About Us
Hattie’s Playhouse is a privately-owned family childcare located in the heart of Venice, California. Our founder and director, LaTonya Smith, has over 20 years of experience working in early childhood education for the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. She established her own business in August 2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, offering her experience as a preschool teacher in her family home, so that she may continue to support the community and encourage and motivate children to enjoy learning.
“I wanted the name of my family childcare to honor my late grandmother Hattie Shockley, who always inspired me to pursue my dreams.”
Hattie’s Playhouse, known as “Mama's house” to my family and friends, is the place where my family and I spent our quality time on all holidays, birthdays, and weekends since I was a young child. We cooked, played games, watched movies and sports, sat and talked and listened to my grandmother's childhood stories — one of my favorite things to do as a child.
I’m grateful, and excited to share my home with other families, to teach children in a place where I grew up, a place filled with so many of my great childhood memories.
— LaTonya Smith, Founder and Director
Hattie Shockley
“Hattie’s Playhouse is created and inspired by love. Children learn, grow, play, explore and use their imagination to gain lifelong essential skills.”
— LaTonya Smith, Founder of Hattie’s Playhouse
