In a region consistently recognized as one of the best places to raise a family, parents face an important decision: How do they ensure their children receive the quality early education that sets the foundation for academic success and personal growth?
For Karim Badani, owner of Ivy Kids of Johns Creek, the answer came through a personal journey of discovery. What began as volunteer work teaching financial literacy to middle and high school students evolved into a passion for early childhood education — a critical period when, according to developmental research, 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5.
“I used to work for a big bank, and I was doing financial literacy sessions with kids,” Badani explained. “But when I started managing an elementary school camp, that’s what really got me passionate about investing into early childhood education. You’re making a big impact when you’re teaching kids during their formative years.”
This realization prompted Badani and his wife to explore early childhood education franchises. When they discovered Ivy Kids, a brand with over 20 years of experience, they found their match. The Johns Creek location, which opened in August 2024, is the company’s first in Georgia, but expansion plans are already underway: Roswell will open this summer, with additional locations planned in Alpharetta and Suwanee.
Curriculum designed for every learner
What sets Ivy Kids apart is its foundation in educational research and child development science. The school’s multi-prep curriculum is based on Dr. Howard Gardner‘s theory of multiple intelligences — a framework that recognizes that every child learns differently.
“Everyone learns differently,” Badani said. “You may be an audio-visual learner, while I may be a naturalistic learner. There are all these different intelligences, or ways that a human learns, and our curriculum is designed with that in mind. No matter how a child learns, we’re able to meet the child where they are, versus what normally happens in education — the student has to adapt their learning to the teaching style of the teacher.”
This approach addresses a gap that many parents and educators have long recognized. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) is essential to supporting children’s development from birth through age 8. DAP ensures that teaching methods and environments match a child’s age, individual needs and cultural context.
Ivy Kids incorporates this philosophy across five core developmental domains: physical development, social and emotional growth, communication and literacy, cognitive development and approaches to learning. The curriculum also emphasizes play-based learning — recognized by NAEYC as a primary vehicle for exploration and meaningful learning.
Expanding horizons: language and STEM
Beyond traditional academics, Ivy Kids exposes children to Spanish beginning at age 2 and integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities twice weekly. This early introduction to foreign language and STEM fills a significant gap in the local market.
“A lot of foreign language and STEM don’t come into the picture until middle school,” Badani noted. “We’re trying to get them to focus on the full-child development. We expose them to robotics and coding, which is probably the most popular activity because kids get to play with robotic cars and program them. We’re teaching them robotics and coding in a fun way, so they’re interested in it, rather than looking at it as just another topic to learn about.”
The Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS) provide a framework for skills children should develop from birth through age 5.
Ivy Kids’ curriculum aligns with these state standards while going beyond them to offer enrichment opportunities that many traditional preschools cannot.
Nutrition as brain development
While curriculum captures headlines, Ivy Kids recognizes that proper nutrition is equally critical to brain development. The school’s Brain Bites menu features fresh, made-in-house meals — a rarity in the preschool landscape.
“Garbage in, garbage out, right?” Badani said. “The higher quality products you put in your child’s body, the better their brain is developing. We want to make sure we’re giving them the right nutrients that support brain development rather than hinder it.”
The commitment to nutrition is comprehensive. All bread products are 100% whole wheat. Fresh fruits — peaches, apples, oranges, blueberries — are cut in-house daily rather than served from cans or pre-packaged options. The school avoids high-fructose corn syrup entirely and sources higher-quality proteins, such as 93% lean beef instead of conventional options.
The diverse menu introduces children to various cuisines, from pizza on whole wheat crust to sweet and sour chicken, teriyaki chicken and butter chicken with Indian heritage. This exposure serves a dual purpose: it expands children’s palates and reduces picky eating.
“Sometimes parents don’t believe their child ate something at school that they won’t eat at home,” Badani explained. “The benefit is that kids see their peers — their friends, people their size — eating these foods. They become more motivated to try things when they see friends doing it.”
Measuring success through assessment
With quality education comes accountability. Ivy Kids employs rigorous assessment practices to track child development and share progress with families.
Every child from birth through age 5 completes the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), a tool typically administered by pediatricians at wellness visits. By conducting these assessments in-house and sharing them frequently with parents, Ivy Kids provides ongoing developmental tracking rather than waiting for annual checkups.
“These assessments help parents see where the child is excelling and where they need help,” Badani said. “They can have honest conversations with their pediatricians starting at age 2.”
For older preschoolers, the school uses in-house assessments aligned with learning objectives. Three-year-olds practice handwriting in personal handwriting books, learning to recognize and write letters. By the time children enter elementary school, these skills are established rather than shocking.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tracking developmental milestones is crucial for early identification of delays. Ivy Kids’ proactive approach aligns with CDC recommendations while providing families with actionable insights.
Summer learning that feels like fun
Parents face a perennial challenge: keeping children engaged during summer break without the “summer slide” that can erase academic progress. Ivy Kids’ summer camps address this through thematic weekly programming that integrates learning with adventure.
Each week features a different theme — “The Great Mess” involves hands-on activities like making slime, while science weeks include field trips to the Georgia Aquarium, local farms and nature conservatories. The “Flavor Lab” combines cooking with chemistry, letting children conduct science experiments using kitchen ingredients.
“Every single week is different, and the goal is to make science and all these different camps fun,” Badani said. “They have a morning huddle where they talk about what they’re going to learn, then they do those activities. We have fun summer camps that go along with the theme.”
The robotics and coding week has proven particularly popular, with children using Chromebooks to engage in age-appropriate programming activities.
Building community and character
Beyond academics and nutrition, Ivy Kids emphasizes what the school calls “World Changers” — soft skills, including honesty, generosity and community responsibility. These values come to life through hands-on service projects.
Each year, Ivy Kids organizes a diaper drive. They collected over 10,000 diapers last year for nonprofits serving families in need. Pre-K children participate in donations to Helping Mamas and the Duluth Co-op, learning generosity and understanding that not all children have access to basic necessities.
The school also hosts annual toy drives and canned food drives, involving children in the donation process.
“We want to start teaching them the art of giving at an early age,” Badani explained. “When they have two toys, they give one to a friend. By taking donations to a local nonprofit and getting our kids involved, we’re teaching them hands-on about helping others in need.”
Preparing for elementary and beyond
Ivy Kids’ impact extends beyond its walls. The school partners with several elementary schools, including State Bridge Crossing Elementary, Wilson Creek Elementary and Medlock Bridge Elementary.
Students have also been accepted to prestigious private schools including Woodward Academy and Fulton Science Academy.
“One of our three-year-olds just got into Woodward Academy a few weeks ago,” Badani noted. “The parent told me, ‘I don’t think this would have happened unless she came here for her preschool program.'”
This success reflects the school’s comprehensive approach. By addressing physical development, social-emotional growth, communication, cognition and approaches to learning — the five domains identified by NAEYC and state standards — Ivy Kids prepares children not just for kindergarten, but for a lifetime of learning.
Welcoming families into the community
For parents considering Ivy Kids, the school offers multiple entry points. Tours can be scheduled online, and the school hosts open houses and community events like the recent Spring Fling, featuring bounce houses and games.
It offers a summer party and a Parents Night Out where elementary-age children can enjoy activities while parents take a break for the evening. The $60 fee applies directly toward summer camp enrollment.
Karim Badani. Photo by Rannulf Media.
As the Roswell location prepares to open and additional sites are planned, Badani’s vision remains focused on the mission that inspired him: investing in children during their most formative years.
“No matter what you have in front of you, if you love learning, you’ll find a learning objective in it and have fun with it,” Badani said. “That’s what we want to ignite in every child — that love of learning.”
