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From Infant through preschool, we make early education and daycare joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow.

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Curriculum that develops the whole child

Our L.E.A.P.® (Learning Experience Academic Program) Curriculum uses fun, hands-on activities throughout early education to help children develop intellectually, socially and cognitively. Or as we say, to learn, play and grow.

Learn More About Our Curriculum

Characters that bring learning to life

Children love learning from characters—and studies show that it’s highly effective especially in preschool and early education. TLE® has a cast of unique, beloved characters, each one teaching children a new value or activity.

Bubbles and Friends Theme Song

261K subscribers and 60,480,577 views

Grace & Charity

Our dynamic doggy duo introduces the importance of being generous and giving.

Bubbles

Our lovable friend who takes you on a daily adventure that makes kids happy to learn, play and grow.

Lionstein®

Our wise and creative scientist who makes science fun and exciting.

Phoebe

Our literature loving llama makes reading fun.

Two Plus Toucan

Our creative mathematician helps explore the joys of math.

Penny

Our well-mannered etiquette coach demonstrates the importance of being helpful, honest, and kind.

Sonar

Our adventurous submarine reveals the many wonders of the underwater world.

Pablo

Our creative and artsy pig helps children discover the beauty of self-expression.

Gibby

Our kind-hearted, hard-of-hearing gibbon loves to share his passion for sign language and promoting inclusivity.

Success measured in happy stories

See what parents are saying about TLE Childcare Centers.

Marta

Rodriguez
6 months ago
My kids have been part of the learning experience for almost two years now. I am so happy that we found them when we needed them the most. They have been very good to our children and my children love coming in. The facility is well kept and the staff is always friendly. Thank you!

Marta

Rodriguez
6 months ago
My kids have been part of the learning experience for almost two years now. I am so happy that we found them when we needed them the most. They have been very good to our children and my children love coming in. The facility is well kept and the staff is always friendly. Thank you!

Daisy

Kim
6 months ago
Amazing. Just amazing!!! Highly recommended.

Daisy

Kim
6 months ago
Amazing. Just amazing!!! Highly recommended.

Laura

Bennett
6 months ago
We absolutely love The Learning Experience! The teachers are amazing and love my kids like their own. We get updates on the app throughout the day and we always know what the kids are learning that week. The best part - my kids LOVE it there! We are so fortunate to have discovered TLE!

Laura

Bennett
6 months ago
We absolutely love The Learning Experience! The teachers are amazing and love my kids like their own. We get updates on the app throughout the day and we always know what the kids are learning that week. The best part - my kids LOVE it there! We are so fortunate to have discovered TLE!

Maggie

Guth
6 months ago
We have been here with our son since they opened in February '21 and could not be happier with his learning! Ms. Sam and Mr. Ronny are very easy to work with and really care about all the kids. Our son has improved so much in his language, he is learning so much and absolutely loves his teach... Read more

Maggie

Guth
6 months ago
We have been here with our son since they opened in February '21 and could not be happier with his learning! Ms. Sam and Mr. Ronny are very easy to work with and really care about all the kids. Our son has improved so much in his language, he is learning so much and absolutely loves his teacher Ms. Stacey. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for high quality child care with that personal touch.

Jennifer

Kremer
6 months ago
We came to TLE in September of this year. We were welcomed with open arms and excitement to have a new Prepper! Ms. Jen and Ms. Emily have been great with having my son in their class. He loves being at TLE and the curriculum he is learning has been great! From Spanish, to counting, the alphabe... Read more

Jennifer

Kremer
6 months ago
We came to TLE in September of this year. We were welcomed with open arms and excitement to have a new Prepper! Ms. Jen and Ms. Emily have been great with having my son in their class. He loves being at TLE and the curriculum he is learning has been great! From Spanish, to counting, the alphabet and more.

