Little Knights, Inc. logo Little KnightsSchedule a Tour

Licensed Illinois Childcare · In-home since 2010, our Godfrey center since 2013

Play. Learn.
Grow.

A licensed center with an in-home feel.

Quality care for children six weeks to twelve years, in a safe and loving environment. Located in Godfrey, just behind the Walmart on Airport Road.

Little Knights, Inc. logo

The same logo on staff shirts and sponsored teams around Godfrey.

6 weeks to 12 yearsSix classrooms, every age
6:30am to 6:00pmMonday to Friday, part-time available
Licensed for 60Small classes, very low turnover

Our Philosophy

A stimulating place to grow, built around each child.

Little Knights offers children the opportunity to develop physically, socially, and cognitively, according to their own learning style. We consider each child unique and adjust to their temperament and rate of development, because kids learn best when they are having fun.

A loving, home-like environment

We started as an in-home daycare in 2010, and kept that warmth when we opened the center. A licensed program that still feels like somewhere a child can settle.

Curriculum tuned to the child

Lessons are planned to enhance and challenge each child's needs, interests, and abilities, with hands-on activities every day.

Qualified, familiar faces

Every classroom has at least one teacher with an Early Childhood degree, and many families stay with us from infancy through preschool.

In the Community

More than a daycare.

We grow flowers with the SIUE garden program each spring, share activities with local assisted living facilities and the Village of Godfrey, and every August we welcome community helpers and local businesses to visit the children.

Our Classrooms

Six rooms, one growing adventure.

Each child receives loving care in an age-appropriate room, from our littlest Squires to our school-age Knights. All six rooms are currently full and taking waitlist names.

Squires room at Little Knights

Squires

Infants · 6 weeks to 15 months

Tummy time, bottle feeding, one on one time, and weekly art. They leave this room walking and drinking from a sippy cup.

Waitlist
Explorers room at Little Knights

Explorers

15 months to 2 years

Exciting and full of energy. Walking, jumping, and balancing, plus first words, colors, shapes, and two art projects a week.

Waitlist
Vikings room at Little Knights

Vikings

2 years to 3 years

Curious, growing toddlers gaining independence. Simple phrases, washing hands, climbing and running, and early shapes and colors.

Waitlist
Crusaders room at Little Knights

Crusaders

3 years to 4 years

Potty training, open cups, and sharing. Tracing names, letters, numbers, and shapes in a safe, loving place to learn and grow.

Waitlist
Jr Apprentice room at Little Knights

Jr Apprentice

Preschool · 4 years to 6 years

Building social skills and early literacy through play, so your preschooler is ready for kindergarten and a lifetime of learning.

Waitlist
Knights room at Little Knights

Knights

School Age · 6 years to 12 years

Weekly science experiments plus math, reading, and writing, run like a student government so kids choose and lead as they grow.

Waitlist

Our Team

The people your child will know by name.

All classrooms have at least one teacher with a degree in Early Childhood, and many of our teachers have been with Little Knights for close to a decade.

SK

Shannon Knight

President and Director

Masters in Early Childhood Education and two decades in the field. Certified Car Seat Technician.

Jessica, Assistant Director, Explorers Teacher

Jessica

Assistant Director, Explorers Teacher

With Little Knights since 2013. Graduated from Lewis and Clark with a degree in Child Development.

Megan, Jr Apprentice Teacher

Megan

Jr Apprentice Teacher

I have been with Little Knights since 2014. My heart is always with the preschool classroom, but I have worked with children of all ages in every room we offer.

Raven, Squires Teacher

Raven

Squires Teacher

With us since April 2015 and delighted to be back with the infants. They grow so fast and learn so much.

Lauren, Crusaders Teacher

Lauren

Crusaders Teacher

I have been at Little Knights for three years and have experience in all the rooms here. My priority is a nurturing environment where your child feels completely loved and excited to come in every day.

Tiffany, Vikings Teacher

Tiffany

Vikings Teacher

Known for remembering exactly which book each child wants read again.

Rylee, Squires Teacher

Rylee

Squires Teacher

I have worked with children for the last ten years, the last two at Little Knights. My favorite part of being a daycare teacher is watching children grow into their own personalities.

