Little Munchkins Learning Center
Children at play in the classroom
We offer rolling enrollment
Waitlist applications open

Join Our Family!

A fully licensed, child-centered family daycare in the Lower Haight — continuous care for children 3 months to 5 years, in classrooms of no more than six.

Call (415) 308-8470
Currently accepting applications

A day in our classrooms

Music, movement, art and open-ended play — with time set aside every morning for each child to name how they are feeling. Every classroom also gets a full hour outside in our private, fully enclosed play space, gated and used by our children only. Come see it for yourself: we welcome parents into the classroom any day of the week.

6
Children per
classroom
3mo–5yr
Continuous
care
8–5:30
Hours of
operation
1 hour
Daily outdoor time,
private play space
Little Munchkins classroom Little Munchkins classroom Little Munchkins classroom
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Our program

Little Munchkins is a fully licensed, child-centered family daycare offering continuous care for children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years old. We believe that this affords our children the opportunity to develop deep, trusting relationships with our teachers, as well as the chance for our families to form a strong sense of community within our center.

Our mission is to bring the structure and standards of large, center-based care to the home environment. Each classroom is no larger than 6 children to provide flexibility, as well as individualized care that meets the needs of each child.

Enrollment application

Tell us about your munchkin

Takes about three minutes. We reply within two business days to schedule a tour — nothing is committed by applying.

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Our philosophy

Play is how the brain grows.

Little Munchkins is a child-centered program founded on the philosophy that play is essential to healthy brain development, emotional maturation, and the growth of physical and cognitive abilities.

We are now happy to announce Little Munchkins is welcoming Montessori methodical classrooms — where children can grow and develop academically and socially with their peers until ready for K-12. Montessori contains one-on-one lessons between teacher and student, as well as independent curriculum. Children will grasp typical to complex materials according to their level of education to succeed with ease.

Children will be able to communicate their wants and needs healthily by creating an environment rich with music, movement, and art. We provide children the ability to flourish, while nurturing their creativity, independence, and imagination.

Our goal is to create a thriving community alongside our families and teachers to bridge the gaps between home, school, and the world around us. We have an “open classroom” policy with our parents and strongly encourage parent involvement through classroom participation and community events.

Come see an open classroom in person.
Our schedule

Hours of operation
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Sample schedule — schedules vary according to each classroom.

Our private backyard play space, with a shade sail, slides, water table and bougainvillea
1 hour
of outdoor time every day — for every classroom — in our own private, fully enclosed play space.
Shaded, cushioned and gated, right behind the school.
8:00–9:00
Greeting / Breakfast / Open Classroom Activities

Children and families are greeted upon entering the space and sign themselves in. Self-directed areas of play are set up around the space, allowing children to choose activities independently and acclimate to the school day.

9:00–9:30
Housekeeping and Morning Circle

After working together to tidy the classroom, children gather with the teacher to discuss the day ahead. The daily Morning Circle includes topics such as the day of the week and current weather, as well as providing each child the opportunity to identify and discuss their current emotions in order to encourage an open dialogue surrounding each child’s respective thoughts and feelings.

9:30–10:30
Morning Work Time

Children engage in self-directed projects either individually, or as a group. Projects and individual work may occur in any of the various centers which include: Art Studio, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Music and Movement, Reading and Literacy, Science and Collections, and Math and Manipulative.

10:30–11:30
Movement Activities

Children are given the opportunity to move about and exercise. Choices between yoga, dancing, jumping, and other gross motor activities provide children the opportunity to develop coordination, balance, and large muscle control.

11:30–11:45
Reflection and Sharing Circle

Children gather to discuss the day so far, share their work, and discuss group activities. This time also provides another opportunity for an emotional check-in, allowing the teacher further insight into the day’s activities.

11:45–12:25
Lunch Preparation and Lunch

Children wash hands and bring lunch boxes to the table. This time provides children the opportunity to socialize and practice their table manners.

12:25–12:45
Nap Preparation / Rest Time Stories

Children use the bathroom and gather for a pre-rest story time. After a short story, children make their way quietly to their mats for naptime.

12:30–3:00
Rest / Quiet Activities

Napping children rest on their mats, while children who require less rest time engage in quiet activities with the teacher.

1:30–3:00
Inside Free Choice / Skill Classes

After rest, the children may choose another activity inside the classroom. This time may also be used for a specialized Skill Class, such as Gardening, Cooking, or Photography.

3:00–3:30
Housekeeping / Wash Hands / Group Snack

After tidying the room, the children wash hands and enjoy a healthy snack together.

3:30–4:00
Afternoon Work Time

Children are once again offered the opportunity to work on individual or group projects that they began earlier in the day.

4:00–4:15
Final Circle / Stories / Songs

The class gathers with the teacher for a final time to discuss the events of the day. Children discuss what they liked and disliked about the day, as well as their hopes for tomorrow. The teacher may direct a story or song, depending on the interests of the children.

4:15–4:45
Movement Activities

Another opportunity to develop gross motor skills.

4:45–5:30
Open Classroom Activities

Similar to the morning, children choose activities to help prepare them for the end of the day.
Our story

Built for two of the Bay Area's crises at once.

Little Munchkins was created by a passionate group of teachers, parents, and Stanford Business School graduates with the aim of solving two of the Bay Area's current crises: the scarcity of childcare and the rapid pace at which Early Childhood Educators are being priced out of the city.

After undergoing a lengthy (and ultimately unsuccessful) search for childcare for his son Deven, Pramod Dabir felt inspired to create a better solution. Following their purchase of a Lower Haight apartment complex alongside a few close friends from Stanford, the idea began to take shape.

Pramod Dabir, Krista Maglugin, and Brian Wilson approached Taylor Thomas, an Early Childhood Educator at one of San Francisco's top infant centers and preschools. The aim was to build a structured, standardized network of in-home daycares that not only created affordable childcare options but provided housing for educators within the city.

Little Munchkins classroom Little Munchkins classroom
Contact us

Come say hello.

Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Little Munchkins classroom
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