Children's Lighthouse: The Ideal Choice for Dual-Income Families Seeking Trusted, Family-Centric Child Care

From the moment parents and children step into any Children's Lighthouse Early Learning School, they’ll notice that family is at the heart of everything the brand embodies. It's the guiding light atop the lighthouse. 

Founded in 1997 by the Brown family, Children’s Lighthouse was created with a vision to provide a nurturing environment that goes beyond basic child care. The founders, parents themselves, recognized the need for a space where children could not only be safe and cared for but also intellectually and emotionally stimulated. And today, over two-thirds of the nation’s 22.1 million children under the age of six have both available parents in the workforce, which means premium child care and early education has never been more important.

“There's a significant nationwide demand for child care, and we've developed a robust process to identify and meet this demand in various markets,” said Michael Brown, the founder’s son and the current president of Children’s Lighthouse. “Our approach differs notably from other brands, primarily because of the culture and foundation my dad and uncle established. This family-driven culture permeates our entire organization, ensuring that everyone — from our office team to our franchise owners — upholds our mission statement, foundational views and core values.”

With 70 locations across the country and another 24 in development, Children's Lighthouse understands the importance of a child’s early years. With a commitment to nurturing the potential of every child, the brand offers a comprehensive educational experience that combines family values with innovative learning, making it a top choice for parents seeking exceptional child care and early education.

Educating the Whole Child

Back in 1997, the original concept behind Children's Lighthouse was centered around the comprehensive development of children — offering something more than simple babysitting. 

With this in mind, the team developed the Children’s Lighthouse proprietary, STREAM-based Lighthouse Pathways™ curriculum, which ensures that every child is treated as a dignified individual with unique passions, strengths, talents and creativity. This method is structured around four pivotal areas: Confidence, Connection, Continuous Improvement and Curriculum, each tailored to empower children along their path to future success.

The Lighthouse Pathways framework builds Confidence by engaging children in inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities that promote independence. The focus on Connection involves creating robust relationships within the school community and the surrounding neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of teamwork between the school and home to foster healthy development. Continuous Improvement is a core belief at Children’s Lighthouse, where seasoned professionals tailor learning experiences to meet the individual needs of each child. The Curriculum at Children’s Lighthouse is comprehensive and proprietary, designed to guide children from infancy through to their early school years, preparing them for the broader challenges of the real world. 

“As a parent, you want a brand that is well-established and tested,” said Alexis Legg, owner of Children's Lighthouse of Oak Forest. “These early education schools all aim to achieve similar goals, but what sets this brand apart is the character value component of the curriculum — responsibility, honesty, humor, gratitude — these important life skills that are essential for children at this age. We are teaching them to read and write, but we are also creating little humans.”

A Path for All of Childhood

Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning School offers a tailored educational journey for children of varying age groups, focusing on progressive development from infancy through pre-adolescence. Each curriculum is meticulously designed to cater to the unique learning styles and developmental needs of different age groups, and each independently-owned and operated school is encouraged to become accredited by Cognia™. 

For the youngest learners (6 weeks - 24 months), the Lighthouse BRIGHT™ curriculum fosters early brain development through research-based activities that integrate skill development effectively. This program is heart- and goal-focused, providing a time-rich environment that enriches individual language experiences, setting the foundation for higher thinking skills at an early age.

As children move into their preschool years (2 - 5 years), Children’s Lighthouse introduces the Lighthouse CARES™ curriculum, which is robust in fostering character-building values essential for social and emotional development. It features innovative components like The Learning Wall, Learning Lesson Session and Centers That Shine. The 3E: Outdoor Curriculum enhances learning through exploration, experimentation and exercise, keeping content engaging and active, and grounded in the best practices of early education.

For school-age children (kindergarten - 12 years), the xSTREAM Quest™ curriculum provides a dynamic and interactive learning environment. Based on STREAM labs within a Questing Studio, children engage in a series of challenges and missions to earn Solo, Team, Community and Outdoor Cog Badges, leading them on a path to becoming a Quest Master. This approach utilizes higher-level thinking skills and fosters creativity across disciplines such as science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math. 

Additionally, Children’s Lighthouse offers a vibrant summer program that expands horizons and introduces new adventures through themed weekly activities. These include nature expeditions, creative arts, group activities, cooking classes and science projects, as well as reading, writing, experimentation with technology, field trips, and exploration in engineering and math.

“Some other early education school concepts just let the children play all day, but the curriculum we have here is far and above the competition,” said Julie Carter, owner of Children’s Lighthouse of Oak Point. “Our director of training and education, Dr. Kristi Martin-Smith, is so fabulous — she is the expert putting all the pieces together. So many parents come up and thank us for everything we have offered and are so impressed by how far their child has come in a short amount of time. That is a great feeling.”

Why Choose Children's Lighthouse

Overall, parents choose Children’s Lighthouse for its strong educational foundation and its warm, family-like atmosphere. The schools are designed to be a home away from home, where children are not only educated but loved. The small-company feel of our family-owned business ensures personalized attention and care, making each day at Children’s Lighthouse a positive, enriching experience.

“We don’t take our responsibility lightly — we put a lot of work into every aspect of the business, know everyone's names and strive to make our school an extension of each family’s home,” Legg said. “These children spend a majority of their lives with us — dropped off at 7 a.m. and picked up at 5 p.m., five days a week. We want our school to feel warm and welcoming; the greatest part is seeing the children happy. The best feeling is when a child doesn’t want to go home.”

In an era where educational excellence and character development have never been more paramount, Children’s Lighthouse shines brightly as a beacon in the landscape of early childhood education.

“The name Children's Lighthouse actually came from a family trip to Galveston, [Texas,] and a suggestion from my grandmother as we passed lighthouses,” Brown said. “We thought it perfectly captured the essence of what we wanted our culture to represent — a guiding light for younger generations to achieve a brighter future.”

For more information on franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit: https://www.childrenslighthousefranchise.com/.