About The Ark Learning Center in New Hampshire
We are a Creative Curriculum based preschool and child care center serving Tilton, Hooksett and Londonderry in New Hampshire. We care for children from 6 weeks to 6 years old and provide a range of age-appropriate resources and activities to encourage their development right up until they are ready to join Kindergarten or First Grade.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is based on learning, creativity, and compassion. By blending indoor and outdoor classrooms and environments in a home-away-from-home environment, we can create a space where children feel empowered and ready to learn.
At The Ark, we believe that happiness begins with expressing appreciation for what we already have. Our teachers model kindness and respect so that your little one can reflect these attributes in their own lives; teaching kindness and compassion within a culture of gratitude is the foundation for future success.
Who We Are
The Ark Learning Center got its start in Tilton, over 25 years ago by Janet. In 2019, Janet sold the Ark Learning Center to her daughter Danielle, who has since opened two further Ark Learning Centers- one in Hooksett (2019) and another in Londonderry (2021). We decided to do things a bit differently at The Ark Learning Center by creating a space that fosters early learning in a fun and safe environment where children from 6 weeks to 6 years old can explore the world around them.
We are honored to have the accolades and approval of our community. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, we were recognized for our exceptional care and early education that changed lives when we were voted for Best Childcare and Preschool from both the Lakes Region and Tilton. In 2023, we received the Best of Londonderry Award in Child Care. We promise to provide your child with the best preschool experience possible!
We believe our innovative approach gives children a bright and positive start in life as we encourage both exploration and discovery, as well as emotional intelligence and building friendships.
Get Our Free Parent Pack
We’d love to send you a FREE parent pack, full of helpful information about The Ark Learning Center…
Get Our Free Parent Pack
We’d love to send you a FREE parent pack, full of helpful information about The Ark Learning Center…
About Our Tilton, Hooksett and Londonderry Locations
When you visit us here at The Ark Learning Center, you’ll see firsthand what makes us different!
All of our settings include:
Zono™ Disinfecting and Sanitizing Cabinets and Halo™ Air Purifiers, to kill 99.9% of
bacteria and minimize the spread of germs to the highest degree.
A private room dedicated to parents who wish to breastfeed, which is equipped with a comfy chair, soft music, and a mini fridge for storage.
A spacious, enclosed outdoor play area, where children can play and socialize, as well as plant flowers and seasonal vegetables in our raised garden beds.
Security cameras and limited entryway access with coded keypads ensure our highly attentive teachers can keep your little ones safe at all times.
We offer a wide variety of activities, including gardening, music, dance and more!
Infant Program
Our Infant Program provides the sweetest start for your baby, nurturing their growth in a safe and soothing environment. By aligning with your baby’s individual feeding and rest schedule, we ensure a seamless transition between your home and our center.
In our peaceful environment, your child receives love, gentle care, and foundational learning through responsive teaching methods. Physical development is encouraged through daily tummy time, which facilitates muscle growth and milestones like crawling. Daily outdoor strolls offer fresh air and the opportunity to build curiosity toward the world around them, as well as sensory exploration.
At The Ark Learning Center, our top priority is your baby’s health and well-being, which is why we maintain a stringent cleaning routine. During nap times, we sanitize toys using our state-of-the-art Zono™ Disinfecting and Sanitizing Cabinets, have an extensive daily cleaning schedule including a dedicated cleaning staff member, as well as utilize a weekly deep clean by a professional service.
Carefully monitoring your little one’s safety, we accommodate your baby’s budding palette by serving them purees or bite-sized portions of a variety of different foods. This gives them a gentle introduction to the textures and flavors they like and we track their progress for you.
Toddler Program
Within our Toddler rooms, our caring and observant teachers create a clean and serene environment that sets the stage for relaxation and learning. As they become a toddler, your child will begin to learn how to give thanks and use kind words, baby sign language, and actions. Our teachers demonstrate compassion and kindness to each other, as well as our children, so that they can learn to be compassionate and loving members of the community themselves.
This age is such an important stage for development, as toddlers will begin to establish what activities they like, as well as don’t like. Through a Creative and STEAM-inspired curriculum, we encourage kids to take part in directed activities- such as painting and dancing- in order to develop key skills such as creativity and coordination, while they explore their individual interests.
At The Ark Learning Center, we believe that children learn best through play. That's why we provide ample opportunities for unstructured play in our spacious indoor play area, encouraging activities like climbing and jumping to enhance gross motor skills. Our outdoor playground, featuring a designated area for toddlers, offers an expansive space for children to refine their newfound physical abilities.
Whether it's running, spinning, or even trying out our outdoor bike path, your little ones will have plenty of chances to explore and learn in a fun and engaging environment.
