Recent study of parents and educational leaders indicates high-quality learning opportunities outside of school are in demand. KidzArt International meets the need.

New Braunfels, TX (EMWNews) August 7, 2008 — While students are preparing to head back to school in August and early September, many of their parents will be investigating and evaluating after school programs that can enhance their children’s education. Parents across the nation are looking at after school programs as learning opportunities that can boost their children’s growth and academic advancement.    

“Many parents use after school, summer and weekend programs to broaden their children’s experiences outside the core academics of the classroom,” says Shell Herman, CEO and co-founder of KidzArt. “Quality after school programs have the potential to ’round-out’ the child and bring him or her those extra elements and experiences that extend beyond what the school curriculum provides.”

According to a recent study conducted on behalf of The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (May 2008), only 49% of parents of school-age children are satisfied with the learning opportunities available for their children outside of the regular school day, such as after school and summer programs. The study revealed that many parents and educational policy leaders believe an important need exists to increase the availability of high-quality learning opportunities outside of the regular school day.

Additionally, 84% of the parents surveyed said that providing a well-rounded education, not just in traditional academic subjects, but also in art, music and other subjects was either critical or very important.

KidzArt, an international art education program that provides drawing-based, multi-media visual arts instruction for kids from preschoolers to teens, offers a constructive, creative outlet that encourages self-expression and communication. The organization’s after-school and summer camp classes provide children with a guided foundation for drawing, but also encourage brainstorming and creative thinking. Daniel Pink, best-selling author and expert on right-brain thinking, once referred to KidzArt as “a program that is helping to encourage and support the creative innovators of tomorrow.”

“KidzArt allows children to explore, express and be motivated by their artwork in a noncompetitive, calm yet fun environment, which promotes analysis, interpretation and other skills that build children’s brainpower,” says Herman. “Many parents are seeking dynamic enrichment and educational programs outside of the school curriculum that can help their kids further develop practical life skills, such as problem solving and critical thinking, while engaging in fun art activities that help them focus.”

Hands-on, out-of-the-classroom type of learning, like KidzArt and other complimentary educational programs, is being looked at favorably by education and policy leaders in addition to parents.

For more information on after school programs in your local area, call KidzArt at 800-379-8302 or visit www.kidzart.com.

About KidzArt

Founded in 1998, KidzArt is an international art enrichment franchise company that helps kids of all ages (including senior citizens) explore their inner artistic potential in a safe, structured, non-competitive environment. KidzArt ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Top New 50 Franchises for 2007, was named Top Children’s Art Franchise for 2006 and has been in the Franchise 500 for the past six years. In addition, KidzArt was named a “World-Class Franchise” by the Franchise Research Institute for 2006 and 2007. Franchising since July 2002, KidzArt has franchised units throughout the US and internationally. To find out more about KidzArt visit www.kidzart.com or call 800-379-8302.