Animal Crackers Playhouse

A Boutique Pittsburgh Daycare opening Fall 2025
Schedule your tour today — we’re filling quickly!

What Makes Us Different

More Than Daycare — A Personalized, Play-Based Experience

At Animal Crackers Playhouse, we keep our class sizes intentionally small—ensuring every child receives focused, loving care. Unlike large daycare centers, our boutique program is designed for toddlers and preschoolers to thrive in a cozy, nurturing, and upscale environment.

Our Programs

  • Toddler

    Ages 2.5-3

    Gentle transitions, sensory play, and comfort routines

    Secure attachment and nurturing routines

    Hands-on exploration with textures, sounds, and movement

    Language-rich interactions and simple routines

  • Preschool

    Ages 3-4

    Creativity, connection, and confidence-building

    Art, music, movement, and imaginative play

    Guided social skills and emotional literacy

    Age-appropriate structure with lots of flexibility

  • Pre-K Prep

    Kindergarten readiness with heart

    Early literacy, math games, and science discovery

    Daily structure to build independence and responsibility

    Cooperative projects and group learning

    Optional school readiness assessments & parent updates

Activities & Meals

At Animal Crackers, we believe in child-led learning and provide numerous opportunities each day for children to explore their environment and engage in guided learning through play. This includes time spent in our dramatic play areas, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, spacious free-play and social areas, and so much more!

We also incorporate daily lessons in foundational education to help prepare our young students for kindergarten. Our Morning Meeting (4-5 y/o) and structured learning times feature activities such as number and letter recognition, color exploration, basic coding and science concepts, art, music, read-aloud stories, language experiences, sensory play, and early reading skills. Weekly themes - like colors, shapes, and numbers - reinforce learning while provide opportunities to explore new topics

Our little learners enjoy busy, active days filled with fun and self-paced educational experiences!

Breakfast

Our bright young faces start their day with a healthy and wholesome breakfast:

  • Oatmeal mixed with blueberries

  • Waffles topped with fresh banana slices

  • Scrambled eggs, toast, and apple slices

  • Pancakes with strawberries

  • Half an orange and cereal

  • Cheese cubes and crackers

  • Cucumber slices with hummus

  • Applesauce and graham crackers

  • Pretzel squares or a fruit cup

The children have an option for a late morning snack to stay fueled for the day ahead:

Morning Snack

Lunch

After a fun and active morning, the children are ready for some social time with lunch:

  • Grilled cheese, tomato soup, and apple slices

  • Chicken nuggets with sweet potato fries and green beans

  • Mac & cheese with a side of pear slices and peas

  • Chicken and cheese quesadilla with fresh salsa and chips

  • Pizza Friday! Choice of toppings with carrot sticks

Afternoon Snack

A small afternoon snack gives the children a little boost to finish their day well:

  • Animal Crackers

  • Jello cups

  • Mini muffins

  • Popcorn

  • Ice cream sandwiches (special days!)

Join the Waitlist

Animal Crackers Playhouse opens this Fall—and with just 10 exclusive spots available, we’re prioritizing families on our early interest list.

Join today to be first in line for a private July or August tour and priority enrollment before we open our doors.