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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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L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants Virtual Tour Video
L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for InfantsL.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants
L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

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
Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Grace & Charity

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

Characters that bring learning to lifeMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Bubbles

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

Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Lionstein®

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

Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Phoebe

Our literature loving llama makes reading fun.

Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Two Plus Toucan

Our creative mathematician helps explore the joys of math.

Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Penny

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

Curriculum that develops the whole childMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Sonar

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

Characters that bring learning to lifeMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Pablo

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

vMissChievous-Signature-Circle

Gibby

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

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Success measured in happy stories

See what parents are saying about TLE Childcare Centers.

Characters that bring learning to life Characters that bring learning to life Characters that bring learning to life Characters that bring learning to life

Peggi

G
0 months ago
Very pleased with everything so far! My baby is in the infant classroom with McKenzie and she is great! She is attentive and always gives updates when we pick our baby up. My daughter always seems happy when I pick her up and I can't ask for more than that!

Peggi

G
0 months ago
Very pleased with everything so far! My baby is in the infant classroom with McKenzie and she is great! She is attentive and always gives updates when we pick our baby up. My daughter always seems happy when I pick her up and I can't ask for more than that!

Natasha

C
0 months ago
Our sons’ teachers have been so great! Miss Kay always tells me about how smart she feels like Liam is and even points out sign language signs he’s doing with her, even when I haven’t seen them at home yet. Miss Shea seems super supportive and understanding when we first start... Read more

Natasha

C
0 months ago
Our sons’ teachers have been so great! Miss Kay always tells me about how smart she feels like Liam is and even points out sign language signs he’s doing with her, even when I haven’t seen them at home yet. Miss Shea seems super supportive and understanding when we first started coming to TLE and Oliver got used to things. She thinks highly of him already and seems to enjoy him. I’m glad we chose TLE where the staff seem so supportive and engaged with our boys.

Morgan

N
0 months ago
I’d love to take a second to thank MaKK and Hannah in Infant A for taking fantastic care of my daughter! They go beyond expectations to make sure those babies get the care they truly need!

Morgan

N
0 months ago
I’d love to take a second to thank MaKK and Hannah in Infant A for taking fantastic care of my daughter! They go beyond expectations to make sure those babies get the care they truly need!

Meredith

A
0 months ago
We are relatively new to The Learning Experience on the Beltline but so far the change has been great! TLE has been wonderful in welcoming us newbies and the facility and staff are a breath of fresh air in comparison to our old center. Our daughter is excited to go each day! She loves her teach... Read more

Meredith

A
0 months ago
We are relatively new to The Learning Experience on the Beltline but so far the change has been great! TLE has been wonderful in welcoming us newbies and the facility and staff are a breath of fresh air in comparison to our old center. Our daughter is excited to go each day! She loves her teachers and new friends. The communication about their daily activities is great and I already feel like she is learning so much

Carly

W
0 months ago
We can’t even begin to explain how happy we have been with TLE! Our son started at TLE a couple months prior, and we were worried about how the transition would go. All of the teachers and staff have been more than accommodating during the transition period. We greatly appreciate the love... Read more

Carly

W
0 months ago
We can’t even begin to explain how happy we have been with TLE! Our son started at TLE a couple months prior, and we were worried about how the transition would go. All of the teachers and staff have been more than accommodating during the transition period. We greatly appreciate the love and care our son receives at TLE, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to switch. Ms. Izzy and Ms. Keenesha have gone above and beyond with our little guy in the classroom and we thank them immensely for this!

Alisha

D
0 months ago
Ms. Makk is always so warm, welcoming, and kind! Grateful for her!

Alisha

D
0 months ago
Ms. Makk is always so warm, welcoming, and kind! Grateful for her!

D.

S.
5 months ago
Like most new parents we were nervous about taking our first baby to school for the first time. At 12 weeks old we started taking him to TLE and it has felt like leaving him with family. Hannah and Laterea are always welcoming us with such warmth and compassion. Not to mention I give them full... Read more

D.

S.
5 months ago
Like most new parents we were nervous about taking our first baby to school for the first time. At 12 weeks old we started taking him to TLE and it has felt like leaving him with family. Hannah and Laterea are always welcoming us with such warmth and compassion. Not to mention I give them full credit for our baby meeting his developmental milestones. They are knowledgeable and nurturing in caring for our baby and I am incredibly grateful.

