We love Primrose and the teachers! We feel comfortable and confident our son is receiving the best care and education. He has grown so much in the past year and his skills are growing everyday thanks to his amazing teachers.
Our Toddler Classroom
An action-packed day full of fun and purposeful play helps toddlers develop Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts®. We know 1-year-olds are constantly on the move, exploring and learning through play at every turn. Primrose teachers use that energy and enthusiasm to foster cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills through engaging games and activities.
Nurturing Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts
Active Minds
Learning is play, and play is learning. That’s why our Balanced Learning® approach combines purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to tap into your toddler’s endless curiosity.
- Language & LiteracyLanguage & Literacy
Your toddler’s oral language grows exponentially between 1 and 2 years of age! During this time, your child begins to understand the back-and-forth nature of conversation and recognizes voices, sounds and the playfulness of language. Developing language and literacy skills sets the stage for a lifetime of learning.
- Science, Technology & EngineeringScience, Technology & Engineering
Young children are born with curiosity and the ability to use their senses to explore how the world works and to discover their role in it. Toddler classrooms are full of developmentally appropriate toys, and teachers help extend this learning by engaging your child in new experiences.
- MathematicsMathematics
Your toddler is forming mathematical concepts long before they’re learning numbers. They’re recognizing spatial relationships like over and under and they’re understanding simple ways to classify objects, like by size. The toddler classroom is full of developmentally appropriate toys, and teachers help extend this learning by encouraging your child to try new experiences.
- Social StudiesSocial Studies
Your toddler is learning about the people in their immediate surroundings and how to interact kindly and respectfully with others. Teachers help your child learn about others through books, images and scenarios with the Primrose Friends puppets.
Healthy Bodies
Developing healthy habits takes time and consistency. For toddlers, playtime is especially important as it helps them develop foundational skills like coordination and balance through jumping, kicking, throwing and rolling.
- Thumbs Up!: Physical DevelopmentThumbs Up!: Physical Development
Your toddler is naturally active, and active children are more likely to become active adults. The Balanced Learning® curriculum provides your child with many opportunities each day to enhance their fine motor and large motor skills through a variety of individual and small group activities.
- Health & SafetyHealth & Safety
- Balanced Menus: NutritionBalanced Menus: Nutrition
Teachers use sign language to encourage toddlers to express their food needs and preferences as well as communicate when they are finished eating. The tasty and nutritious food they enjoy is cut into small pieces, and the teachers talk about the food items being eaten.
Happy Hearts
We believe the foundation children develop in the first five years of life sets the stage for who they become as adults. That’s why we partner with parents to foster the development of character in children early on.
- Character Development & Life SkillsCharacter Development & Life Skills
We believe who children become is as important as what they know. That’s why toddler teachers use books, music, activities and more to help your child understand concepts like sharing, kindness and generosity.
- Social SkillsSocial Skills
For children to show kindness and compassion to others, they need to feel it themselves. That’s why Primrose school teachers strive to make each child feel valued and included by using books and activities that foster a sense of belongingness in their classrooms.
- Early Art Masters: Creative Arts & ExpressionEarly Art Masters: Creative Arts & Expression
Visual and creative arts stimulate your child’s imagination and critical-thinking skills, which help in other areas of learning and development. Your toddler will listen and move to music, explore the arts and express themselves creatively.
Active Minds
Learning is play, and play is learning. That’s why our Balanced Learning® approach combines purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to tap into your toddler’s endless curiosity.
- Language & LiteracyLanguage & Literacy
Your toddler’s oral language grows exponentially between 1 and 2 years of age! During this time, your child begins to understand the back-and-forth nature of conversation and recognizes voices, sounds and the playfulness of language. Developing language and literacy skills sets the stage for a lifetime of learning.
- Science, Technology & EngineeringScience, Technology & Engineering
Young children are born with curiosity and the ability to use their senses to explore how the world works and to discover their role in it. Toddler classrooms are full of developmentally appropriate toys, and teachers help extend this learning by engaging your child in new experiences.
- MathematicsMathematics
Your toddler is forming mathematical concepts long before they’re learning numbers. They’re recognizing spatial relationships like over and under and they’re understanding simple ways to classify objects, like by size. The toddler classroom is full of developmentally appropriate toys, and teachers help extend this learning by encouraging your child to try new experiences.
- Social StudiesSocial Studies
Your toddler is learning about the people in their immediate surroundings and how to interact kindly and respectfully with others. Teachers help your child learn about others through books, images and scenarios with the Primrose Friends puppets.
Healthy Bodies
Developing healthy habits takes time and consistency. For toddlers, playtime is especially important as it helps them develop foundational skills like coordination and balance through jumping, kicking, throwing and rolling.
