30 years of smiles! - Kingwood

Published: Oct 08, 2018, 10:30am

As a stay at home mom with a 2 Â½ year old son, Diane Havens, a former elementary PE teacher, yearned for her "other' passion--teaching children movement education. In 1988 she began teaching motor development classes on the mornings her son was in preschool. These classes were held in the original Kingwood YMCA, in one room with avocado and harvest gold shag carpet!

As the YMCA moved into its current facility, Kids In Action took over their space. They were the first in Kingwood and surrounding areas to offer birthday parties and motor development classes for the young children.

As educational studies started to focus on the importance of motor and music development in young children, Kids In Action took their program "on the road'. Kids In Action became an enrichment program for over 15 preschools from Kingwood, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Cypress, Katy and beyond. Mrs. Diane is a certified trainer and has had the privilege of educating teachers in her creative movement lessons in over 20 different states!

Diane's part time passion turned into something bigger with the help from her daughter Heather. Heather, an academic and athletic counselor at Rice University took a leap of faith and resigned from her career in 2011 to focus on growing Kids In Action into what it is today! At this time Heather and Diane were inspired to create an after-school program that focused on movement, community involvement, education and fun.

By 2013, Kids In Action was busting at the seams and getting requests to create a private pre-school program. Fortunately, 3838 Woodland Hills came on the market and they couldn't pass up the opportunity. Diane's two room dream turned into a giant building sitting on 3 acres, with several playgrounds and a pool. After countless hours, debates, blood sweat and tears, the ladies made the purchase. Diane, Heather and their staff moved into the building on a Wednesday and school began that Monday!

Their new purchase came with growing pains, construction, a child care wing, a small pre-school program, new staff and new families. Since 2013, Kids In Action's afterschool program grew from 35 students to 110 students--from 12 staff to 49 staff! Over this period of time, they have added 2 new playgrounds, a ga ga pit, 5 bathrooms, fenced in the property, 3 new classrooms and 2 outdoor education decks. Their preschool program now has a total of 6 classes!

Kids In Action also offers Parent's Night Out, Mommy and Me classes, Kindermusik programs, gymnastics, holiday camps and summer camps. Their birthday party themes have expanded to include bubble ball soccer, ninja warrior course, nerf wars and blacklight dodgeball. They also offer the best community Halloween Party and Haunted house in the area every year!

Being in business for 30 years has given Diane and Heather the privilege of seeing generations of students come through the building. Their staff trainings have helped employees to go on to become amazing teachers! Kids In Action is truly a business about family.

Kids In Action has won several awards over it's 30 year history. Reader's Choice for: Best Early Education & Best Child care for the past 4 years, Nickelodeon's Best summer Camp, Reader's Choice for Best Children's Entertainment, Reader's Choice for Best Summer Camp, Small business of the Year Nominee by Lone Star College and Mrs. Diane as Women's Entrepreneur of the Year by Family Time. Kids In Action loves what they do!