Kids Haven

What Kids Haven does

Kids Haven is a privately-held childcare and preschool operator headquartered in Buffalo, Minnesota, founded in 1991 by Terry Peterson and currently owned by Missy Sjolin (since January 2022). The company delivers age-segmented programs spanning infants (6 weeks to 18 months), toddlers (16 months to 2 years), preschoolers (2 years to kindergarten), and school-age children (kindergarten through age 12), supplemented by extracurricular activities (fitness, music, computer via ABC Mouse) and a summer program for ages 5–12. Instruction is anchored in The Creative Curriculum, a third-party scientifically-based framework Kid's Haven licenses, with meals exceeding USDA nutritional requirements. Operationally the company uses ProCare/MyProCare for parent communication and online enrollment.

The business runs on a recurring tuition model with weekly rates ranging from $235 (school age) to $295 (infants), daily rates from $60–$75, and flexible hourly pricing from $6.45–$11.79 depending on hours attended and age group, with multi-child discounts of 15–30% and a $75 registration fee. The company accepts Minnesota state childcare assistance. As of the input, Kids Haven operates two centers (Buffalo flagship since 1991; Waverly opened 2025), with a third Monticello location scheduled to open in early 2027, and has launched a franchise program to expand the Kid's Haven brand beyond Minnesota. Marketing is community-based — website, Facebook, parent testimonials, tours — and the company holds a Parent Aware 4-Star Rating (Minnesota's state quality rating system) and is a 2020 Verified Franchise Member of the Franchise Registry.

Customers are SMB families in Minnesota; there are no enterprise contracts. Leadership comprises founder Terry Peterson, owner/director Missy Sjolin, assistant director Shawna Fadden (with the company since opening day, 1991), infant supervisor/assistant director Jaclyn Marek, and age-group supervisors (Karri Smith, Kelly Klein, Shelly Althoff) supported by multiple classroom teachers. The company is privately funded (no external funding rounds disclosed) and operates with 11–50 employees across its locations.

Name

Kids Haven

Legal name

Kid's Haven Child Care & Preschool

Website

https://kidshaven.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kids Haven is a privately-held Minnesota childcare and preschool operator serving children from infancy through age 12 with age-segmented programs, the Creative Curriculum, USDA-compliant meals, and a franchise expansion model across multiple centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Day Childcare Centers (EDACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL), Infant-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAF), Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)

Keywords

• Childcare services
• Preschool education
• Early childhood care
• Infant daycare
• School-age programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Covington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Childcare Tuition: Weekly and daily tuition rates for childcare services across multiple age groups (Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School Age). Also offers flexible hourly rates based on hours of attendance per day.
2. Franchise Revenue: Franchise fees and support services for franchisees seeking to open Kid's Haven locations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kids Haven operates childcare and preschool centers providing full-day, part-day, and before/after-school programs for children from 6 weeks through 12 years of age. Services are delivered across age-grouped classrooms (Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, School Age), supported by the Creative Curriculum, USDA-compliant meals, and supplemental programs such as extracurriculars and summer camps. The business also sells franchise rights for geographic expansion of the Kid's Haven brand.

Product overview

Kid's Haven offers a comprehensive childcare and preschool service with age-based programs spanning from infancy (6 weeks) through school age (12 years). The core portfolio includes six main programs: Infants Program, Toddlers Program, Preschool Program, School Age Program, Extracurricular Activities, and Summer Program. These programs are supported by the Creative Curriculum (a scientifically-based educational framework), healthy meals exceeding U.S.D.A. requirements, and the ProCare parent communication platform. The company also offers a franchise model for geographic expansion. Programs serve children from 6 weeks to 12 years, with tuition rates varying by age group and daily hours of attendance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infants Program Childcare program for infants from 6 weeks to 18 months, providing a soothing and quiet environment with gentle touches and caring staff to ensure children feel safe and loved.
• Toddlers Program Childcare program for toddlers from 16 months to 2 years, supporting developing independence through age-appropriate toys and fun activities in equipped rooms.
• Preschool Program Preschool program for children from 2 years to Kindergarten, using The Creative Curriculum - a scientifically-based, comprehensive child care curriculum for learning and development.
• School Age Program Before and after-school care program for children from Kindergarten to 12 years, providing new challenges, close friendships, and increasing responsibilities for older learners.
• Extracurricular Activities Fitness, music, and computer activities available for all ages to keep children engaged with fun physical and educational activities beyond regular childcare.
• Summer Program Summer program for children ages 5-12 featuring drama classes, fun weekly field trips, and craft classes during summer break.
• Healthy Meals Nutritious meals and snacks that exceed U.S.D.A. requirements, served for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack, with menus available for parents to view.
• Kid's Haven Franchise Franchise opportunity for individuals to open Kid's Haven childcare and preschool centers. Currently expanding in Minnesota with a goal to expand to other states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years serving Buffalo, Minnesota and surrounding areas since 1991
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Creative CurriculumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKid's Haven uses The Creative Curriculum, described as 'the country's leading scientifically based, comprehensive child care curriculum for infants to age 12'.
• MyProCarecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline enrollment and parent portal platform used for new family registration and ongoing parent communications
• State of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKid's Haven accepts state assistance for childcare payments and operates under Minnesota state requirements for childcare facilities including immunization records and health care summaries

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Primrose Schools: National franchise-based early education provider offering infant-to-school-age programs; highly comparable to Kid's Haven in its use of a proprietary curriculum framework and franchise-led expansion model.
• Goddard School: Franchise preschool and childcare brand with proprietary curriculum serving infants through pre-K and school-age; directly comparable to Kid's Haven in age span, curriculum-led positioning, and franchise distribution.
• New Horizon Academy: Minnesota-headquartered childcare and preschool operator with comparable full-age programming (infant through school-age) and Parent Aware quality ratings; the closest direct competitor operating in the same regional market.
• Kids 'R' Kids Schools: Franchise-based early learning provider with full infant-through-school-age programs and proprietary curriculum; closely comparable to Kid's Haven's franchise-led, curriculum-centric model.

Broad incumbents

• KinderCare Learning Companies: Largest U.S. provider of early childhood education operating thousands of centers; competes broadly for working-family childcare demand but at much greater scale and corporate reach.
• Learning Care Group: Operates multiple national childcare brands (Childtime, Tutor Time, La Petite Academy, Everbrook Academy); overlaps with Kid's Haven across the full infant-to-school-age service spectrum.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large multi-site early education and childcare operator serving families and employer clients; comparable age-group offering and curriculum-driven positioning, though at significantly larger scale.
• Cadence Education: Multi-brand U.S. early childhood education platform (including Cadence Kids); competes in the same infant-through-pre-K segment as Kid's Haven with broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Guidepost Montessori: Network of Montessori early childhood schools serving infants through elementary; an adjacent competitor for preschool-age families evaluating curriculum-led alternatives.

Others

• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities (Childcare Programs): Regional nonprofit operator of before/after-school care and preschool programs in Minnesota; an indirect alternative for working families and an ecosystem participant competing for the same school-age and summer-program demand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KidsHavenChildCareandPreschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kids-haven-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kids Haven