Kristen

D.
5 months ago
TLE has been such a great adventure for my daughter. It seems like every day she comes home with new skills. The teachers are awesome and it's clear they truly care about her. We are grateful for Kayleigh, Morgan, Jade, and Sydney! And the love she has gotten from Bella, Maigon, and Shayla sinc... Read more

Kristen

D.
5 months ago
TLE has been such a great adventure for my daughter. It seems like every day she comes home with new skills. The teachers are awesome and it's clear they truly care about her. We are grateful for Kayleigh, Morgan, Jade, and Sydney! And the love she has gotten from Bella, Maigon, and Shayla since day one has made the transition to daycare much easier on this mama!

Andrea

Steele
1 months ago
Like most new parents we were nervous about taking our first baby to school for the first time. At 12 weeks old we started taking him to TLE and it has felt like leaving him with family. Hannah and Laterea are always welcoming us with such warmth and compassion. Not to mention I give them full... Read more

Andrea

Steele
1 months ago
Like most new parents we were nervous about taking our first baby to school for the first time. At 12 weeks old we started taking him to TLE and it has felt like leaving him with family. Hannah and Laterea are always welcoming us with such warmth and compassion. Not to mention I give them full credit for our baby meeting his developmental milestones. They are knowledgeable and nurturing in caring for our baby and I am incredibly grateful.

Share Your TLE® Story!

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Meet our TLE® Center team

Diana Barkey

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Diana Barkey

Center Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

I was born in Grand Rapids, MI and have been in the Early Childhood field for over 10 years. I attended Ferris State University where my passion in Early Childhood began. Throughout my journey, I have fostered the growth of Infants, Toddlers and Young 5’s along with being a Curriculum Coordinator. My goal is to ensure our amazing teaching team has the knowledge, training and support they need to provide the highest quality of care to our little learners!

Mollie Blixt

President of Operations/Owner

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Mollie Blixt

President of Operations/Owner

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

My exciting journey with TLE began in December 2006. I have dedicated each and every day since then to making our three Michigan schools and our Gurnee, IL school the very best for all of our children, the families and our community. I graduated from CMU with a Bachelor's in Child Development and had been a Director for over 13 years. Prior to that, I was a preschool teacher for 5 years in Ann Arbor. 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 gymnastics and baseball and I love every minute of it. I'm excited to be a part of this TLE Family and look forward too many more years of watching the children in our care learn, play and grow!

Ms. Kennedy

Assistant Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Ms. Kennedy

Assistant Director

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

I am so excited to be a part of TLE! I’ve been working in childcare since 2015 and am currently enrolled at Central Michigan University for my BS in Early Childhood Development and Learning. I recently moved to Grand Rapids from Jackson and can’t wait to see where these new adventures take me!

Sierra Zaban

Regional Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Sonar

Sierra Zaban

Regional Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Sonar

I am so excited to be part of the team at The Learning Experience Gurnee and to have the honor of caring for and educating your children! I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for 10+ years and have a variety of experience in different roles! I spent several years teaching all different ages before I moved up to various leadership roles. I am passionate about education for everyone, especially the children in our communities that will one day possibly be my Doctor, President, Accountant or whatever else they choose to be! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Training. I am also passionate about family! I have a very supportive husband, Alex, we have two kiddos, Quinn and Lincoln and two rescue pups, Wrigley and Bella! We love to travel and spend lots of time outdoors!

Stephanie Fernandez

Marketing

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Stephanie Fernandez

Marketing

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Ms. Stephanie is our Marketing and Enrollment Support. She joined The Learning Experience in 2018 and her 3 children all graduated TLE since then. Stephanie is passionate about creating the outstanding experiences for all families looking for the best daycare for their little ones. From the moment you reach out to TLE all the way to your child's preschool graduation, she will assist with any questions you may have.

Ms. Hannah

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

Ms. Hannah

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Grace Charity

My name is Hannah and I have been working in childcare in multiple settings for the last five years. I have my associates degree in Early Childhood Education and I Love working with children of all ages.

Ms. Makk

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

Ms. Makk

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Miss Chievous

My name is Makk and I'm the assistant teacher in the Infant classroom! I have a son who also attends TLE and I love being able to watch his growth. I like to play sports and watch movies. I'm excited to meet your babies and form a connection and bond.

Ms. Tia

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Ms. Tia

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

My name is Laterea but everyone calls me Tia! I was born and raised in Ohio and have been babysitting since I was young. I love working with children and am looking forward to having children of my own one day! I'm excited to meet you and your children!

Ms. Maigon

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Om

Ms. Maigon

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Om

My name is Maigon and I am so excited to be at The Learning Experience with all of you! I love being able to meet all of the new faces and getting to know your children. I can't wait to help all for your little ones achieve their goals!