Jamie

Bailey
6 months ago
My daughter started in the preppers class in early December 2022. I had transferred her to The Learning Experience after witnessing her unhappiness with the other facility. She started day one with a big smile on her face eager to be there. She still hasn’t lost that smile during drop of... Read more

Jamie

Bailey
6 months ago
My daughter started in the preppers class in early December 2022. I had transferred her to The Learning Experience after witnessing her unhappiness with the other facility. She started day one with a big smile on her face eager to be there. She still hasn’t lost that smile during drop off or pick up. This was always difficult at her previous school. She loves her teachers, Miss Jen and Miss Emily. Her teacher at the previous school was concerned that my daughter was not interacting with the other children. It’s the complete opposite here. She only goes twice a week, but the children who are in her class on those days, already seem to be very friendly towards her as she is towards them. I can’t say enough good things about the school and everyone who works there. My daughter is thriving, and I look forward to seeing her progress throughout the year! Thank you💗

Dessi

Beagle
6 months ago
My son has been at TLE for almost year now. He loves it at TLE and is eager to get to school to see his teachers, friends, and start learning and playing. The entire staff is so friendly and caring. They communicate quite regularly with the parents to inform them of special events, days off, an... Read more

Dessi

Beagle
6 months ago
My son has been at TLE for almost year now. He loves it at TLE and is eager to get to school to see his teachers, friends, and start learning and playing. The entire staff is so friendly and caring. They communicate quite regularly with the parents to inform them of special events, days off, and inclement weather. I also use their app for updates, the teachers and directors do an amazing job with keeping updates flowing so we aren’t left wondering. Their app lists everything from a whole day schedule with what the kids have eaten and accomplished with photos. THANK YOU for being so good to my sweet boy!

Emily

Jensen
0 months ago
We've had a great experience at TLE. It's never easy to trust your little ones to the care of someone else, but the staff at TLE is caring, trustworthy and transparent. Their parent app provides visibility all day, our our child was lucky to have Miss Lydia and Miss Stacey through their first y... Read more

Emily

Jensen
0 months ago
We've had a great experience at TLE. It's never easy to trust your little ones to the care of someone else, but the staff at TLE is caring, trustworthy and transparent. Their parent app provides visibility all day, our our child was lucky to have Miss Lydia and Miss Stacey through their first year. We have been able to watch her blossom under their leadership.

Alina

Chelaidite
0 months ago
We decided to visit the school after a neighbor spoke of a positive experience for their kid. During our visit we had the opportunity to meet Miss Samatha, the Center Director, who showed us the facility as well as described the curriculum and all the fun activities the kids can participate in ... Read more

Alina

Chelaidite
0 months ago
We decided to visit the school after a neighbor spoke of a positive experience for their kid. During our visit we had the opportunity to meet Miss Samatha, the Center Director, who showed us the facility as well as described the curriculum and all the fun activities the kids can participate in throughout the day. We were happy to see how clean and bright the classroom were, the use of technology in education. In our case, our son requires a special diet, so we needed flexibility to bring our own food and starting and ending times. We also needed to build trust due to the T1D needs of our son as well as to have a safe, fun and social experience. The time spent under the TLE curriculum, prepared our son to be successful in kindergarten. In all these areas, TLE came through with flying colors, and we feel fortunate to be able to take our son there. Thank you all TLE staff and a big thank you to Miss Tracey for creating a supportive environment for the kids.

Susan

Benyi
0 months ago
Great location, clean facility inside and out. After only being here for two weeks, I noticed a huge improvement in my child's speech & behavior. The staff is great at communicating with the parents and giving updates in the app. I like how they look for opportunities to engage with the co... Read more

Susan

Benyi
0 months ago
Great location, clean facility inside and out. After only being here for two weeks, I noticed a huge improvement in my child's speech & behavior. The staff is great at communicating with the parents and giving updates in the app. I like how they look for opportunities to engage with the community by promoting local businesses and advertising fundraisers. I can't wait until my toddler is old enough for field trips!

Jenna

V.
7 months ago
I love this daycare. It is my daughters first experience going to daycare and they treat her very well!! The staff is so kind and Courteous. Always updating me about my daughter and showing they really care!! Highly would recommend them to anyone looking for daycare!

Jenna

V.
7 months ago
I love this daycare. It is my daughters first experience going to daycare and they treat her very well!! The staff is so kind and Courteous. Always updating me about my daughter and showing they really care!! Highly would recommend them to anyone looking for daycare!