Preschool Program
At The Ark Learning Center, we're dedicated to fostering well-rounded, confident learners in a caring, inclusive environment. Our approach combines gentle guidance for challenges and nurturing individual strengths. As children progress, our curriculum blends Creative Curriculum techniques with dynamic STEAM activities, making math, pre-reading, and writing engaging.
Our focus extends beyond academics, nurturing social, emotional, and life skills. By modeling kindness and compassion and encouraging reflection, we empower children to apply these qualities, enhancing their experiences and relationships.
At The Ark Learning Center, we understand that every child learns at their own pace. Our Preschool Program provides a secure haven for more unconventional learning methods. Here, kids of different ages collaborate in shorter time segments, allowing them to confidently grasp essential skills before transitioning to a more traditional classroom setup when they feel prepared.
Kids can continue to develop their skills outside of the classroom with our outdoor play area. Here, they can slide and swing on an array of play structures, or practice riding their bike on our age-appropriate bicycle path. We also have a garden where little ones can shovel, dig, water and tend to a variety of plants and vegetables.
Pre-K Program
At The Ark Learning Center, our Pre-K program is designed to prepare children for Kindergarten by nurturing their social, physical, and cognitive development. Our teachers exemplify love, kindness, and gratitude, creating a positive atmosphere that fosters a sense of community and happiness.
Our already dynamic hands-on Creative Curriculum gains an extra dimension with STEAM activities. Here, children engage with phonics, handwriting, and other vital academic skills. Our teaching approach instills qualities like patience, responsibility and attentiveness, nurturing children's confidence as they step into Kindergarten.
No two children are alike; our expert teaching team knows when and how to challenge and advance your child and when to help them through any areas requiring improvement. Through early assessment, we can effectively support children in need of a less conventional educational path. Our program caters to active learners, emphasizing sensory and manipulative play. These activities progressively cultivate the essential skills necessary for smoother transitions into more structured schooling.
For our Pre-K kids, outdoor playtime offers a daily dose of fresh air and sunshine, where they can enjoy slides, climbing walls, swings, and gardening, all of which foster physical engagement and enjoyment. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, our “Gross Motor Room” is great for playing around and getting plenty of exercise!
Merging Teaching and Childcare
We believe that it’s never too early to start learning and that it’s vital to always present opportunities for children to learn and grow as soon as they start at our center.
We offer a variety of programs, including education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners.
We also offer a Summer Camp for children ages preschool to kindergarten. Through weekly themes, children can engage in hands-on activities, while burning off energy and making memories with their friends.
At our Summer Camp, we offer a variety of opportunities for children to be a part of:
Visits from experts (such as Wildlife professionals and experts from the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center).
Dressing up and playing with fun props.
Outdoor play on our various play structures and outdoor bike path.
Arts and Crafts …and more!
Arkids Care And Easter Seals Partnership
At the Ark Learning Center, we are proud to partner with Easter Seals. Through this partnership, we aim to create an inclusive classroom environment that celebrates diversity by welcoming individuals with differing abilities to help with activities such as reading and hands-on projects. Our Easter Seals Partnership helps The Ark maintain our cleanliness standards through daily cleaning, lawn maintenance such as lawn mowing, and playground fall zone checks.
Through our Arkids Care programs, our children and their families can give back to the community by organizing food and clothing drives throughout the year, providing a meaningful opportunity for everyone to make a positive difference in our local area.
At the Ark Learning Center, we believe that teaching kindness and compassion within a culture of gratitude builds essential character traits and is the foundation for all future social skills.
The Best Childcare and Preschool in New Hampshire for your child
We know how hard it can be to choose the perfect place for your little ones to learn and grow. So we have made it simple for you to find out exactly what to look for when choosing the perfect preschool and child care center. Get your copy now…
What to Expect from The Ark Learning Center
We know how hard it can be to choose the perfect place for your little ones to learn and grow. So we have made it simple for you to find out exactly what to look for when choosing the perfect preschool and child care center. Get your copy now…
As part of our commitment, we provide all of our kids with:
A monthly-updated menu of healthy, chef-prepared meals each day that meet dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegan, etc. in our Tilton and Hooksett locations.
Flexible hours to accommodate parents with busy schedules.
Events that allow kids to learn more about the world around them, such as out-of-this-world presentations about outer space from the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, as well as visits from Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center professionals (along with birds, reptiles, etc!).
The chance to interact with their local community (we partner with Easter Seals).
Daily outdoor play that teaches little ones how to respect nature and interact with her in a meaningful way.
A diverse, all-inclusive environment where all cultures and traditions are honored and respected.