Our Village might be drying out, but the our play-based classes and peer support groups aren't taking a break.
While our café is under restoration from last week’s flood (oof, what a whirlwind!), we’re so grateful to be able to keep all of our classes running at some amazing local partner spaces this month. It’s been beautiful to see how our community has rallied together to make sure the magic continues for our Little Learners, Early Readers, and Baby & Me Peer Group alike.
Here’s where you can find our classes this October 👇
⸻
Little Learners at Dandy
Our beloved toddler classes are headed to Dandy for the month of October, and honestly, we couldn’t dream up a cooler backdrop for sensory play and storytime!
📍 Dandy — 5020 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Hosted by our Education Director, Miss Kristin Heacox, these play-based toddler classes are packed with songs, stories, art, and sensory fun. All infused with the same joy, curiosity, and connection you know and love from our Little Village classes.
We can’t wait to see our colorful toys and curious toddlers juxtaposed against Dandy’s vintage, eclectic, totally Instagram-worthy vibe. ✨
October themes include:
🌴 10/6: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
🍁 10/13: Crunch Crunch — What’s That Sound?
👩🏻🌾 10/20: Old McDonald Had a Farm
👻 10/27: Little Monster
🚗 Parking Tip: There’s construction on Vliet Street, so we recommend parking in the Wick Park lot across the street. After class, check out the newly renovated playground — it’s one of our family’s favorite spots!
⸻
Early Readers at Little Geese Shop
Our preschoolers are cozying up this month at Little Geese Shop in the Tosa Village, right inside their stunning Golden Goose Room in the back.
📍 Little Geese Shop — 7601 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Hosted by our Education Director, Jenni Shine, this brand-new program has been such a joy to launch and see come to life. Early Readers is designed to spark a love of books and storytelling through music, movement, literacy-building play, and hands-on creative projects... all in true Little Village fashion.
If you haven’t seen this space yet, you’re in for a treat, it’s absolutely gorgeous and designed by our dear friend Sam Smith, who also helped bring our own space to life.
Classes run from 12:00–1:30 PM, with an optional brown-bag lunch add-on at 11:30 AM for kiddos who want to eat before we dive into stories, songs, and hands-on literacy fun.
October Themes Include:
🌕 October 7: Under the Harvest Moon — short /u/ sounds
🌾 October 14: Scarecrow’s Farm — short /e/ sounds
🕷 October 21: Spooky Spiders — initial /s/ sounds
🧁 October 28: Monster Muffins — initial /m/ sounds
🚗 Parking Tip: Park in the lot across from The Ruby Tap and cross 76th Street to reach Little Geese. Enter through the shop’s front door and head straight through to the Golden Goose Room in the back.
⸻
👶 Baby & Me at Little Geese Shop
Our cozy Baby & Me Peer Group (& if weather permits, Stroller Walk!) is also launching from Little Geese Shop this month!
📍 Little Geese Shop — 7601 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Hosted by Education Director Kristin Heacox, this Monday afternoon peer group (1:30–2:30 PM) is the perfect chance to connect with other caregivers while getting some fresh air and gentle movement.
We’ll have a pop-up drink bar set up in the back of the shop so you can grab your drink before the walk begins. You’ll find some of our community favorites on the menu — the Cherry Cobbler Matcha, Cinnamon Roll Cold Brew, Cherry Pie Refresher, and Salted Caramel Chai.
☔️ If the weather’s crummy, we’ll do what we always do: plop down some cozy blankets and hang out in the back space. You’re going to love it.
🚗 Parking Tip: Park in the lot across from The Ruby Tap and cross 76th Street to reach Little Geese. Enter through the shop’s front door and head straight through to the Golden Goose Room in the back.
⸻
💛 A Big Little Village Thank You
We want to give a huge thank you to our incredible Little Village staff (especially Miss Jenni & Miss Kristin!) who have shown so much flexibility and teamwork as we explore new spaces and continue our programs through this temporary move. You’ve pivoted, packed, unpacked, and made every new corner feel like home, and we couldn’t be prouder or more grateful.
An extra big thank you goes out to Danielle Linn from Little Geese Shop and Ryan and Jessica Day from Dandy, who so generously shared their spaces with us so that our classes could continue during our build-out.
Both the Day and Linn families are longtime Little Village regulars and dear friends of our community, and the moment they heard about our flood, they were eager to help. Their camaraderie, kindness, and support have truly carried us through this chapter, and we’re endlessly grateful.
⸻
We’re reminded every single day that this is what “being the village” looks like, showing up for one another, sharing what we have, and keeping the joy alive even when things get messy (sometimes literally).
If you’ve been looking for a way to support Little Village (and have a blast with your kiddos while doing it), signing up for one of our classes is the perfect way to do it. Each class helps sustain our staff, keeps the learning alive, and reminds us why we built this space in the first place.
👉 Sign up now to join us at one of our pop-up class locations this month. We can’t wait to see you!
With love,
Abi & The Little Village Team
