Childtime
Childtime is a private US childcare and early education brand operating 200+ licensed schools across 10+ states under Learning Care Group, serving children aged 6 weeks to 12 years through proprietary curricula and the SproutAbout family communication platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersNovi, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Childtime does
Childtime is a private US childcare and early childhood education brand operating 200+ licensed schools across 10+ states under the Learning Care Group umbrella (legal entity: Learning Care Group (US) No. 2 Inc.). The company serves children from 6 weeks through 12 years of age, offering a tiered curriculum portfolio including Infant Care, Toddler, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, Private Kindergarten, Before & After School care, Drop-In Care, School Break Camps, Summer Camp (Wondercamp), and enrichment electives (Spanish, Soccer, Yoga, Music, Dance, Phonics, Handwriting & Advanced Math, Fitness). Programs are anchored by proprietary curricula including Learn from the Start (infant milestones) and a personalized Learning Pathway system supporting transitional kindergarten readiness.
The technology stack consists of two proprietary applications: SproutAbout, an exclusive family communications platform providing live streaming video of classrooms, real-time updates, photos, and direct messaging between teachers and parents; and myPath, a teacher-facing application providing 1,000+ strategies and behavioral guidance resources. The Grow Fit wellness initiative supplements core programming with healthy meal provision and nutrition education. Multiple locations hold NAEYC, NECPA, Texas Rising Stars, Michigan 5-Star Quality Rated, and Quality First accreditations, and participate in state-funded Pre-K programs (Michigan GSRP, Arizona DES, New York UPK).
Childtime generates revenue primarily through recurring tuition billed weekly or monthly at the school level, supplemented by one-time registration fees and recurring enrichment elective charges. Pricing is quote-based and varies by location and program. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer via the corporate website, phone inquiries (877.624.2602), online tour scheduling, and on-site enrollment. The company also operates an Employer Solutions channel through its parent Learning Care Group, partnering with employers for employee childcare benefits. State and federal subsidy programs (USDA CACFP, Child Care Aware of America, military family assistance) provide additional access points for price-sensitive segments. Reported outcomes include 90%+ kindergarten readiness mastery among Pre-K completers based on the Bracken School Readiness Assessment.
Childtime firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Childtime
- Legal name
- Learning Care Group (US) No. 2 Inc.
- Website
- https://childtime.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Childtime is a private US childcare and early education brand operating 200+ licensed schools across 10+ states under Learning Care Group, serving children aged 6 weeks to 12 years through proprietary curricula and the SproutAbout family communication platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Childtime industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Childcare Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (624410), Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA), Part-Day Childcare Centers (EDACAAAB), Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers (EDACAHAB), Drop-In / Flexible Infant & Toddler Care (EDACAGAG)
Keywords
Where Childtime is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Novi
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices23 records
Markets served
Childtime business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Childcare Fees: Recurring tuition revenue from full-time, part-time, and drop-in childcare programs. Programs include Infant Care, Toddler, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Private Kindergarten, Before & After School Care, Summer Camp (Wondercamp), and Drop-In Care. Billing varies by school (weekly or monthly).
- Registration Fees: One-time registration fees required for enrollment, separate from tuition charges.
- Enrichment Electives: Additional fee programs including Dance, Fitness, Handwriting & Advanced Math, Music, Phonics, Soccer, Spanish, Yoga, and Gymnastics offered beyond regular curriculum.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | Full-time daycare with unlimited weekly access |
| Subscription | Weekly | Part-time daycare with flexible scheduling |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Drop-in care for occasional use |
| Subscription | Monthly | School-age before and after school care |
| Other | Multi-year contract | State-funded free Pre-K programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Childtime product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Childtime operates licensed daycare, child care, and preschool centers serving children ages 6 weeks to 12 years through Infant Care, Toddler, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Private Kindergarten, Before & After School, Drop-In Care, School Break Camps, and Summer Camp (Wondercamp) programs. Programs are delivered at more than 200 owned-and-operated school locations across the United States under the Learning Care Group umbrella, with proprietary curricula (Learn from the Start, Learning Pathway, Transitional Kindergarten Plus) and the SproutAbout family communication app supporting parent engagement. Tuition is billed weekly or monthly depending on location, with one-time registration fees and optional enrichment electives (Spanish, Soccer, Yoga, Dance, Music, Phonics, Handwriting & Advanced Math, Fitness).
Product overview
Childtime is a childcare and early education company offering a comprehensive suite of programs spanning infant care through school-age services. The portfolio includes core daycare and preschool programs (Infant Care, Toddler, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Private Kindergarten), flexible care options (Before & After School, Drop-In Care, Part-Time Daycare), and seasonal programs (School Break Camps, Summer Camp/Wondercamp). Supporting offerings include Electives enrichment (Spanish, Soccer, Yoga, Music, Dance, Phonics, Handwriting & Advanced Math, Fitness) and the Grow Fit wellness initiative. Technology platforms include SproutAbout® for family communication with live streaming video and real-time updates, and myPath for teacher resources. The company also offers the Transitional Kindergarten Plus program for California families. Childtime operates under the Learning Care Group umbrella and is part of a family of school brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SproutAbout: Exclusive family communications app providing live streaming video of classrooms, real-time updates, photos, and messaging
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 90% of children who complete Pre-K program show mastery of kindergarten readiness skills (Bracken School Readiness Assessment, 4th Edition, Pearson Education, 2025)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Childtime
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Childtime technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Childtime partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered support and core.
