Early Readers is our brand-new preschool enrichment program designed as the natural next step after Little Learners.

In this 90-minute class, children ages 4–6 build early reading skills through stories, art, music, and play.

Each class is 90 minutes, and includes the option to add on a 30 minute lunch.

Classes focus on a weekly sound family explored through books, playful phonics games, music, art, and storytelling. Kids learn in small groups with plenty of hands-on activities.

• Here is a typical weekly class format:

1. Welcome Circle & Word Play – Greeting game + warm-up sound play
2. Syllable Practice – Clap/tap/stomp beats in themed words
3. Onset–Rime Work – Break CVC words into first sound + rest of the word
4. Phoneme Practice – Blend, segment, manipulate, delete, substitute sounds
5. Storytime & Sound Hunt – Read a book tied to theme, listening for the focus sound(s)
6. Sensory/Art/Music/Drama – Hands-on, arts-integrated, seasonal play
7. Wrap-Up Circle – Share favorite sound/word + goodbye song
   

Take-Home Activity – Playful parent-child practice for home

Early Readers is designed for children ages 4–6 who are ready for a preschool-style, drop-off class. It’s a natural next step after Little Learners and is especially well-suited for kids in junior kindergarten or those preparing to start kindergarten soon.

At this age, children are curious, eager to learn, and beginning to build the social, emotional, and early literacy skills that will carry them into school. Our play-based approach ensures each child is met right where they are—whether they’re just starting to notice sounds in words or already beginning to blend them together.

Little Learners is all about sensory exploration for toddlers, while Early Readers takes the next step -- introducing preschoolers to the building blocks of reading in a fun, age-appropriate way.

Yes! Early Readers is designed to wrap around half-day pre-k programs in the Wauwatosa and Milwaukee school districts—giving kids extra time to learn and play while parents get an extra 90 minutes for work, errands, or just a little breathing room.

Because of this, we offer two session options:

AM Sessions

• Tuesdays, 10–11:30 AM
• Perfect for kids enrolled in afternoon pre-k.
• After class, children can stay for an optional add-on lunch at the café from 11:30am–12:00pm before heading to their afternoon pre-k classes. (Wauwatosa PM JK starts at 12:30pm.)
• 🔗 Register for the AM Session here

PM Sessions

• Tuesdays, 12–1:30 PM
• Perfect for kids enrolled in morning pre-k. (Wauwatosa AM JK ends at 10:55.)
• Families are welcome to join us for an optional add-on lunch at the café from 11:30am–12:00pm. After lunch, Early Readers class begins right at 12:00PM.
• 🔗 Register for the PM Session here

Yes! Kids are invited to stay for an optional add-on lunch before or after class, depending on which session they’re enrolled in.

Lunch is served snack-plate style - our most popular dish at the café! Each plate is served on a vintage cafeteria tray and includes:

• 1 main item (like french toast sticks, chicken tenders, or mac & cheese)
• 3 sides (berries, cheese, crackers, yogurt, etc.)
• Kids drink

Plates are pre-selected each week and posted at check-in, and we’re always happy to make modifications for kiddos with allergies.

• AM Session families: Lunch is served from 11:30–12:00, right after Early Readers, before heading to afternoon pre-k.
  
• PM Session families: Lunch is served from 11:30–12:00, before Early Readers begins, after morning pre-k lets out.
  

Lunch can be added ahead of time when you register, or the morning of class at check-in.

The cost for lunch is $10 per child.

Early Readers is designed to meet preschoolers right where they are and help them grow in ways that matter most at this age.

Each week, your child will:

• Build early reading skills through playful phonics, sound blending, and storytelling.
• Grow in confidence and independence as they engage in small-group learning without a caregiver present.
• Strengthen creativity with art, music, and movement woven into every lesson.
• Develop social skills by learning alongside peers in a supportive, welcoming environment.
• Discover a love of learning in a space that feels safe, joyful, and full of encouragement.

All of this happens in a play-based, hands-on format - so while they’re learning the building blocks of reading, they’ll also be laughing, exploring, and having fun.

Early Readers is led by Miss Jenni, our Director of Preschool Programming. A mom of two with a background in international education and music, Jenni has spent over a decade working with young children and designing creative, inclusive learning spaces.

She pioneered the Early Readers program here at Little Village, weaving together her love of stories, music, and sensory-rich play. In every class, Jenni meets kids right where they are, helping them build confidence, independence, and a joyful foundation for reading.

Families love her warm approach and the way she makes every child feel welcome, supported, and inspired.

To get the best results from this class, we highly recommend enrolling for the full fall semester.

Consistency helps children feel comfortable, build strong relationships, and grow socially, emotionally, and academically. When you sign up for the full semester, you’ll also receive 2 free classes as a bonus, with monthly payment options available to make it easier on families.

That said, we know some families may want to try things out first. For that reason, we also offer weekly drop-in sessions—a great option for testing the class before committing to the full semester.

Yes! When you enroll in the full semester, you’ll receive 2 classes free as a thank-you for committing to the full session.

Families also have the option to spread tuition out with monthly payment plans, making it easier to budget while still giving your child the consistency that helps them thrive.

Yes! Daydreamer Members enjoy several exclusive benefits when enrolling in Early Readers (and all of our classes):

• 1 free class per month (and yes, Early Readers may be redeemed as that free class!)
• 10% off all additional classes
• Priority registration so you get first dibs on this popular program before it opens to the public
  

Membership is the best way to save, secure your spot, and make the most of everything Little Village offers.

>> Learn more about becoming a member here! >>

Grown-ups should plan to stay on site during class, but we encourage them to remain in the café area so kiddos can gain independence by participating in the class on their own. This setup helps children build confidence and social skills while knowing their caregiver is nearby if needed.

For parents and caregivers, it’s also a chance to take a breather—whether that means enjoying a coffee or meal, catching up with a friend, getting some work done, or finally reading that book you’ve been carrying around. Everyone gets a little something out of class time!

Absolutely! We love when siblings get to learn and grow together.

To make that more accessible for families, we offer tiered sibling discounts on tuition:

• Second child: 20% off
• Third child: 25% off
• Any additional children: 30% off

Learning side-by-side not only makes the experience more fun, but also helps kids build social and emotional skills while sharing in the joy of discovery as a family.

We know little ones get sick and family schedules sometimes change. That’s why we have a clear cancellation and sick policy that’s shared at registration.

While missed classes cannot be refunded, we do our best to support families with options when life happens.

If your child is ill or you have a question about your schedule, just reach out to us directly, we’re here to help. You can email learn@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com to reschedule your class.

Early Readers is designed to wrap around half-day preschool and junior kindergarten schedules in the Wauwatosa and Milwaukee school districts.

• AM Session (10–11:30 AM on Tuesdays): Perfect for children enrolled in afternoon pre-k. After class, kids can stay for an optional add-on lunch (11:30–12:00) before heading to school.
  
• PM Session (12–1:30 PM on Tuesdays): Perfect for children enrolled in morning pre-k. After school, kids can join us for an optional add-on lunch (11:30–12:00), and then head right into Early Readers at 12:00.
  

This timing allows families to extend their child’s day with 90 minutes of play-based literacy learning—a chance to reinforce skills, build confidence, and make new friends, all while giving caregivers a little extra time for themselves.