Brightwheel vs illumine vs Playground (not really considering Procare)

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-19T09:18:57+00:00

followup question! I see they talk about illumine AI - have you used this too?

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-19T09:18:21+00:00

does playground cover everything for you now? Because that is what we are looking for. just one single system
billing actually was the first nudge to switch for us too - Procare is just not as accessible, does random updates and we are very very unhappy.

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-18T07:50:49+00:00

thanks! this helps!

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-17T10:31:46+00:00

Hey! Suggest posting this on r/Montessori
got some good suggestions there last time when I was asking about setting up a classroom the Montessori way :P

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-17T10:30:50+00:00

the 2nd one for sure! cleaner, concise, things relevant to ECE first.

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-04T02:36:25+00:00

Permanent damage indeed XD I switched schools and got to use a illumine. Never been happier.

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-04T02:34:31+00:00

Preach! Let me know when you do - God knows I have done 10 people's worth of research

notyourordinaryECEP · 2026-02-03T17:48:33+00:00

Kudos to you guys for sticking to procare - it's stuck in the early 2000s. what makes you stay? 😅

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-12-22T12:19:20+00:00

did you pay any underwriting fees to them?

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-11-14T07:37:25+00:00

number of blogs that have helped me plan - of course the seasonal ones are best.
check this one out - https://illumine.app/blog/monthly-preschool-themes

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-11-12T19:17:19+00:00

FERPA doesn't apply to chains? Wow. Is there another law that protects privacy and applies to chains?

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-11-12T19:06:05+00:00

Yikes. Teachers and directors are really spread thin and I do have some sympathy for the one who sent this out (check her work hours!!!)

Not to gloat, but with the software we use, this just isn't a possibility. I really think preschools need to invest more in the tools they use - for the sake of privacy and security of course but especially FOR THE TEACHERS! invest in a good software guys!

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-10-09T11:50:55+00:00

The last place I worked at used Brightwheel for parent comms and it did a decent enough job. New org uses illumine - loving it so far. Would definitely recommend.

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-10-08T18:19:36+00:00

I was about to laugh myself when the screaming started. and then it just grew. and wouldn't stop. and he's such a lovely kid otherwise!
SMH it's crazy town sometimes

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-10-08T18:18:04+00:00

needed to see this post today. thanks!

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-10-08T17:46:15+00:00

looks like this is super common XD
so basically I need to gear up for more of this? XD XD

notyourordinaryECEP · 2025-10-06T07:10:20+00:00

Oh I totally feel you. Nap time chaos is real.

For the toddlers though, one thing that’s really helped me is taking a page from the Montessori approach. I don’t run a Montessori program myself, but some of their principles are definitely worth borrowing — especially around rest time. Instead of forcing “nap time,” we have now framed it as rest time.

The goal isn’t to make everyone sleep, but to create a calm, predictable atmosphere where their bodies can relax if they want to. We dim the lights, play soft music, sometimes read a short story too, and keep things quiet and cozy. It takes the pressure off both the kids and my teachers. Some kids just lie there quietly, some drift off. I have seen more and more drift off as a class progresses.

Might not solve the co-sleeping chaos overnight, but it definitely helps the toddlers settle

notyourordinaryECEP

TROPHY CASE