Little Rugrats Early Learning Center

You may have seen us advertise that we are a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 3 facility and wondered…

“What does that actually mean?” 🤔

We want to explain it because PTQ is something we are incredibly proud of, but we also realize many families don’t know what those levels mean or why they matter when choosing childcare.

Paths to QUALITY™ is Indiana’s statewide Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System. It is a voluntary system designed to recognize childcare programs that go beyond the basics and continually work toward providing higher-quality early care and education.

Each level builds upon the one before it:

🔵 LEVEL 1 — HEALTH & SAFETY
The foundation. Programs are operating in good standing and meeting Indiana’s required health and safety standards.

🟢 LEVEL 2 — LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The program goes beyond basic health and safety and demonstrates that the environment supports children’s learning and development. This includes things like consistent routines, planned activities, appropriate materials, and information for families.

🟡 LEVEL 3 — PLANNED CURRICULUM
This is where intentional teaching and planning become an even bigger focus. Programs demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to plan developmentally appropriate experiences that support child development and school readiness. Staff professional development and family input are also important components.

🔴 LEVEL 4 — NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
The highest level. Level 4 programs have achieved accreditation through an approved nationally recognized accrediting organization—demonstrating a commitment to the highest standards of quality in early childhood education.

💙 SO WHY DOES PTQ MATTER?

Because when you choose a childcare program, you’re not just choosing who will watch your child.

You’re choosing the environment where your child will spend a HUGE part of their early years.

A higher PTQ level means the program has taken additional steps to demonstrate quality in areas such as:

✔️ Health & safety
✔️ Learning environments
✔️ Curriculum & school readiness
✔️ Staff professional development
✔️ Family engagement
✔️ Program quality & continuous improvement

Pre-K (Whales and Peacocks classes) don’t forget to stop by from 5:30-6 for meet the teacher and supply drop off tonight. Make sure to stop by our balloon display for a back to school photo! So excited for this school year 📚

We have 2 openings for our Pre-K 4/5 year olds. These are full time spots only!

What we offer for Pre-K 📚
-2 educational field trips per school year (first one is in September) 🚌
-Thanksgiving feast in which we invite parents to come have a Thanksgiving style lunch with their child. 🦃
-Christmas program 🤶
-Grandparent’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events
-Bi-weekly bookmobile visits
-Breakfast, lunch and snack 🥘
-School-wide curriculum / Kindergarten readiness 📏
- Graduation program🧑‍🎓
- We are a level 3 in paths to quality through the state of Indiana.

Give us a call at 765-860-1879 or
Email: [email protected]

✨ Meet the Team Monday! ✨

👩‍🏫 Name: Emma Mendoza

📚 Position: Assistant Teacher for 3 year olds

🎓 Education & Experience: I’ve been at Little Rugrats for about a year and I am studying Early Education at Ivy Tech where I hope to become an Elementary school teacher!

👶 Favorite Age Group: 3 year olds!

💖 Why I Love Working with Children: I love how working with kids forces you to change the way you think. Getting to know each student and what methods work best for them is such a rewarding experience. I love getting to watching them all grow into these silly and sweet individuals and being able to be a safe space for them to grow in🩷

🎨 Favorite Classroom Activity: Crafts!

🌟 Fun Fact About Me: I love to hike in my spare time & enjoy time with my family⛰️❤️

We love having Emma on our team here at Little Rugrats & are thankful for everything she does!🥰

At Little Rugrats Early Learning Center, we believe childhood should be filled with curiosity, confidence, and meaningful learning through play.

✨ Safe, nurturing classrooms
📚 Engaging, age-appropriate curriculum
❤️ Caring teachers who love what they do
🎨 Hands-on learning and daily exploration

A limited number of enrollment opportunities are currently available for select age groups.

If you've been searching for a place where your child can learn, grow, and feel at home, we'd love to meet your family.

📩 Send us a message or give us a call at (765) 860-1879 to schedule a tour and learn more!

Reach out today for more information & schedule a tour!🤗

☎️765-860-1879

📧 [email protected]

Exciting News! Our new location will be opening Monday July 27th! We will have two additional infant rooms and 2 additional toddler rooms. We are state licensed and a paths to quality level 3! We are family owned and operated here in Kokomo for over 16 years! If you’re looking for a safe nurturing environment for your little ones give us a call to schedule a tour!

✨DID YOU KNOW?✨

Did you know that reading to your child for just 10–15 minutes a day can have a lasting impact on their development?

Reading together helps children:

📖 Build vocabulary and language skills.
🧠 Strengthen memory and concentration.
✨ Spark creativity and imagination.
💛 Create a sense of comfort, security, and connection with the people they love.
🎓 Develop early literacy skills that prepare them for success in school.

Also, it doesn’t have to be a brand-new book every night. Reading the same favorite story over and over helps children recognize patterns, remember words, and build confidence as they begin to “read” along with you.

What’s your child’s favorite bedtime story? We’d love to hear your recommendations! 📚✨