The History of TLC

TLC Executive Director Matt Eldred and one of TIny Tim’s founding Parents, George Lefever.

TLC Executive Director Matt Eldred and one of TIny Tim’s founding Parents, George Lefever.

In the 1950s, Longmont's parents of children with disabilities had few options for their children to attend school close to home. They could do as they were advised and place their children in institutions or they could keep their children at home with no local, specialized programs to meet their children's needs. In 1956, that changed when a group of Longmont families took action on their shared vision:  their children would be able to stay in their community AND receive the necessary therapies and educational experiences critical to their development. They founded The Tiny Tim Learning Center.

In 1990, The Tiny Tim Learning Center preschool moved to an inclusive preschool model, serving children with and without special needs. This inclusive educational model has resulted in assisting all children to reach their highest potential through individualized support and encouragement.

In 1997, The Tiny Tim Learning Center expanded to include pediatric therapeutic services to children from birth to 12 years of age. Through this program, we offered individualized therapy sessions in the home, at our therapeutic facility, in our preschool classrooms, or at other community sites that enhance the development of the child. Our therapists also offered support to our local hospital nursery staff and families who had infants with special needs, and they provide quarterly screenings and follow-up support to Longmont’s local teen parenting program.

In 2013, The Tiny Tim Learning Center became TLC Learning Center, a new name for a new era of inclusive childcare and pediatric therapy services.

In 2014, TLC launched our infants & toddlers program, creating a continuum of care spanning from eight weeks until children are ready for kindergarten.

In the following years, TLC grew by adding new toddler and preschool classrooms, now totaling nine classrooms dedicated to infant, toddler, and preschool learning. Our therapeutic services team practices in a variety of settings: within the Center’s early learning classrooms, in clients’ homes, in our Center-based therapeutic spaces, and in the community. Therapy services are provided both in-person and via Telehealth, depending on families’ needs.