Ms. Bernstein began designing Maplewood Child Development Center in Fall of 2004. While the current name, location and space could not have been envisioned in 2004, her standards of education and care alongside her vision for a beautiful environment in which infants toddlers and preschoolers could grow, learn and have fun was already in the making. Ms. Bernstein has had many adventures in a variety of early learning environments and programs over the years. She has pulled upon the strongest qualities of these programs and inspirations from the children, colleagues, and parents who have awed her. Along her journey, through countless adventures Ms. Bernstein has built a team of advisers for Maplewood Child Development Center. She has the support and guidance of Early Childhood Professionals from established program directors to early childhood education consultants, child development and brain researchers, pediatricians and nutritionists, as well as professionals in natural living fields to include master gardeners, environmental activists and LEED certification architects. Through extensive conversation, formal training, academic research and independent study in the field of child development, early childhood education, natural living philosophies, Earth science, and conservation Maplewood was to become a reality. Maplewood’s pilot program begun in Chicago’s University Village by The University of Illinois at Chicago’s UIC campus in a family home while the search began for the ideal space to house infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

A single family house in Chicago’s Avondale Neighborhood became a home away from home for the youngest members of Maplewood’s families. Ms. Bernstein has continued hosting many My Child and I playgroups for infants and toddlers, classes for their parents or carers, taught early education and child caring classes, as well as provided support and guidance to ECE professionals and parents as an ECE Consultant, Conference Presenter, and Parenting Coach.