Meet our TLE® Center team

Ashley Etter

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Ashley Etter

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

My name is Ashley Etter, and I am one of the Center Director's at The Learning Experience South Lyon West. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration and over 15 years' experience in the Early Childhood field. I love building relationships with families and teachers, and I have a passion for providing high quality care and education to children. When I am not at the center, I have 2 children of my own who keep me very busy! I absolutely love what The Learning Experience stands for, and I am so happy to be part of the family.

Samantha Fulkerson

Assistant Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Samantha Fulkerson

Assistant Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Hello, my name is Samantha Fulkerson, I have been the lead teacher in our Pre-K room for the past 6 years and have been with The Learning Experience for 9 years now. I’ve worked in childcare for over 14 years and have my CDA from Washtenaw Community College and plan to continue my education further to help better myself as an educator. I love working with children, everyday is a new and exciting adventure! I have a passion for books and art which I love to share and explore with my students. I believe the best way for a child to learn is to have fun, as a teacher I want all my students to be excited for school each morning. I was born and raised in South Lyon and stay active in our community, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with family and friends. I look forward to working with your child!

Mollie Blixt

Franchisee

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Mollie Blixt

Franchisee

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

I started with TLE in December 2006 and have dedicated many years in striving to be the best. It has been an exciting journey as we started in Michigan where we have 2 successful schools and excited to add our 3rd, as well as our location in the Northern Chicago area (Gurnee, IL). I graduated from CMU with a Bachelor's in Child Development and had been a Director for over 13 years before moving on to my role as as V.P. of Operations for our franchises. Prior to that, I was a preschool teacher for 5 years. I have a passion for working with children and enjoy mentoring the staff to ensure that we are providing the safest and most nurturing environment for all children in our care. I am a very busy mom to 3 boys! We travel all over the country for sports and I love every minute of it. Every one of our schools has a story, and I can't wait to continue writing them all!

Cynthia Umphrey

Owner

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Cynthia Umphrey

Owner

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Cyndi has a law degree from the University of Michigan and has practiced as a business and estate lawyer in Oakland County for over 20 years. She entered the early childhood education arena in 2006 when she, Mollie and Richard opened the South Lyon TLE. She still works as a lawyer, but makes frequent appearances at the school as characters like an alien game show host, a mermaid, “Sailor Sue”, Thing One, etc. Cyndi has a lifelong commitment to the importance of childhood education, enjoying mentoring opportunities with local grade schools. Still practicing as a lawyer, Cyndi’s primary role at TLE is to support Mollie and the teachers and to facilitate their growth and education so the care they provide to your children is the very best. Cyndi helped to adopt and lives by our mission of Providing the best for our children, our families & the community.

Malory Clock

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Malory Clock

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

My name is Malory, and I am the Lead Infant B teacher. I have a Child Development Associate's and over 4 years' experience in the Early Childhood field. I grew up in Houghton Lake, MI, I have a 4-year-old daughter named Kensilee and we have a puppy named Lucy Lou. In my free time I enjoy playing with my puppy, hanging out with my daughter, and watching movies. I look forward to helping children grow socially and academically while in my care.

Alyssa White

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Alyssa White

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Hi! My name is Alyssa, and I am the Lead Infant B Teacher. I have worked in the field of Early Childhood for over 14 years and have experience with children ranging from Infancy thru Pre-K. I attended Eastern Michigan University where I studied Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. I spend most of my time with my wonderful son Charlie and my long-term boyfriend Brad but in my free time I love to hike, fish, garden, draw and paint. We also love to spend time with our 2 dogs Cora and Pickles as well as our 2 Guinea pigs! I look forward to helping your child learn and grow thru my teachings and love.

Brooke Rue

Lead Infant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Brooke Rue

Lead Infant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

My name is Brooke, and I am the Lead Infant A Teacher! I have my Child Development Associate's in Infant and Toddlers and over 5 years of experience in the field. I am from Lansing, and I am married to my wonderful husband, Anthony. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends and family and traveling. I love being in the classroom and supporting the little one's development in all areas.