- Child Care Aware of AmericasupportPartnership accepting families participating in Child Care Aware of America assistance programs, providing tuition discounts and subsidized childcare access.
- USDA Child Care Subsidy ProgramssupportAccepts USDA child care subsidies enabling low-income families to access quality early childhood education through government-funded assistance.
- Local School DistrictscorePartnerships with local school districts for transportation (bussing to/from elementary schools), Universal Pre-K (UPK) program participation, and school-age before/after care programs. Districts include Liverpool Central School District, Baldwinsville School District, Rockwood School District, Fox C-6 District, Utica Community Schools, and Chippewa Valley Schools.
- Michigan Department of EducationcoreState partnership providing Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) free Pre-K education to eligible four-year-olds at Michigan locations. State-funded program requiring compliance with state educational standards.
- Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES)coreArizona state partnership accepting DES child care assistance, enabling families with DES vouchers to access subsidized childcare at Arizona locations.
- Military Family Support ProgramssupportDedicated military family support including flexible scheduling for deployments, specialized programs for families at military installations (Kings Bay, etc.), and discounted tuition through assistance programs.
- Texas Workforce CommissioncoreParticipation in Texas Rising Stars quality rating system and Texas Workforce Commission Child Care Services program enabling state-subsidized childcare access.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Childtime competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tutor Time Child Care & Learning Centers: Sister brand under Learning Care Group with shared curriculum, technology platforms, and operational model. Comparable age-range coverage and family engagement approach with overlapping target customer segments.
- La Petite Academy: Sister brand under Learning Care Group offering similar infant-through-school-age programming, proprietary curriculum, and center-based operations. Most directly comparable in business model and service portfolio within the LCG family.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Publicly traded operator of large-scale early education and employer-sponsored care centers. Comparable in multi-site scale, corporate partnerships (Employer Solutions), and full-age-range programming from infant through school-age.
- KinderCare Learning Centers: Largest private competitor in US center-based early childhood education with comparable scale, age-range coverage, and proprietary curriculum. Operates owned-and-operated centers with similar employer solutions and family communication technology investments.
- The Goddard School: Premium franchise-based early childhood education system with proprietary play-based curriculum. Competes for similar working-family and education-seeking segments with comparable age range and accreditation focus.
- Everbrook Academy: Sister brand under Learning Care Group targeting premium segment with 21st Century Skills curriculum. Comparable in operating model and proprietary family engagement technology, with higher-end positioning than Childtime.
- Stratford School: Private academic preschool and elementary operator with strong curriculum focus. Comparable in emphasizing kindergarten readiness outcomes, proprietary curriculum, and serving education-seeking families willing to pay premium tuition.
- Primrose Schools: Nationally recognized early education franchise operator with proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum. Comparable premium positioning, multi-age programming, and franchise-driven geographic reach.
- The Children's Courtyard: Sister brand under Learning Care Group with shared service portfolio, curriculum, and operating infrastructure. Directly comparable business model serving similar customer segments in overlapping geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Cadence Education: Large multi-brand operator of early childhood education centers including Kids 'R' Learning Academies. Comparable in multi-site scale, multi-brand portfolio strategy, and employer solutions B2B offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Childtime social profiles
Digital presenceChildtime compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Childtime financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Childtime leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Childtime funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Childtime M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Childtime
What does Childtime do?
Childtime operates licensed daycare, child care, and preschool centers serving children ages 6 weeks to 12 years through Infant Care, Toddler, Twos, Early Preschool, Preschool, Pre-K, Junior Kindergarten, Private Kindergarten, Before & After School, Drop-In Care, School Break Camps, and Summer Camp (Wondercamp) programs. Programs are delivered at more than 200 owned-and-operated school locations across the United States under the Learning Care Group umbrella, with proprietary curricula (Learn from the Start, Learning Pathway, Transitional Kindergarten Plus) and the SproutAbout family communication app supporting parent engagement. Tuition is billed weekly or monthly depending on location, with one-time registration fees and optional enrichment electives (Spanish, Soccer, Yoga, Dance, Music, Phonics, Handwriting & Advanced Math, Fitness).
Is Childtime a public or private company?
Childtime is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Childtime founded?
Childtime was founded in 1967. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Childtime based?
Childtime is headquartered in Novi, United States, in the North America region.
How does Childtime make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Childcare Fees are the primary driver. The others are registration Fees and enrichment Electives.
Who are Childtime's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tutor Time Child Care & Learning Centers, La Petite Academy, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, KinderCare Learning Centers, The Goddard School, Everbrook Academy, Stratford School, Primrose Schools and The Children's Courtyard. Cadence Education is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Childtime have an API?
No public API is recorded for Childtime.
What industry is Childtime in?
Childtime's product category is Childcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAL, Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDACABAA, General Preschools (Play-Based). Its NAICS code is 624410 and its SIC code is 8351.