- Thumbs Up!: Physical DevelopmentThumbs Up!: Physical Development
Your toddler is naturally active, and active children are more likely to become active adults. The Balanced Learning® curriculum provides your child with many opportunities each day to enhance their fine motor and large motor skills through a variety of individual and small group activities.
- Health & Safety
- Balanced Menus: NutritionBalanced Menus: Nutrition
Teachers use sign language to encourage toddlers to express their food needs and preferences as well as communicate when they are finished eating. The tasty and nutritious food they enjoy is cut into small pieces, and the teachers talk about the food items being eaten.
Happy Hearts
We believe the foundation children develop in the first five years of life sets the stage for who they become as adults. That’s why we partner with parents to foster the development of character in children early on.
- Character Development & Life SkillsCharacter Development & Life Skills
We believe who children become is as important as what they know. That’s why toddler teachers use books, music, activities and more to help your child understand concepts like sharing, kindness and generosity.
- Social SkillsSocial Skills
For children to show kindness and compassion to others, they need to feel it themselves. That’s why Primrose school teachers strive to make each child feel valued and included by using books and activities that foster a sense of belongingness in their classrooms.
- Early Art Masters: Creative Arts & ExpressionEarly Art Masters: Creative Arts & Expression
Visual and creative arts stimulate your child’s imagination and critical-thinking skills, which help in other areas of learning and development. Your toddler will listen and move to music, explore the arts and express themselves creatively.
Our Toddler Classroom Teachers & Staff
Ms. Janet Espino
Toddler Teacher
TeacherI’m Ms. Espino. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.
I was born in Chicago, but raised in Columbus, Ohio. I moved back here two years ago. I just finished high school this spring and will be going to college this fall to study medical imaging. I have 3 siblings, one older brother, and two younger sisters. I have a passion for music. I played in band, orchestra, and even did choir for some time. I also have a passion in taking care of people. I know I will have so much fun taking care of these beautiful children. And if you are wondering, yes – Ms. Espino is my mother.
I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family.
Some of My Favorite Things:
Hobbies: Reading, Playing Music like Saxophone, Violin
Fast Food: Raising Cane’s
Color: Pink
Candy: Gummy Nerds
Snack: Goldfish
Food: Watermelon
Drink: Cherry Coke
Ms. Lucy LoBue
Toddler Teacher
TeacherI’m Ms. LoBue. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.
I come from an Italian family who are the core of who I am. I’m the oldest of 3 children and I love animals. I have two cats – Spoof and Kion. I have worked in a child-care setting for many years and with all different age groups. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education through Kendall College. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, baking, riding my bike, getting together with friends, and watching a sitcom. My absolute favorite thing to do is make people happy and I achieve that with my sense of humor. I am so excited to be a teacher at Primrose!
I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family.
Some of My Favorite Things:
Hobbies: Exercising, Reading, Painting Small Canvases, Volunteering, Taking Trips, and Spending Time with Friends
Fast Food: Panera Bread
Color: Purple
Candy: Chocolate
Snack: Mixed Nuts or Fruit
Food: Pasta & Burgers
Drink: Smoothies, Espresso, or Peach Tea
Ms. Lauren Praner
Toddler Teacher
TeacherI’m Ms. Praner. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.
I am a Gemini, and I am a very positive person! I live in Barrington with my husband Scott and our dog, Moose. I am really excited to continue my love and dedication to Early Childhood Education here at Primrose. I look forward to learning and having fun with your child while at school!
I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family.
Some of My Favorite Things:
Hobbies: Camping, Walking, My Dogs, Puzzles
Fast Food: Potbelly
Color: Red
Candy: White Chocolate Kit Kat Bars
Snack: Popcorn
Food: Chicken Nuggets
Drink: Milk
Ms. Margie Arendt
Wonder and Venture Progam Teacher
TeacherI’m Ms. Arendt. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.
I have my Associates in Arts, and my passion has always been working and being with children. I was a 2-year-old teacher at a Montessori school for two years. I then had 3 children: Molly (20) a sophomore at KU; Max (18) a freshman at Harper College, and Matthew, a freshman at Fremd HS. The last seven years I was a teacher’s aid at a church preschool. I plan in finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education. I am so excited to be back to full time working with children!
I can’t wait to learn more about you and your family.
Some of My Favorite Things:
Hobbies: Crafting, Using my Cricut, Planning Parties, Cooking
Fast Food: No Fast Food
Color: Light Purple
Candy: Swedish Fish & Milky Way Bar
Snack: Chips and Dips
Food: BBQ
Drink: Water