Samantha, Floater Teacher

Samantha

Floater Teacher

I have been working in childcare for five years, the last fifteen months of those at Little Knights. Outside of work I love to read, crochet, and spend time with family and friends.

Lacey, Explorers Assistant

Lacey

Explorers Assistant

A calm, steady presence in the classroom, and usually the first to notice when a child needs a little extra attention.

Ashley, Crusaders Teacher

Ashley

Crusaders Teacher

Brings energy to every morning and knows that the small routines are what make a day feel safe.

Savannah, Floater Assistant

Savannah

Floater Assistant

Makes sure every child gets a proper hello in the morning and a proper goodbye at pickup.

Angelica, Crusaders Teacher

Angelica

Crusaders Teacher

Keeps the classroom full of art, music, and the kind of mess that means something is being learned.

Jolene, Preschool Assistant

Jolene

Preschool Assistant

Warm, unhurried, and endlessly patient with the questions that start with “but why.”

K

Kirsten

Floater Assistant

Part of the Little Knights team, helping our classrooms feel like home.

E

Emmi

Explorers Assistant

Part of the Little Knights team, helping our classrooms feel like home.

M

Mariah

Explorers Assistant

I started at Little Knights in the spring of this year and I am working towards my degree in early childhood education. I look forward to helping the children learn so many new things.

Good to Know

Frequently asked questions

What are your hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, 6:30am to 6:00pm. We stay open later than most centers in the area, which gives parents who work further away time to get through evening traffic.
How long have you been open?
Little Knights started as an in-home daycare in 2010 and opened as a licensed center in Godfrey in 2013. Families throughout Godfrey and Alton have been with us ever since, and many members of our team have been here more than ten years.
How big is your program?
We have six classrooms and are licensed for 60 children. Squires (infants) has 5 children with 2 teachers, Explorers has 10 with 3, Vikings has 11 with 2, Crusaders has 12 with 2, Jr Apprentice (preschool) has 12 with 2, and Knights (school age) has 10 with 1. We are committed to never being out of ratio, so every child gets proper supervision and individual attention.
Why is the waitlist so long?
The average wait is about 15 months. Our class sizes are small and our turnover is very low. Most children stay from Infant through Preschool. When a family adds another child, that child goes to the top of the list, since we like to keep families together at the same center.
How will I know how my child's day went?
We use Brightwheel for daily communication. You will get updates, photos, lesson plans, and the practical details of your child's day as it happens, rather than waiting until pickup to hear about it.
How do school-age children get to Little Knights?
Alton School District buses students from Lewis and Clark, North, West, and Gilson Brown Elementary. Our summer program is only for school-age children already enrolled during the school year, and our preschool graduates get first spots as openings come up.
Will my child be ready for kindergarten?
That is what our programs are built around. Children develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need for school, and our preschool room is focused on it directly. Our preschool graduates also get first spots in the school-age program as openings come up.
What qualifications does your staff have?
All staff have current CPR and First Aid training, and all lead teachers have a degree in Early Childhood. The Director holds a Masters in Early Childhood and is Car Seat Certified, so we can help with every child's needs, whether Infant, Toddler, Preschool, or School Age.
Are there events families can come to?
Yes, throughout the year. Mother's Day, Father's Day and Grandparents Day breakfasts, a summer picnic, a summer performance, and the Christmas program. We think of parents and teachers as partners, and the events are part of that.
How do I schedule a tour?
Tours are given Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 10:30am and 2:30pm to 5:00pm, by appointment only. We cannot accommodate tours during lunch or naptime. Fill out the form below or call 618-208-0426.

Visit Us

Come see Little Knights.

Located just behind the Walmart, inside Godfrey First United Methodist Church on Airport Road.

Get in touch

Little Knights, Inc.1100 Airport Rd, Godfrey, IL 62035
Call or text618-208-0426
HoursMonday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:00pm. Closed weekends.
ToursBy appointment, Monday to Friday, 8:45 to 10:30am and 2:30 to 5:00pm

Request a tour

By appointment, Monday to Friday, 8:45 to 10:30am and 2:30 to 5:00pm. We will get back to you to confirm a time.

Proudly serving Godfrey, Alton, Brighton, East Alton, Dow, Bethalto, Jerseyville, Wood River, and McClusky and the surrounding Madison County communities. Now hiring, and applications are welcome any time: join our team.