5-Star Toddler Care in Raleigh, NC
Personalized Attention for Toddlers
Finding the right toddler care in Raleigh means choosing a program that supports your child’s growing independence while providing the routines, attention, and reassurance they still need. Primary Beginnings has provided toddler care in North Raleigh since 1999, and each of our three centers holds its own 5-Star Center License from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, the highest rating the state issues.
Our toddler program serves children ages one to three and is designed for little ones making the transition from infancy toward preschool. Through active play, stories, music, creative activities, and social interaction, our teachers guide toddlers through this stage of rapid development, Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Why Our Toddler Day Care Stands Out
A 5-Star license is not a marketing badge. It is a state rating each center earns separately through staff education and program standards, verified by NCDCDEE inspections every six months. All three of our centers also consistently earn Superior classifications on state sanitation inspections.
- Familiar surroundings: Many of our toddlers move up directly from our infant care program in the same building, with the same directors and daily rhythms, which makes the transition far less stressful for children and parents.
- Small classes, posted ratios: Our toddler rooms are staffed at one teacher for every six one-year-olds (1:6) and one for every nine two-year-olds (1:9), and our three-year-old classrooms are staffed at one teacher per ten (1:10).
- Experienced teachers and leadership: Our directors bring decades of early education experience. Spring Forest director Crystal Felton has led her center since 2011, and our teachers complete ongoing training in child development every year.
- 27 years in Raleigh: Since 1999, our three North Raleigh centers have grown to a licensed capacity of roughly 400 children, and our leadership team is local, not a national franchise office.
What to Expect in Our Toddler Program
Our toddler classrooms follow The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos from Teaching Strategies, a research-based curriculum that turns high-energy toddler play into intentional learning.
- Social and emotional growth: Toddlers practice sharing, taking turns, and naming emotions with teachers trained to coach these skills, not just supervise.
- Language and literacy: Daily story time and constant conversation expand vocabulary during the fastest language-learning window of childhood.
- Motor skill development: Classrooms and secure outdoor play areas are designed for climbing, balancing, and fine motor practice through play.
- Creative expression: Art, music, and sensory play are built into every week’s lesson plans.
- Everyday independence: Teachers support self-feeding, and cleanup routines in partnership with each family, on your child’s timeline.
Utilizing Raleigh Resources for Toddler Development
We believe in supporting the whole child by connecting families with the Raleigh community. We often encourage our parents to utilize local resources that complement our early childhood education:
Frequently Asked Questions About Childcare for Toddlers
What age ranges are included in your toddler program?
Our toddler program welcomes children ages one to three. Most children join around their first birthday, either moving up from our infant rooms or enrolling new, and transition to our preschool program around age three based on readiness.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in your toddler classrooms?
One teacher for every six one-year-olds and one for every nine two-year-olds. Each classroom’s ratio is posted where parents can view it at all times.
How do you handle the transition from the infant room?
Gradually and in the same building. Children visit their new classroom and teachers over a period of days before moving full time, and because both programs share a facility and director, the faces and routines stay familiar.
Are meals provided at your Raleigh centers?
Yes. We serve breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack every day through the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, which holds our menus to USDA nutrition standards.
How do I monitor my child's progress?
Every family receives daily reports through the ProCare Connect app, including real-time updates, photos, and milestone notes, plus regular parent-teacher check-ins. We also encourage routine well-visits with your pediatrician.
Visit Our 5-Star Toddler Centers Today
The best way to experience the Primary Beginnings difference is to see our classrooms in action. We invite you to tour our facilities, meet our dedicated teachers, and learn more about how our toddler care program can benefit your family. Our Raleigh location include: North Hills Drive (Near Midtown and Downtown Raleigh), Spring Forest Road (North Raleigh), and Falls of Neuse Road (North Raleigh)