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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9
                                    CHILDTIME
                              Children's Centers(R)
                                     [logo]

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


Leonard Tylka:

Pursuant to the 1995 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees, as amended (the
"Plan") of Childtime Learning Centers, Inc. (the "Company"), the Company hereby
grants you, effective March 27, 2001, an option (the "Option") to purchase
10,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company (collectively, the "Shares") at
$7.97 per share, upon the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and
in the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

1.       The Option is intended to be a non-qualified Option, as defined in
         Paragraph 1(f) of the Plan.

2.       The Option may not be transferred by you other than by will or by the
         laws of descent and distribution and, during your lifetime, the Option
         is exercisable only by you.

3.       Subject to the other terms contained in this Agreement and in the Plan,
         you may exercise the Option in accordance with the following schedule:

         a.       Prior to the first anniversary date of this Agreement, you may
                  not purchase any of the Shares.

         b.       Beginning on the first anniversary date of this Agreement, you
                  may purchase up to 33% of the Shares.

         c.       Beginning on the second anniversary date of this Agreement,
                  you may purchase up to 66% of the Shares.

         d.       Beginning on the third anniversary date of this Agreement, you
                  may purchase up to 100% of the Shares.

4.       Subject to earlier termination of the Option pursuant to Paragraph 16
         of the Plan, the Option will expire (to the extent not previously
         exercised) on the sixth (6th) anniversary of the date of this
         Agreement.

5.       Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option will become immediately
         exercisable with respect to all of the Shares upon occurrence of a
         "Change in Control." For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
         Control" of the Company shall occur if any person or other entity other
         than Childtime Associates or KD Partners II, including any person as
         defined

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         in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, becomes
         the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act of
         1934), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty (50%) of the total
         combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company
         normally entitled to vote for the election of Directors of the Company.

6.       The Option shall be exercised by giving a written notice to the
         Treasurer of the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of
         Shares to be purchased and shall be accompanied by payment in full (by
         means specified in Paragraph 7, below) of the aggregate option price
         for the number of shares purchased and by the representation required
         by Paragraph 18 of the Plan if the Shares to be issued upon exercise of
         the Option have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933.
         Such exercise shall be effective only upon actual receipt of such
         written notice, and no rights or privileges of shareholder of the
         Company in respect of any of the Shares issuable upon exercise of any
         part of the Option shall inure to you or any other personal who is
         entitled to exercise the Option unless and until certificates
         representing such Shares have been issued.

7.       The aggregate option price for the number of Shares to be purchased
         shall be payable in cash, or with the consent of the Compensation
         Committee that administers the Plan, in Common Stock of the Company
         pursuant to Paragraph 11 of the Plan.

8.       Nothing contained in this Agreement or in the Plan, nor any action
         taken by the Compensation Committee, shall confer upon you any right
         with respect to continuation of your employment by the Company of any
         of its subsidiaries, nor interfere in any way with the right of the
         Company or any subsidiary to terminate your employment at any time.

9.       If, upon or as a result of, your exercise of the Option there shall be
         payable by the Company any amount for income tax withholding, you shall
         promptly pay such amount to the Company to reimburse it for such
         withholding.

Very Truly Yours,

Childtime Learning Centers, Inc.
a Michigan Corporation



By: /s/ James Morgan
    -----------------------------------------
    James Morgan, Interim President and CEO

THE ABOVE IS AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

/s/ Leonard Tylka
---------------------------------------------
Leonard Tylka

Dated:  April 25, 2001


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