<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHILDTIME LEARNING CENTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTIM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JERNEYCIC FRANK M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21333 HAGGERTY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOVI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48375</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Treasurer, &amp; CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Right to Purchase</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.90</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>47000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>47000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Right to Purchase</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.12</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>19800</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.12</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>19800</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option Plan - Right to Purchase</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.12</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>113000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.12</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>113000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>113000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting Person is permitted to acquire up to 47,000 shares of Issuer's Common Stock pursuant to this Right to Purchase.  If Reporting Person purchases less than 100,000 shares pursuant to this Right to Purchase, the number of shares subject to the Option granted to Reporting Person on May 7, 2003, will be reduced to equal the number of shares actually purchased by Reporting Person under this Right to Purchase.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reporting Person is permitted to acquire up to 19,800 shares of Issuer's Common Stock pursuant to this Right to Purchase.  If Reporting Person purchases less than 19,800 shares pursuant to this Right to Purchase, the number of shares subject to the Option granted to Reporting Person on the Transaction Date, will be reduced proportionately (see note 3 below).</footnote><footnote id="F3">The Option vests at a rate of 22,600 shares per year, for five years, on each anniversary of the Transaction Date, commencing August 1, 2004.  The Option vests immediately upon a change in control of the Issuer.  In addition, the vesting of the shares subject to the Option is further subject to Reporting Person purchasing 19,800 shares from Issuer, pursuant to the Right to Purchase granted on the Transaction Date at $2.12 per share, within 11 days after the Transaction Date.  If Reporting Person purchases fewer shares pursuant to such Right to Purchase, the number of shares subject to the Option will be reduced proportionately, with a number of shares equal to the amount of the reduction being forfeited.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Frank M. Jerneycic</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