Lisa Calcut

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Lisa Calcut

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

My Name is Ms. Lisa I taught toddlers for a year and then after completing my degree in Early Childhood Education I came here to work with toddlers. I love Kids and helping them to grow and experience the world.

Stacey Avis

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Stacey Avis

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Hello there! My name is Mrs. Stacey and I am very excited to be a part of South Lyon West TLE. I have my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and am eager to grow with TLE. I love to laugh and be silly and make every day great. I have always known I wanted to spend my time with children, to help nurture them so they can learn and grow. I'm ready to use my skills to help your children learn, play, and grow!

Hannah Shepard

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Hannah Shepard

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

My name is Hannah I have an Associate's Degree in General Education and over 10 years' experience in childcare, nannying, and babysitting. In my free time I enjoy art, sports, and music. My goal in the classroom is to make sure all children are safe, healthy, and happy.

Lidia Gomez

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Lidia Gomez

Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Hi, my name is Lidia, and I am a toddler teacher! I have worked for TLE for 5 years and I have my Infant/Toddler CDA. My hobbies include drawing, painting, watching movies, playing video games and hanging out with family. I am here to inspire and be an awesome teacher and role model for all of the children. I am so happy to be part of this awesome TLE family!

Jennifer Whiteman

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Jennifer Whiteman

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Hi, my name is Jennifer! I have my CDA in Infants and Toddlers as well as Preschool. While I have been with TLE for 7 months, I have over 10 years of experience in the early childhood field. In my free time I love to paint, sketch, and learn about astronomy. I love working with children, and I am so happy to be part of the TLE family!

Chloe Smith

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Chloe Smith

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Hey there! My name is Chloe and I am a South Lyon native. I love working with kids and helping them learn and grow. It brings me great joy working with these little kiddos!

Nicole Abram

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Nicole Abram

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

My name is Nicole, but I usually go by Nikki! Before joining TLE I was a Behavioral Assistant in the field of ABA. I assisted children with behavioral, sensory, speech, and self-regulation issues. I am married to my best friend and wonderful husband whom I share 4 kittens with. Working with children is something I have always had a passion for, and I am honored to be here at TLE.

Jessica Raymor

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Jessica Raymor

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Hello, I am Jessica. I have always worked hard to strengthen my education in order to help others around me! I am very passionate about people, and it starts with the kids. I am so happy to be part of the TLE family and to work with all my kiddos. I have a Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Psychology and my Masters in Forensic Psychology.

Malory Clock

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Malory Clock

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

My name is Malory, and I am the Lead Infant B teacher. I have a Child Development Associate's and over 4 years' experience in the Early Childhood field. I grew up in Houghton Lake, MI, I have a 4-year-old daughter named Kensilee and we have a puppy named Lucy Lou. In my free time I enjoy playing with my puppy, hanging out with my daughter, and watching movies. I look forward to helping children grow socially and academically while in my care.

Gabrielle Ellison

Assistant Pre-K. Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Gabrielle Ellison

Assistant Pre-K. Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Hi! My name is Gabrielle, and I am the Assistant Teacher in Pre-K. I have a BA in Communications from Lee University and several years' experience in the classroom. I am from Roswell Georgia, and I love hiking, reading, art, and travel planning. My goal in the classroom is to achieve a high standard of learning in a fun and nurturing environment.

Jessica Holland

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Jessica Holland

Assistant Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

My name is Jessica, and I am from Milford, MI. I graduated from Milford High School, and I have worked with children in a Summer Camp for almost 7 years. My family consists of 4 brothers, my mom, and 11 nieces and nephews! In my free time I enjoy swimming, reading, playing video games, and spending time with my family. I am excited to be spending time with children and making new friends.

Jennifer Whiteman

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Jennifer Whiteman

Preschool Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Hi, my name is Jennifer! I have my CDA in Infants and Toddlers as well as Preschool. While I have been with TLE for 7 months, I have over 10 years of experience in the early childhood field. In my free time I love to paint, sketch, and learn about astronomy. I love working with children, and I am so happy to be part of the TLE family!

