Milwaukee Early Childhood Education & Fall Enrollment
Why Early Learning Matters: Preparing Your Child for School and Beyond at Kid-Tastic
Choosing child care is about more than finding a safe place for your child during the day. The right early learning environment can help children build communication skills, confidence, independence, social awareness, and the academic foundation they will carry into elementary school.
At Kid-Tastic Child Care in Milwaukee, we provide programs for children from 6 weeks through 13 years of age, including infant care, preschool, our K3–K5 Elementary Prep School, before and after school care, summer programming, and transportation options for qualifying programs.
The Early Years Build the Foundation for Future Learning
Early childhood is a period of tremendous growth. Children are developing language, learning how to interact with others, beginning to solve problems independently, and building the skills needed to function successfully in a classroom.
“Early childhood education is critical in preparing children to enter and succeed in the classroom.”
This observation appears in Wikipedia’s overview of early childhood education, which summarizes research on the relationship between early education, cognitive development, social relationships, and later school success.
For Milwaukee parents preparing for the next stage in their child’s education, this is one reason Kid-Tastic focuses on learning throughout the entire day—not only during formal lessons.
Learning Happens Through Relationships
Some of a young child’s most important learning experiences happen through everyday interactions with caring adults. Teachers who listen, respond, ask questions, encourage exploration, and provide consistent support help children develop both cognitive and social skills.
“Responsive, attentive relationships with a caring adult help build a strong foundation for a child’s brain architecture.”
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University describes these responsive back-and-forth interactions as “serve and return.” Harvard explains that these exchanges support social, cognitive, and language development.
At Kid-Tastic, those everyday interactions are an important part of our approach from infancy through preschool and elementary preparation.
Play and Academics Can Work Together
Strong early education does not require children to sit at a desk all day. Young children benefit from a balance of intentional instruction, hands-on activities, movement, conversation, exploration, and play.
“Developmentally appropriate practice” promotes learning through a “strengths-based, play-based approach to joyful, engaged learning.”
That definition comes from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the country’s leading professional organizations for early childhood education.
NAEYC also emphasizes that high-quality early learning should consider each child’s individual development, experiences, family, culture, and learning needs.
Kid-Tastic’s Accelerated Learning Model for Ages 3–5
For families looking for more than a traditional preschool experience, our K3–K5 Elementary Prep School incorporates an enhanced Accelerated Learning Model.
The program provides children ages 3–5 with a structured, small-class learning environment designed to strengthen:
- Early reading and writing skills
- Math and STEM exploration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Following multi-step directions
- Independent learning habits
- Focus and classroom participation
- Social-emotional development
- Self-help and kindergarten readiness skills
Our goal is not simply to introduce academic concepts earlier. We want children to develop the confidence, independence, curiosity, and classroom habits that can help them transition successfully into elementary school.
Wisconsin’s Early Learning Standards Recognize the Whole Child
Early learning goes well beyond letters and numbers. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards address multiple connected areas of development, including health and physical development, social-emotional development, language and communication, approaches to learning, cognition, and general knowledge.
“Children learn through play and the active exploration of their environment.”
The Wisconsin standards also emphasize that children develop at different rates and that early relationships matter. Those principles align closely with Kid-Tastic’s approach to providing structured learning while still allowing children opportunities to explore, interact, move, create, and grow.
Why Play Still Matters as Children Prepare for Kindergarten
Academic preparation is important, but children also need opportunities to practice communication, cooperation, creativity, and emotional regulation.
“Play helps build important social-emotional, cognitive, language and self-regulation skills.”
That guidance comes from HealthyChildren.org, an educational resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization explains that play supports both learning and the safe, nurturing relationships children need to thrive.
This is why Kid-Tastic combines structured learning with group activities, movement, creative experiences, social interaction, and opportunities for children to practice new skills in different ways.
Programs for Every Stage of Childhood
Families have different needs depending on their child’s age, school schedule, and developmental stage. You can explore all of Kid-Tastic’s options on our
Child Care Programs page.
Infant and Toddler Care
Our youngest children receive nurturing care with age-appropriate activities such as tummy time, sensory exploration, music and movement, early language exposure, reading, and outdoor experiences when weather permits.
Elementary Prep School
Children ages 3–5 can participate in our Elementary Prep School, featuring our Accelerated Learning Model and a strong focus on kindergarten readiness.
Before and After School Care
School-age children benefit from a safe, structured environment before and after the school day, including homework support, enrichment activities, social time, and dependable supervision.
Summer Programming
During summer, Kid-Tastic offers additional activities and experiences designed to keep children engaged, active, social, and learning while school is out.
Free Transportation Makes Child Care More Convenient
For many working families, finding a strong educational program is only one part of the challenge. Getting children where they need to be each morning and afternoon can make child care much harder to coordinate.
Kid-Tastic offers free transportation for qualifying programs, helping families simplify school drop-offs, pickups, and before- and after-school care.
Our goal is reflected in the Kid-Tastic promise:
Quality. Convenient. Affordable.
Now Enrolling for the 2026–2027 School Year
Kid-Tastic is currently accepting enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year. Families seeking infant care, preschool, K3–K5 elementary preparation, or before and after school care are encouraged to begin the enrollment process early because classroom availability is limited.
If you’re comparing child care or preschool options in Milwaukee or Wauwatosa, we invite you to learn more about our programs, visit our center, and see which option best fits your family.
Visit Kid-Tastic Child Care in Milwaukee
Kid-Tastic Child Care
4610 W. State Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
Phone: 414-502-5515
