Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy Announces STEAM AHEAD, Proprietary Curriculum Designed for Students Ages Three to Five

DULUTH, Ga., July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies, a national early childhood education franchise with three decades of experience, announced today its proprietary STEAM AHEAD™ pre-school curriculum is underway in its nearly 160 learning academies in 15 states across the country.  This unique curriculum is designed for students ages three to five and supplements the Kids 'R' Kids core curriculum with more opportunities to learn science, technology, engineering, art and math through play.     

STEAM AHEAD provides students with opportunities to be innovative, creative and inventive as they build strong foundations in five core areas of their education.  Kids 'R' Kids created the curriculum to enhance learning, by allowing students to be hands-on and develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.

"As we approach the back-to-school season, we are excited to offer this unique curriculum that encourages students at a very young age to be natural scientists by using reasoning, hypothesizing, predicting and theorizing while they play," said David Vinson, chief executive officer, Kids 'R' Kids, Inc. "We've based this curriculum on research that confirms that hands-on learning activities and projects in science, technology, engineering, art and math will enrich students' everyday learning, support academic growth and help inspire them to become lifelong learners."

Programs like STEAM AHEAD also help prepare students for the future.  The U.S. Department of Commerce projected that between 2008 and 2018, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) occupations would grow 17 percent, compared with 9.8 percent growth for all other occupations.  Across the country, there are 3.6 people for every one job, but in the STEM fields, there is one person for every 1.9 jobs, indicating a real need for people with an educational background in these four core areas.  

"Our curriculum is designed for students and teachers to explore STEAM AHEAD projects together with the teachers facilitating and guiding students and encouraging them to ask, 'why?'," said Troyann Hogans, a Kids 'R' Kids educational specialist and one of the three primary authors of the curriculum, along with Nell Moore and Laurie Alvord.  "We've based the curriculum on the work of educational theorists like Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget, who believe strongly that children learn more through play; and we've created high-quality learning environments that provide students with opportunities to observe, question, investigate, predict, build and share what they learn." 

STEAM AHEAD supplements the Kids 'R' Kids First Class Curriculum™, which is designed specifically for every developmental stage of education with theme-based units, specific learning activities and teacher-friendly lesson plans.  With a nationally accredited curriculum, Kids 'R' Kids provides education and care for children from six weeks through 12 years of age at its nearly 160 schools located in 15 states across the country. For the last 30 years, Kids 'R' Kids has upheld its long-standing principle – "Hug First, Then Teach" – in which it works to strengthen and encourage childhood development on an emotional, intellectual, social and physical level through a unique partnership between its child care providers and parents.

Programs offered at Kids 'R' Kids include infant care, toddler and preschooler care, private Pre-K and kindergarten, before-and-afterschool care and summer camp. In order to provide even more convenience for families with busy schedules, every Kids 'R' Kids school remains open during all major school breaks and holidays year-round.

Kids 'R' Kids was the first preschool accredited by AdvancED^® in America, the world's largest education community. This accreditation ensures its schools are meeting and exceeding the high accreditation standards and providing excellence in education beyond most daycare and childcare providers.

For more information about STEAM AHEAD and Kids 'R' Kids, or to enroll your child at a Kids 'R' Kids center, please visit kidsrkids.com.

About Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies

Headquartered in the North Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Ga., Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies provide a secure, nurturing, and educational environment for children (ages six weeks - 12 years) to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. With nearly 160 learning academies in 15 states, Kids 'R' Kids International® is a family owned and operated organization that ranks in the top 10 nationwide for franchised early childhood education centers (www.kidsrkids.com).

CONTACT:  
Elayne Sommers  
Fish Consulting 
(202) 588-8138 
[email protected]

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SOURCE Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies

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http://www.kidsrkids.com