Kiddie Academy in Broadview Heights is providing young learners the opportunity to learn via play—and it’s changing everything
By Patricia Nugent
Necessity is the mother of invention.
When Dave Bhayani was researching and touring local facilities for childcare for his 2-year-old son, the process left him looking for a more enriching experience. The quest drove him to open his own educational childcare center—Kiddie Academy—in Broadview Heights last summer.
“When I researched the different approaches to enrichment, this methodology of having active learning and play-based curriculum stood out,” says Dave, who lives in the community. “Children excel when they learn with their whole bodies, explore their environments freely and discover how to relate to others.
“Our group activities help children with more than sitting in a desk or at a screen. They play a physical and mental role in the learning.”
Dave says when he found the perfect facility, he took it down to the studs to renovate it to his exacting specifications. In addition to state-of-the-art, developmentally appropriate classrooms, there’s also an inviting outdoor playground. He’s put together an experienced staff of energetic and inspiring teachers at Kiddie Academy, many of whom have bachelor’s degrees and are trained in the curriculum specific to the rooms they teach in. Staff, facilities and curriculum are overseen by Academy Director Nicole Campbell.
Opportunities to Excel
Through the Academy’s Life Essentials philosophy of teaching, the curriculum is designed to educate and nurture, creating individual opportunities for children to excel.
Developed for a wide variety of ages and learning styles, the focus is on six outcomes to prepare a child for life: character, confidence, curiosity, connection, critical thinking and creative expression.
Kiddie Academy provides the foundation for good citizenship, strong social-emotional development, imagination-building, problem-solving skills and ultimately the passion to become lifelong learners.
Ready for School
A critical benchmark for students is the Preschool and Pre-K program, which enables learning experiences and creativity to shine in an environment that encourages curiosity and exploration for kids.
Kiddie Academy curriculum helps children become confident communicators, through books, poems, songs and stories The goal is to build a core of mathematics skills, too, teaching them to recognize relationships among numbers and quantities that will give them a head start as they head off to school.
Whatever age or stage a student is at, part of the overall program is partnering with parents to collaborate for the best outcomes.
The academy provides a bevy of resources on its site called Parenting Essentials.
Today’s parents are always looking for tips and ideas to extend the enrichment at home, whether that’s the STEM program or introducing healthy eating and fitness suggestions and Kiddie Academy provides that.
A Strong Mission
Kiddie Academy of Broadview Heights have some great reviews online from their families which shows Kiddie Academy is a standout preschool.
The Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care system has been preparing young minds for future success since its founding in 1981. With more than 400 independently owned franchises throughout the United States, Kiddie Academy provides quality educational child care for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years.
Dave explains, “Our Life Essentials curriculum focuses on activity-based, hands-on learning that makes it fun for children and teachers. We believe that nurturing a lifelong love of learning is an asset that children can carry from our Academies into their homes and communities.”
Kiddie Academy is located at 99 Ken Mar Industrial Parkway in Broadview Heights. Call 440-740-8999or visit KiddieAcademy.com/academies/broadview-heights/ for more information and to schedule a tour.