Ms. Lily

Spanish Enrichment

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Ms. Lily

Spanish Enrichment

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

My name is Liliana, but you can call me Lily. I am from Mexico. I love teaching my native language. I have 2 wonderful and beautiful kids (1 boy and 1 girl) and my little dog, Foxy. I love to cook! I look forward to enriching. every little learner's education with diversity and culture!

Alysha Kirk

Center Chef

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

Alysha Kirk

Center Chef

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

Hi, my name is Alysha, and I am the center chef. I went to Oakland Schools Technical Campus for Culinary Arts. I have been an Executive Chef in Senior Living Homes as well as a private chef for seniors. I have a wonderful husband named Samuel as well as a cat named Lando and an Axoltl named Kamina. I look forward to being part of the TLE family and using my expertise in the kitchen to create healthy yummy meals!

Many ways to stay connected

We offer an easy-to-use smartphone app and an array of ways to help you stay connected.

Monthly newsletters and invitations to our community events

Monthly calendars

Everyday photos of your little learner

Blog to help you stay with the current trends

Notifications of your child’s learning activities

Social media

Upcoming events

27
September

Happy Anniversary Ms. Jennifer

We're so happy to have you!

5
October

Happy Anniversary Ms. Hannah

We're so happy to have you!

10
October

Happy Birthday Ms. Malory

We're so happy to have you!

11
October

Happy Anniversary Ms. Nikki

We're so happy to have you!

11
October

Happy Anniversary Ms. Julia

We're so happy to have you!

27
October

Happy Birthday Ms. Yasmeen

We're so happy to have you!

1
November

Happy Birthday Ms. Alysha

We're so happy to have you!

7
November

Happy Birthday Ms. Jessica

We're so happy to have you!

8
November

Happy Birthday Ms. Samantha

We're so happy to have you!

12
November

Happy Birthday Ms. Julia

We're so happy to have you!

21
November

Happy Anniversary Ms. Malory

We're so happy to have you!

2
December

Happy Birthday Ms. Hannah

We're so happy to have you!

2
December

Happy Birthday Ms. Hannah

We're so happy to have you!

16
December

Happy Birthday Ms. Sarah

We're so happy to have you!

19
December

Happy Birthday Ms. Jennifer

We're so happy to have you!

4
January

Happy Birthday Ms. Chloe

We're so happy to have you!

4
January

Happy Anniversary Ms. Genelle

We're so happy to have you!

10
January

Happy Anniversary Ms. Ashley

We're so happy to have you!

1
February

Happy Anniversary Ms. Stacey

We're so happy to have you!

1
February

Happy Anniversary Ms. Samantha

We're so happy to have you!

1
February

Happy Anniversary Ms. Jessica

We're so happy to have you!

6
February

Happy Birthday Ms. Stacey

We're so happy to have you!

25
February

Happy Anniversary Ms. Gabrielle

We're so happy to have you!

2
March

Happy Anniversary Ms. Dulce

We're so happy to have you!

4
March

Happy Birthday Ms. Miranda

We're so happy to have you!

8
March

Happy Birthday Ms. Ashley

We're so happy to have you!

28
March

Happy Anniversary Ms. Brooke

We're so happy to have you!

2
April

Happy Birthday Ms. Lisa

We're so happy to have you!

11
April

Happy Birthday Ms. Jessica

We're so happy to have you!

25
April

Happy Anniversary Ms. Alyssa

We're so happy to have you!

4
May

Happy Birthday Ms. Lidia

We're so happy to have you!

9
May

Happy Anniversary Ms. Sarah

We're so happy to have you!

10
May

Happy Anniversary Ms. Yasmeen

We're so happy to have you!

11
May

Happy Anniversary Ms. Hannah

We're so happy to have you!

18
May

Happy Anniversary Ms. Alysha

We're so happy to have you!

1
June

Happy Birthday Ms. Alyssa

We're so happy to have you!

5
June

Happy Anniversary Ms. Kendall

We're so happy to have you!

14
June

Happy Anniversary Ms. Chloe

We're so happy to have you!

20
June

Happy Anniversary Ms. Miranda

We're so happy to have you!

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