disc swing and a flexion t-bar swing for balance, bilateral strength, and vestibular input. On the back wall is a rock climbing wall to build gross motor skills, crash mats underneath for safety, a round wooden climbing ladder with a slide, and a red and white balance beam. The walls and floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool and kindergarten lunchroom at our West Loop Chicago location. There are six child-sized tables with chairs throughout the room. On the right side are white cabinets.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a child-sized couch, colorful block chairs, and a wall filled with windows that has stickers of animals on them.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. A rainbow acrobat swing is hanging from the ceiling and can help with vestibular input, body awareness, motor planning, and has increased pressure for a calming effect. On the ground are blue crash mats and pads for sensory input and safety, a ball pit, a blue tunnel for gross motor activities, and a blue square ball pit for calming proprioceptive and tactile input. The walls and floor are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Wheaton Illinois location. There are several child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a wall full of windows looking outside.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Wheaton Illinois location. Includes a therapeutic rainbow platform swing for vestibular and proprioceptive input, a set of climbing steps with a handrail for balance, crash pads and mats for safety and deep pressure input surrounding a large rainbow colored trampoline, a long blue tunnel, and a hopscotch game. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.
Blue Bird Day Wheaton's interactive sensory retreat room. Includes a large Marvelous Marble sensory panel of light up interactive marbles where as children turn the marbles they receive visual, tactile, and aural sensory input, and experience a calming sensation. Crash mats and pads cover the floor for deep pressure and sensory input. The walls are covered with blue padding for safety. There are calming sensory aurora lights on the ceiling.
Blue Bird Day Wheaton reading room, including a bookshelf along the wall filled with children's books, a puzzle rug with the alphabet on it, and chairs to sit on.
Hallway filled with lockers at our Wheaton, Illinois location.
The lobby of our Blue Bird Day Wheaton location. Includes black couches and colorful waiting room toys.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Wheaton Illinois location. There are three child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug with color cube chairs on it, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a sensory table.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Wheaton Illinois location. Includes a steam roller ramp (for sensory stimulation, heavy work, bilateral coordination and motor planning), crash mats for safety and sensory input, a foam wedge for physical therapy activities. Handing from the ceiling is a raindrop swing (helping develop body awareness, motor planning, and spatial skills, as well as deep pressure for self-regulation), and a flexion disc swing for vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.

Stay Updated with Daily Connect!

Daily Connect allows us to provide regular, real-time updates on your child’s day at Blue Bird Day, including information on classroom lessons, therapeutic rotation activities, and mealtime details, allowing you to feel connected and reassured about your child’s well-being while they’re at Blue Bird. Caregivers are able to directly message teachers through the app to ask questions or share information, as well as access a record of their child’s development and progress through shared photos, videos, and observations.

Three Birds. One Mission. 

Blue Bird Day is just one part of your child’s journey! Our sister companies, Eyas Landing and Merlin Day Academy, work together to support your child as they grow. Eyas Landing provides multi-disciplinary therapeutic services for children and adolescents ages 0-21 — all under one roof at our state-of-the-art clinic, virtually through telehealth, at school or daycare, and at home. Merlin Day Academy— accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education—provides special education and multi-disciplinary therapy for children ages 6-14 with neuro-diverse learning needs.

Three Birds One Mission as Seen on WGN