Our Beginnings, Our Mission & Our Vision

The Beginning

Little Explorers Early Learning Academy first opened its doors as a home-based family daycare in 2015 in Livingston, NJ. We started serving the Livingston and West Orange areas and have grown to many other surrounding towns throughout the years. Our founding ideals were based on components that our founder wanted for her children but could not find in other schools and centers in the area or that she had been affiliated with as a teacher, member of the management team, or even as a parent. Thus, Little Explorers was born! In our smaller setting and early stages, we took pride in our family centered, cozy, and warm environment. Providing the highest quality early childhood education that you would find in any center-based care, with the comfort and care of a home-care environment was a top priority of Little Explorers from the start. Pictured below is our founder and director Ms. Katie & Ms. Andrea in the home center and Ms. Andrea doing circle time in the home center. Since our inception, we have continued to grow and evolve, while continuing to embrace the same values that have always made us unique and special.

Our Balanced and Blended Approach to Learning

We use our own balanced and blended approach to teaching and learning that incorporates a variety of research-based approaches and curriculum elements. We draw inspiration from elements of Nature Based Early Childhood programs, as well as Reggio-inspired Programming, Waldorf and Montessori influences, as well as incorporating elements of traditional classroom learning in order to prepare children for life as well as their K-12 educational experiences.

We Encourage the Natural Curiosity of Children

Little Explorers' curriculum is based on the current state standards and indicators of High Quality, so that your children are on par or ahead of other children their age. We guarantee that your child will receive a top-of-the-line educational experience! The curriculum is child-centered. Each child is treated as an individual, with a unique knowledge base, set of experiences, and interests. The curriculum is fluid and flexible, including suggestions and guidelines, that are consistently adapted and updated based on the specific children to make lessons as fun and meaningful as possible.

A Little About our Age Groups and our Lower than Average Ratios

At Little Explorers, we serve ages as young as 6 weeks up to 13 years of age. We understand the importance of keeping ratios low AND group sizes small. Low child-to-adult ratios and small group sizes help ensure that your child gets enough one-on-one attention and has his or her unique needs met, which is extremely important to your child's social and emotional development, physical well-being, and overall learning. It also helps minimize feelings of overwhelm or sensory overload for both the children and adults in the room - making everyone safer, happier, and healthier as a result.

Schedule a Tour Today

Want to see our facility and meet our staff? Schedule a tour of Little Explorers Early Learning Academy today and discover all that we have to offer!