Learning Grove

Your child’s block tower just fell. What happens next matters!

They had a plan and worked hard to bring it to life. Now they’re disappointed, and they may need someone to understand how much that tower mattered before they’re ready to rebuild.

Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development welcomes author Dr. Tovah Klein to the Hidden Language of Children podcast in the episode “Raising Resilience.” Their conversation explores how children develop the ability to move through difficult experiences.

Learning Grove teachers give these everyday moments thoughtful attention. They make room for disappointment and offer reassurance as children find their way forward. Our ongoing learning with Hanna Perkins deepens the understanding behind that care.

Your next classroom visit is a chance to notice how teachers respond when something goes wrong. This matters whether your child already attends or you’re exploring a potential preschool. Does a child have time to feel understood before being encouraged to try again? What might your child learn about their own feelings and abilities from that response?

🎧 Listen to “Raising Resilience” for a thoughtful look at the growing that happens when things don’t go as planned. Link in comments!

How do you find the words to thank someone who has spent a lifetime making the world better for others? We simply can't.

For more than four decades, Mike Hammons has given our community a future made brighter by his compassion and tireless service.

There are children whose lives will be better because of Mike, who may never even know his name. That is, perhaps, the most beautiful part of his legacy.

Mike, we will never have words big enough for our gratitude. 🌱

Michael Hammons, Northern Kentucky civic leader, retiring after decades-long legacy of regional leadership Michael Hammons, a longtime Northern Kentucky civic leader whose career has helped shape regional development, public policy and early childhood advocacy across the Commonwealth, is retiring after 15…

Michelle Toney, Learning Grove's FamiliesFORWARD Executive Director and VP of School Age Services, recently joined fellow community leaders for a thoughtful conversation at Philanthropy Ohio's Philanthropy Forward 2026 conference about the power of storytelling to inspire action and strengthen the impact of nonprofit organizations.

We were especially proud to share insights from our Widening the Lens initiative, where young people use their own voices to challenge perceptions and help shape the conversations that affect their futures.

Thank you to our hosts for bringing us together and to fellow panelists Amy Weber of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Caroline Lembright of Interact for Health and Patrice Watson of Soapbox Cincinnati for sharing their perspectives.

Sharing what we've learned is just as important as continuing to learn from others. When we lift each other's voices and strengthen each other's work, our whole community benefits. We're grateful to be part of that effort.

A baby's brain builds more than 1 million new neural connections every single second.

Imagine being part of that.

We're looking for a Lead Infant Teacher who understands just how extraordinary those earliest years are.

Infants learn best through loving relationships and hands-on exploration, so we don’t have baby bouncers doing the work of teachers. We're right there on the floor, making eye contact, encouraging discoveries and celebrating every little milestone.

Our beautiful, calming classrooms reflect nearly 50 years of early childhood expertise. We bring that same commitment to excellence to our teachers through meaningful professional development and a team that deeply values their work.

Ready to help build the foundation for a lifetime of learning with us? Link to careers page in comments.

Our educators at Learning Grove recognize parents and caregivers as the child’s first and best teacher. Your insight helps us understand what your child needs and shapes how we welcome them, prepare for transitions and offer comfort throughout the day.

Maybe it’s the name of a favorite stuffed animal or perhaps something has changed at home. Those details belong in the conversation!

In “The Importance of Parent-Teacher Relationships in Early Learning,” the team at Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development explores how trust between families and teachers supports a child’s experience.

When you imagine the right classroom for your child, can you picture a place where you feel heard, too?

Enjoy this conversation from Hidden Language of Children, then share a little piece of your child’s world with their teacher. We want to hear it!

Link to episode in comments.

We're so grateful for the employer partners, coaches and students that fuel our work with NaviGo Prep at Learning Grove. Keep your eye on their page for future events and opportunities.

Thanks for having us, Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky! We enjoyed the conversation and we’re grateful to members of The 410: Give Where You Live for coming together in this powerful form of philanthropy!

Thank you to Beth Wiseman of Learning Grove, Amanda Emmons Shumate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, and Stacie Strotman of Partners for Change for sharing their insights during last night's The 410: Give Where You Live NKY Educational Panel Discussion. We appreciate everyone who joined us for an engaging conversation about supporting youth, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for future generations.

As a reminder, nonprofit grant applications are due October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Submit applications here: https://bit.ly/4z5pzEl

This Head Start Awareness Month, we celebrate the promise of Head Start and Early Head Start: helping children grow and learn while supporting the families raising them.

We’re proud to bring that promise to life alongside Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission. Together, we connect local families with quality early education and essential support, giving children on both sides of the river a stronger beginning.

Northern Kentucky Education Council’s 2026 Fall Convening on October 27 is a free event that will bring educators, business leaders and community partners together to examine regional education and workforce data and identify practical ways to help more students move toward college, credentials and meaningful careers.

We hope you’ll add your voice to this important conversation. Our region’s future depends on the opportunities we create together.

The event is free. Registration is required, link in comments.

A tearful goodbye or a frustrated shout can leave you wondering what happened. Your child may be trying to tell you something they don’t yet understand themselves.

In “Understanding Child Behavior as Communication,” our partners at Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development explore the feelings beneath children’s actions. It’s a thoughtful invitation to pause and wonder: What is this child trying to tell me?

That question matters deeply at Learning Grove. Our ongoing professional learning helps educators recognize the emotional needs behind difficult moments. It informs how we guide your child with patience and care.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Hidden Language of Children. What might it help you notice about your child? Link in comments.