Lil' Explorers Childcare Center

(5.0 stars) • 13 Reviews

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Overview
  • Programs
  • Our Team
  • Reviews

About Lil’ Explorers, Buffalo Preschool

Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center is a preschool serving the Buffalo area of Minnesota. Established in 2003, Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center continues to provide a safe environment for children ages 6 weeks through Pre-K that is centered on exploration and development. With highly qualified teaching staff, Lil’ Explorers offers a preschool curriculum that helps children develop a love for learning.

Our expansive facilities offer plenty of room for your children to learn, grow, and develop, while our caring staff provides a nurturing and enriching atmosphere. Each facility features Infant Rooms, Toddler Rooms, Preschool Rooms, and dedicated Pre-Kindergarten Rooms, along with a large gross motor room inside each location.

We believe in a partnership where parents and caregivers work together with teachers to promote the best possible outcome for every child.

At Lil’ Explorers, we strive to provide the best preschool and daycare for Buffalo, MN families. Our extensive facilities and curriculum are designed to help children thrive in an enriching learning environment that is also safe and nurturing. It is the mission of our childcare staff to provide top-notch service for all families and provide an enjoyable and exciting time for all children in our care.

The Ascend Curriculum

Ascend Curriculum LogoWe believe that every student is a unique individual who deserves to be treated with respect. The flexibility built into our Ascend Curriculum allows us to create individualized learning experiences for each child and our teachers focus on developing new skills in subjects such as Literacy, Baby Signs, Spanish, Art, Science & Sensory, and Technology every month. Activities can be modified to match the interests and current skill level of every child and we teach through play so our students treasure these first learning experiences and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Kind Child

We nurture friendships, cultivate positive character traits, and strengthen social skills through our Kind Child culture. Kind Child is an integral part of our Ascend Curriculum and we focus on social and emotional skills every month and the development of a new character trait such as Friendship, Empathy, and a Positive Self-Image every two months. The result is a positive and supportive preschool environment where every child feels welcome.

A Loving and Supportive Environment For Little Ones

The Lil’ Explorers Childcare team is passionate about providing a warm and loving environment where Buffalo families feel confident that their child is safe and nurtured. Our experienced staff members are CPR, and First Aid certified, so you can rest assured that your little one is in good hands.

Additionally, our Buffalo daycare and Buffalo preschool programs are designed to encourage holistic development in young children. Our teachers work hard to create a supportive environment where every child feels valued and special.

If you’re looking for a Buffalo daycare or Buffalo preschool that puts your child’s needs first, look no further than Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center!

Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten

The Lil’ Explorers curriculum is designed to get your child ready for kindergarten and beyond. The curriculum focuses on the whole child, with an emphasis on social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

Through hands-on activities, and skills-based learning, your child will develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. With a strong foundation in literacy, math, science, and social studies, your child will be well-prepared for kindergarten and beyond!

Growth & Development Partner For Buffalo, MN Families

Whether you are looking for Buffalo daycare or Buffalo preschool programs, Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center has something to offer your family. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our center or learn more about our program offerings!

Our Team

Leanne Ost

Leanne Ost

School Director

My name is Leanne, and I am the School Director at Lil’ Explorers in Buffalo. Since joining the center in the fall of 2016, I’ve worn many different hats, from teacher, to assistant director, to director. I enjoy watching the children grow and reach their milestones, working with our amazingly talented staff, and building relationships with our families. I live in Waverly with my husband, Jamie, and am a proud mother of four and grandmother of two. Outside of work, I enjoy watching sports and spending time with my family and friends. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Paige Bruns

Paige Bruns

Assistant Director

I have been dedicated to childcare since 2014 and genuinely love coming to work every day. At home, I cherish spending time with my husband, Tyler, and our son, Royce, on our farm in Maple Lake. On weekends, you’ll often find me immersed in drawing or curled up with a good book. My passion for child development drives me to make a meaningful impact in our school, and I am thrilled to be part of Buffalo Lil’ Explorers. I can’t wait to connect with all the wonderful families and be part of this incredible community!

Elisa Grangroth

Elisa Grangroth

Teacher of the Year

I currently live in Howard Lake with my husband, Zach, and daughter, Violet. I have been working in childcare since 2016 and joined Lil Explorers in September 2022. I have a passion for teaching young minds, especially toddlers. I love making wonderful connections with families and setting kids up for success at such a young age. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

Reviews from Parents

5.0 Rating based on 13 Reviews Leave A Review
Carmen Schumacher • Google
My son went to this school and it was amazing! The teachers were very good about communicating and working with me as a team. The assistant manager was great about listening to me and quickly acting on anything I had to say. 10/10 experience with the facility and teachers!
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Kerry Reiter • Google
We drive past many other centers just to come to this specific Lil' Explorers and there's about 1000 reasons why. We've brought our little boy here since he was 3 months old. Any initial thoughts of concern about if this was the right place or well suited for him completely dissipated when after a week or two the entire staff seemed to know his habits as well as I did and I received multiple weekly (sometimes multiple daily) pictures/updates about my child. They're extremely friendly, LOVE your children, very communicative and provide the perfect balance of structure and fun for kids to thrive! Our little guy comes home from daycare exhausted from the play with lots of new skills and is excited every morning to go back. I can't say enough great things about this center, their teachers and directors, and their curriculum.
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Dominique • Google
We could not have been happier with our experience at Lil Explorers in Buffalo! The teachers were communicative, compassionate, and always giving our little girl new experiences to help her grow. She was new to a center experience and they did everything they could to help her transition smoothly. They also took great care of her when it came to her food allergy — we felt confident that their action plan and alternatives would keep her safe. The directors are incredibly hands on with all of the kids, always willing to answer questions, and put on many events for families to participate in (trunk or treat and grandparents day were our favorites). The gym is amazing, there’s a big focus on art and music, and the curriculum is structured by daily learnings/activities which are outlined in a daily report (this is great because you can continue putting those learnings into practice at home!). Our daughter learned a lot of sign language and would come home saying words we didn’t know she knew — she grew so much during her time here. We can’t say enough good things about this place and will miss everyone! Highly, highly recommend!
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Emily Grealish • Google
Lil' Explorers was a great experience for us. The facility is clean, the teachers are friendly and caring, and the administration is communicative and invested. My kids learned so much in their classrooms and I could tell how much they were loved. The center does so many extracurriculars and activities that are fun for both the kids and their families. I am so grateful for the care my children received here. The only reason we left is because we moved out of the area, but if I could have brought Lil' Explorers with us to our new town, I would have!
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Lil' Explorers Childcare Center

Buffalo, MN

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Preparing Your Child To THRIVE

Your child is unique, and we are happy to provide an educational, fun, and nurturing environment where each child can develop and thrive in order to build a bright future with unlimited possibilities.