OUR DEDICATED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS

Meet the team at Parent’s Helper Nature-Based Home Childcare Program

A smiling woman sitting on a decorative butterfly-shaped metal bench with large, iridescent wings. She is wearing a gray T-shirt with a graphic design and dark pants. The background includes a brick wall and plants.

Meet CEO & Founder, Mrs. Melody

Melody Robinson is the CEO and Founder of Parents Helper Home Daycare, located in Oak Park, IL.

She serves as a board member for the Erickson Institute Illinois Advisory. In addition, Melody holds memberships with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association for Family Childcare, and the Oak Park and River Forest Family Collaboration.

She holds credentials from the Illinois Gateway to Opportunity Professional Development System in Family Childcare, Infant Toddler, Early Childhood Education, and Center Director. She received her BA in Early Childhood and Psychology from National Louis University and holds a State of Illinois type 04 certification.

Melody has over 30 years of experience educating and supporting children and families and is passionate about mentoring and establishing network supports for new and existing daycare providers.

Close-up of a smiling woman with wavy, shoulder-length hair, in a salon setting.

Meet Lead Teacher, Ms. Nicole

I have literally grown up in this field.

Melody is my mother and has been doing home daycare since I was 11 years old. I started working at PHD part-time about 17 years ago, and since COVID, I have been working full-time at the daycare.

I am part of several childcare organizations, including SPNA & WSHDA. I am trained in first aid and CPR, and have a food handlers permit.

I have also completed multiple trainings through the State of Illinois.

A woman with curly blonde hair, glasses, and a gray Adidas shirt, smiling and pointing to the shirt.

Meet Assistant Teacher, Ms. Sierra

I am a passionate assistant teacher with over nine years of experience.

I’m proud to say I started as an infant at Parent’s Helper Daycare and have grown to love teaching and encouraging young minds.

Now, I’m giving back to others while creating and fostering positive relationships with the children and families we serve.

A blue plastic sandbox outdoors with pinecones, animal figurines, a starfish, leaves, and a ladybug sticker, set against a background of green bushes and grass.
Logo for the A Certified Nature Explore Classroom featuring a magnifying glass, green leaves, and stylized text.
Three young children crouching on grass, examining small rocks and leaves, with a wooden fence in the background.

Words of Praise for Parent’s Helper Daycare

  • "Parent Helpers Daycare is not only a business, its a family!! Mrs. Melody Robinson and Ms. Nicole Robinson provide a top notch daycare & educational learning environment that fosters growth in academics & nature!! Mrs. Mel or Nana Mel as she is affectionately known as, blends her previous teaching experience, love for children and her own family upbringing to create an environment that is second to none!! From field trips & holiday parties, the love & laughs & learning doesn't stop!! The Clark Family has welcomed the Robinson Family & Parents Helper into our family with my son starting there at 18 months, he's 11yrs old & goes back over the summer to help. Highly recommend as "One of the Best Keep Secrets" in the daycare industry for Chicago!!"

    Rodney Clark

  • "Ms. Robinson and staff have been such a pivotal part of our lives as a family. My son started shortly after children started returning to daycares during COVID. Ms. Robinson was so helpful with the transition as a first time mother. Her care and communication is just what I needed for my peace of mind. We stayed for four more years! PHD became family, who taught my son and the other children emotional intelligence and kindness. Between exploring nature and learning lessons, we will always have a place in our hearts for PHD!"

    Rachel Thurston

  • "We have been at PHD for over two years now, and we are incredibly grateful that we found such an amazing day care provider! Ms. Melody and her staff are the most loving and caring people. They welcome children in as family and it feels like a second home for them - exactly what we had hoped for when we decided to leave larger day care centers. Thank you, Nana Mel!!!"

    Catherine Doyle

  • "Parents Helper has been more than a daycare for our family. They have become family. With caregivers from three generations of amazing, loving women, they treat our little girl like their own. Especially with a daughter who has some extra needs for support, it's a rare blessing to be able to place her in someone else's care without worries. They are a wonderful daycare run by incredibly special people."

    Shelley Kraus

  • "My daughter was very apprehensive when it came time to find childcare for my grandson but that all went out the window once she met Melody Robinson the owner of the daycare. They hit it off right away and once I met her I felt the same. She’s an amazing educator my grandson learned so much and started kindergarten with all the tools to help him succeed. As a matter, Ms. Mel is still a part of my grandson’s life and most of the kids she molded the last 30 plus years. I highly recommend her daycare."

    Dinah Huff

  • "I’m so glad I found this home daycare for my little boy. He’s learned so much in the time that he’s been there. The owner is one of the most loving people I have ever met. I can go to work knowing that he is in a loving and educational environment."

    Latrice King

Parent’s Helper Daycare is proud to be a child-led, play-based, Nature Explore Certified learning environment. We respect the curiosity of children and the things that spark their interest. This is when learning has its greatest impact, and our staff has the privilege of gently guiding and supporting their interest in learning.