🚨 Alternate location during flood restoration
The Little Village Play Cafe will be closed for the month of October.
During this time our Little Learners classes will be hosted at Dandy just a couple miles away on Vliet Street.
Milwaukee’s #1 play-based class series for toddlers.
In 90 fun-filled minutes, kids ages 1–3 enjoy storytime, music, parachute play, sensory stations, and an art project. All led by our Director of Early Years Education, Miss Kristin.
With rotating seasonal themes and a focus on social-emotional growth, it’s the perfect mix of learning, play, and connection for Milwaukee families.
These 90-minute classes are held weekly on Mondays at 8:30am or 10:30am. Sign up for drop-in classes, or get 2 classes for free when you sign up for the full semester.
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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - mon 10/6
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, is there enough room? Let’s find out as we explore letters and the ABCs together!
Enjoy an interactive story time filled with rhythm and rhyme, followed by music, movement, and hands-on alphabet activities that make learning fun from A to Z!
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Crunch, Crunch, What's That Sound - mon 10/13
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Crunch, crunch… what’s that sound? It’s the magic of fall all around!
This week, our Little Learners class is all about leaves—their colors, textures, shapes, and the joyful sounds they make.
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Old McDonald Had A Farm - mon 10/20
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
A joyful, farm-themed experience full of music, play, and hands-on learning.
Children will explore animals, sounds, movement, and art through the lens of the classic “Old McDonald” song and a fun animal riddle!
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Little Monsters - mon 10/27
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Get ready for a monstrously good time in our Little Monsters class!
Kids will love creating goofy goggly-eyed crafts, squishing and shaping colorful monster play dough, and diving into a spooktacular sensory adventure. It's a wildly fun experience full of giggles, creativity, and just the right amount of silly scares!
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Turkey Time - mon 11/3
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Turkey fun for our little learners! Let’s gobble like turkeys with catchy songs, a cozy storytime, and colorful art projects.
We’ll make turkey crafts and enjoy lots of silly, hands-on fun that will have everyone flapping their wings and sharing big smiles!
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Community Helpers - mon 11/10
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Let’s thank our amazing community helpers! Get ready to celebrate our firefighters and police officers with fun crafts, big smiles, and plenty of gratitude.
It’s a chance to get creative and show love to the heroes who help keep us safe!
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear - mon 11/17
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Join us as we dive into the colorful world of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.
This beloved story will guide our learning through rhythmic text, bright illustrations, and friendly animal characters.
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Bear Say's Thanks - mon 11/24
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
Through joyful songs, a heartwarming story, and meaningful art projects, we’ll celebrate all the things that make us feel thankful.
Children will have the chance to express their appreciation in creative ways and learn about kindness and generosity.
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If You Give A Mouse A Cookie - mon 12/1
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… you’re in for a fun-filled day! Join us for storytime with this beloved book, followed by creative, hands-on activities inspired by the story.
And yes — we’ll be munching on some yummy cookies along the way!
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Celebrations Around The World - mon 12/8
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
How do we celebrate? How do others celebrate? Let’s learn about it together through songs, creative crafts, and party-inspired sensory fun!
We’ll make our own festive decorations, explore traditions from around the world, and discover what makes each celebration special.
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Holiday Lights - mon 12/15
8:30-10:00am & 10:30am-12:00pm
What sparkles at night during the holiday season? Are they lights on the house, candles glowing inside, or stars twinkling in the sky? It’s time to play with light!
Through bright and beautiful art and sensory activities, we’ll explore all the ways light brings joy during the holidays.

Meet Miss Kristin
Little Learners Educator & Director of Early years education
Miss Kristin is the heart behind our Little Learners toddler classes, bringing over a decade of classroom experience and a passion for play-based learning.
As a proud East Tosa mom, she blends open-ended teaching methods with sensory exploration, music, art, and movement to spark curiosity and joy in every child.
Now in her third year leading our Little Learners series, Kristin creates a welcoming, engaging environment where children build confidence, make friends, and reach new milestones — all while having fun.
Little Learners faqs
Here’s everything you need to know before your first visit. If your question isn't answered, please email learn@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com and we'll get back to you asap!
What is Little Learners?
Little Learners is our signature 90-minute, play-based class for toddlers in Milwaukee.
Each session blends storytime, music, parachute play, sensory and craft stations, and open playtime; creating a perfect mix of learning, creativity, and fun.
Every class follows a theme inspired by favorite seasonal and evergreen topics like dinosaurs, leaves, pets, or things that go.
How long are Little Learners classes?
Little Learners classes are 90 minutes long.
What is the class format?
Class timelines may vary slightly, but for the most part, we try to follow this format & timeline:
- 10 min: Check-in & intros
- 20 min: Parachute play & storytime
- 45 min: Sensory & art stations
- 15 min: Open play & goodbyes
What will my child gain from these classes?
Our approach focuses on building both academic readiness and social-emotional milestones:
- Making friends, practicing sharing, and learning teamwork
- Trying new things and finding creative solutions
- Expressing feelings in a safe, encouraging space
- Building language through play and conversation
Do you offer drop-ins?
Yes! You’re welcome to join us for a single class. Drop-In classes are $35 each.
However, we’ve seen the most success when families join for a month or semester at a time. This consistency helps children build on skills week to week and form lasting friendships. Semester sign-ups also include a discount.
What’s included with each class?
Every child goes home with:
- Art project
- Snack
- Juicebox
- New skills, memories, and confidence
Do members get special perks?
Yes! Little Village members receive one free Little Learners class per month and 10% off all additional classes. Learn more about our membership program here.
Who teaches Little Learners?
Little Learners is led by Miss Kristin, our Director of Early Years Education, who is now leading this series for her third year. She’s passionate about creating meaningful, play-based experiences for young children and building connections with families.
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Yes! We offer sibling rates so the whole family can join in.
- Second Child: 20% off
- Third Child: 25% off
- All Additional Children: 30% off
What is your cancelation or sick policy?
If you miss a class due to illness or travel, please email learn@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com and we will do our best to reschedule you for another time. Same day cancelations are not refundable.