Center aims to develop well-rounded students
Kiddie Academy in N.B. offers both fun and educational services
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

JENNIFER AMATO A classroom of 2- and 3-year-olds plays with blocks as part of morning playtime at the Kiddie Academy learning center on Route 1 in North Brunswick.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - More than just a baby-sitting service or a day-care center, Kiddie Academy on Route 1 south is an institution designed to teach young children their basic skills while increasing their sociability and interaction with the world around them.

"Socializing, emotional skills and self-esteem [building] in the initial stages can build their self-esteem and make them more independent, and that really helps," Director Seema Singal said.

The center offers before- and after-school care from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with transportation to and from school for 6-week-olds to 12-year-olds. During the school year, a typical day begins with an hour of socializing followed by breakfast. Circle time then allows the children to review shapes, letters, numbers, Spanish and sign language. Different projects are then available to the classrooms, including outside play, story time, finger plays, phonics, basic writing and science projects. After lunch the children enjoy a nap, and then the cycle repeats for the afternoon shift. Weekly activities are also provided, such as computers on Tuesday, yoga on Wednesdays and gymnastics on Thursdays.

Children are encouraged to stay the entire day or during a half-day shift from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can leave their children for a few hours at a time if space is available.

"A lot of children stay all day," Singal said. "Some of the parents are waiting for me in the parking lot at 7 a.m."

Because of the demographics of the area, the academy is an extremely multi-cultural establishment, with components of all heritages being recognized. There are celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Chinese New Year and St. Patrick's Day, for example.

"We try to focus on culture so that the children are aware of different cultures," Singal said.

The center also holds activities such as family picnics, pumpkin painting, an international pot luck dinner, Dessert with Dad, a hop-a-thon and a trike-a-thon.

"[Parents] know it's a combination of family enrollment and learning a lot. They feel safe. They feel confident that their children are happy here," the director said.

In addition, the 40 staff members have an average retention rate of three to 11 years, so children become familiar with the same teachers year after year. As a whole, the academy is certified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for its curriculum and the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation for health and safety.

Another added feature is a camera in each classroom so that parents can observe their children using the Internet.

"They don't feel totally disconnected. The parents can come at any time to see the children," she said.

Although enrollment for the summer camps is currently completely booked, Kiddie Academy provides in-house activities as well as outside field trips for students during their break from school.

"The campers who have been here before come back. It feels more like they're at home. It's summertime so let's go back home and come back here," Singal said. "The summertime program is not that intensive but we try to maintain something educational so the children do not forget anything."

The learning center is based out of Maryland and consists of 19 franchises across New Jersey owned by Harsh and Sonia Chadha. The academy on Route 1 has been at its current location for over two years after moving from its nine-year stay at a different complex.

"We maintain high standards and we work hard to maintain high standards with training, customer service and family enrollment," Singal said. "Besides coming here and being nurtured and taken care of ... [the children] learn their basic skills like the alphabet, numbers and shapes, while at the same time playing. The child develops as a whole [because] we're not just concentrating on one thing," she said.

Singal said the academy also seeks community outreach, providing their services wherever necessary. The center provides a care service during back-to-school nights and also collects pet food and clothing donations.

"We will be the first ones to help the community," she said.

For more information or to register a child, call (732) 940-9391 or visit www.kiddieacademy.com.