Ms. Katlyn

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

Ms. Katlyn

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Bubbles

I have 4 years of Early Childhood Experience and recently moved to Michigan from Iowa. I'm excited to make lasting connections with your babies!

Ms. Samie

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Techni Cal

Ms. Samie

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Techni Cal

I am excited to watch your little one grow! I have five years of experience in Early Childhood education and my dream is to teach children and help them achieve all of their goals.

Ms. Mackenzie

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Gibby Gibson

Ms. Mackenzie

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Gibby Gibson

Hi - my name is Kenzie and I am a teacher in the toddler classrooms. I love working with young children and watching them be creative!

Mr. Thomas

Facilities Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Pablo Pigasso

Mr. Thomas

Facilities Manager

Favorite TLE® Character: Pablo Pigasso

Mr. Thomas is our Facilities Manager and has worked for TLE for 15 years. He is a father of 5. Him and his wife have fostered many wonderful children over the last 9 years. He recently discovered a love for baking pumpkin pies from his own home grown pumpkins. He could use some work on his crust making abilities.

Ms. Jade

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

Ms. Jade

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Lionstein

I'm Jade and I'm a Toddler co-lead teacher. I have 13 years of Early Childhood Experience. I value parent communication and can't wait to partner with you in your child's early education journey!

Ms. Lindsey

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Tito Toro

Ms. Lindsey

Assistant Toddler Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Tito Toro

Bio to come

Ms. Kennesha

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Techni Cal

Ms. Kennesha

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Techni Cal

Bio coming soon

Ms. Izzy

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Gibby Gibson

Ms. Izzy

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Gibby Gibson

Bio coming soon

Ms. Kaitlyn

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Ms. Kaitlyn

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

I'm the lead teacher in our Toddler B classroom. I attended Cornerstone University for my Bachelor's Degree and am excited to get to know your child!

Ms. Bella

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

Ms. Bella

Assistant Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Flexi Flamingo

My name is Bella and I'm so excited to work with you! I love forming relationships with young children. Growing up, my mom ran a daycare and I am very familiar with children at all stages. I am looking forward to meeting your little learners!

Ms. Isabel

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Ms. Isabel

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Hi, I'm Isabel! I'm currently going to school for Elementary Education and hope to one day be a Kindergarten teacher.

Ms. Elizabeth

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

Ms. Elizabeth

Lead Teacher

Favorite TLE® Character: Penny Polite

My name is Ms. Elizabeth and I have been working in early childhood for seven years. I have obtained my Associates Degree in Early Childhood and am finishing up my Bachelor's Degree as well. I love what I do! It is a very fun and regarding job to teach young children.

Ms. Gayle

Cook

Favorite TLE® Character: Phoebe Phonics

Ms. Gayle

Cook

Favorite TLE® Character: Phoebe Phonics

My name is Gayle and I am the cook! I have 20 plus years of Early Childhood Experience as I ran my own in home daycare while my five children were growing up. In my free time, I love to play croquet, go on hikes and travel to see my family. I'm so happy to be able to cook for your littles and spend time getting to know them!

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Many ways to stay connected

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

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Monthly newsletters and invitations to our community events

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Monthly calendars

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Everyday photos of your little learner

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Blog to help you stay with the current trends

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Notifications of your child’s learning activities

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Social media

L.E.A.P.® Curriculum for InfantsL.E.A.P.® Curriculum for Infants

Upcoming events

14
December

Holiday Sing

Our annual Holiday Sing is THE Event to get into the Holiday Spirit

22
December

Diaper Drive

Thank you to all our community member who donated Diapers during our diaper drive! Still accepting diapers until 12/22

25
December

Center Closed - Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from TLE Beltline!

26
December

Center Closed - Happy Holiday!

From our TLE family to yours - Happy Holiday!

29
December

Happy Birthday Ms. Allison

We're so happy to have you!

29
December

Center Closed - Happy New Year!

We're looking back at an amazing 2023 - and cannot wait to see what 2024 will bring!

1
January

Center Closed - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

3
February

Happy Birthday Ms. Morgan

We're so happy to have you!

25
March

Happy Birthday Ms. Jade

We're so happy to have you!

7
April

Happy Birthday Ms. Maigon

We're so happy to have you!

8
April

Happy Birthday Ms. Sheala

We're so happy to have you!

8
April

Happy Birthday Ms. Makkenzi

We're so happy to have you!

5
May

Happy Birthday Ms. Kayleigh

We're so happy to have you!

24
June

Happy Birthday Ms. Bella

We're so happy to have you!

24
June

Happy Birthday Ms. Isabella

We're so happy to have you!

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