Toddler Town + Lauren Wendroff Early Childhood Center

Toddler girl surrounded by illustrated graphics of plants, butterfly and ladybug.

WHERE EVERY CHILD SHINES

toddler town plus LWECC logo with the letters tt and lw turned into characters

Providing a nurturing and engaging haven for ages 8 weeks to 4 years. 

We're all about creating a warm, inclusive space where creativity thrives, independence grows, and community blossoms. 

As a nonprofit, we make high-quality early education affordable and accessible. We celebrate diversity, cherishing each child and fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.

Flexible Scheduling

We understand that every family has unique scheduling needs so we offer flexible options.

5-Day FLEX

Hours: 7:00a - 6:00p
Our most extended schedule, where you can choose your own drop off and pick up times within these hours!

5-Day BASE

Hours: 8:30a - 4:30p
Need just a little extra care? You can add on Early Drop Off (from 7am) or Late Pick Up (until 6pm) on a monthly basis.

3-Day BASE

Hours: 8:30a - 4:30p
Not ready for 5 days? We've got you covered! Add on Early Drop Off and/or Late Pick Up if needed as well.

Our Director

Maria Matias

Teacher reading a picture book to two infants.
Teacher sits with 2 toddlers in her lap smiling at a toddler playing with a truck.

Childhood Champions

Our passionate educators bring extensive experience, knowledge, and genuine care for young children to our team. All of our staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid, and at least half are trained in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

With lower staff-to-child ratios than the state requires, each child gets personalized attention in a supportive and nurturing learning environment. We're delighted that many of our staff have been with us for years, with some averaging 5-8 years or more.

Two toddlers playing with building blocks together.

CREATIVE CURRICULUM

Inspired by the acclaimed program, our approach emphasizes hands-on exploration and playful learning. We believe in engaging children through fun activities that spark curiosity and foster creativity, recognizing that this is when they learn best.

Young toddler discovering a tambourine during music time.

Age-Appropriate Learning

  • Two infants crawl around a soft plush mat play area while one infant, holding a teething ring, stands in front of a mirror using a support bar.

    Infants

    2 - 12 months

    Sensory Adventures: Dive into music, textures, and cozy fabrics.

    Physical Growth: Engage in tummy time, crawling, and rolling to build strength.

    Social Connections: Enjoy personalized attention, conversations, and gentle play.

    Language Journey: Explore sounds, words, and rhymes through stories and songs.

    Fine Motor Fun: Hone dexterity with toys and hands-on activities.

  • Young toddler boy playing with a colorful bead maze.

    Waddlers

    13 - 18 months

    Discovering Safe Spaces: Promoting exploration with wagons and toys suitable for crawling and walking.

    Refining Fine Motor Skills: Providing various manipulatives to enhance hand-eye coordination.

    Language Enhancement: Fostering communication through storytelling, interactive play, and reading aloud.

    Building Social Bonds: Encouraging peer and staff interaction through play.

    Engaging the Senses: Offering sensory experiences with sand, water, and safe objects.

    Interactive Learning: Encouraging creativity through block play, art projects, and themed activities.

  • Young toddler girl sitting on an arm chair reading a picture book.

    Toddlers

    18 - 30 months

    Early Literacy Adventures: Delve into picture books, alphabet fun, and captivating storytelling.

    Math Explorations: Dive into counting games, shape recognition, and playful puzzles.

    Expressive Arts: Unleash creativity with crayons, markers, and tactile play dough.

    Active Bodies, Active Minds: Energize with yoga, jumping, outdoor adventures, and balance activities.

    Building Social Bonds: Foster turn-taking, sharing, and teamwork through group games and imaginative play.

    Pre-Reading Adventures: Embark on letter recognition, phonemic awareness activities, and immersive storytelling experiences.

  • A group of young preschool students sits at a table with their teacher, practicing fine motor skills by cutting straight and curvy lines.

    Pre-School

    2 ½ years

    Language and Interaction: Expand vocabulary through stories, chats, and imaginative play.

    Pre-Reading Exploration: Introduce letters and their sounds.

    Cognitive Challenges: Tackle problem-solving with puzzles, matching, and sorting games.

    Fine Motor Finesse: Enhance skills with cutting, tracing, and manipulating objects.

    Active Bodies, Active Minds: Enjoy indoor gym sessions with jumping, skipping, and ball play. Outside, explore our enclosed playground, take nature walks, and tend to our garden.

    Emotional Growth: Learn about emotions and expressing feelings through books, songs, and role-playing with dress-up clothes.

  • A group of Pre-K 3 students sits at a table with their teacher, using markers and illustrations to learn simple logic patterns.

    Pre-K 3

    3 years

    Literacy Journey: Dive into phonics and sight words to ignite reading readiness.

    Math Foundations: Explore patterns, sequencing, and introductory addition and subtraction.

    Social and Emotional Growth: Delve into community, diversity, and empathy through stories and role-play.

    Critical Minds: Stimulate problem-solving with puzzles, building toys, and logic games.

    Motor Mastery: Hone fine motor skills with cutting and tracing, while enjoying expanded outdoor and gym activities for gross motor development.

  • A group of Pre-K 4 students sit at a table tracing spiderweb shapes to practice fine motor skills and learn about science.

    Pre-K 4

    4 years

    Observation and Evaluation: We track your child's progress through regular observation, tailoring activities to their development.

    Diverse Learning Zones: Classrooms offer areas such as dramatic play, block building, art, literacy, math, science, and sensory activities.

    Empowering Exploration: Children lead their play, choosing activities that spark their interest to develop decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.

    Literacy Advancement: Phonics and word recognition for stronger literacy skills.

    S.T.E.A.M.: Hands-on science (experiments, nature observation, sensory investigations), tech integration with iPads and interactive whiteboards, LEGO engineering, art exploration, and advanced math.

ENRICHMENTS & EVENTS

ENRICHMENTS & EVENTS

Heart shaped sign displaying Mother's Day over a table set nicely with food.

We offer a variety of enrichment activities to enhance your child's learning journey. Coming Soon: Creative Movement, Gymnastics & Tiny Chefs.

In our spacious auditorium, we host special events and celebrations to elevate your child's experience and foster lasting memories year-round. From themed parties to holiday festivities and cultural celebrations, there's always something exciting happening!

Our Space

  • Our building boasts a full-size gym, heated indoor pool, auditorium, classrooms, indoor playroom, outdoor play areas, and multi-use spaces. Conveniently located across from Stephen R. Gregg Park, we offer easy access to its playgrounds, nature trails and fields.

  • Safety is our top priority. We have a full-time security guard at the front entrance and over 30 cameras inside and outside the building. Our security measures also include unique access codes for Toddler Town parents and door alarms, with plans for new exterior security doors with advanced locks & keys and reinforced interior classroom doors.

    For more detailed information, visit our Facilities & Security page.

  • Get ready for our soft playroom's magical makeover into an imaginative wonderland where kids can come together and play! With community-themed areas like a bakery, grocery store, veterinary clinic, and even a treehouse, the fun never stops. Plus, this exciting space will be perfect for birthday parties, complete with spots for food, cake, and decorations.

  • Even though we love having the refurbished Hudson County Park right across the street, we see the need for a private play area, especially for our littlest adventurers. So, we're transforming our front garden into a safe, enclosed play space filled with age-appropriate goodies!

Infant Room

Infant Room

Waddler Room

Waddler Room

Toddler Room

Toddler Room

Pre-School Room

Pre-School Room

Pre-K 3 Room

Pre-K 3 Room

Pre-K 3 Room

Pre-K 3 Room

FAQs

  • We provide daily activity reports and frequent parent-teacher meetings, through Brightwheel, a trusted communication system used by educators and families worldwide.

    With Brightwheel, you can expect:

    • Greater visibility into your child's day with photos, videos, and progress reports

    • Easy and frequent communication with teachers

    • User-friendly tools to simplify your day

    Also our monthly newsletters keep you informed about upcoming events, activities, themes and birthday celebrations.

  • You can either pack your child's lunch or opt for one of our tasty Meal Plans from Simply Gourmet, available for an extra fee. Simply Gourmet serves up fully customizable, wholesome meals made with locally grown produce and high-quality ingredients—no artificial stuff, no growth hormones, no trans fats, and minimal GMOs.

    We won't be heating or refrigerating lunches, so please pack accordingly and label your child's lunch bag with their name. Also, sharing food with other kids, except for siblings, isn't allowed.

    Food Allergies: We are a NUT FREE building!

  • No worries! Our staff will partner with you to help your child with potty training.

  • Kids spend at least 30 minutes outside daily, weather permitting. We're lucky to have Hudson County Park right across the street, where children enjoy the playgrounds and strolls in our safe buggies.

  • Yes! We offer a summer program for kids aged 2½ - 8, packed with activities like sports, music, cooking, STEM, and weekly themes. Check out Summer at the J for more info.

Secure your child's spot today and embark on an exciting journey with us!

Licensed by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, we surpass state standards to guarantee your child receives exceptional care and education in a truly outstanding environment.

Participating in Grow NJ Kids, a state initiative to elevate childcare and early learning quality in New Jersey. Their extensive resources enhance our staff's skills through mandatory seminars and training, ensuring our team is highly educated and prepared to better serve your child.