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Youthland Academy opens in Middletown

Thomas Embry, left, 3, and Bryce Collins, 4, play together with a wooden train set Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Youthland Academy preschool/child care center in Middletown.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Thomas Embry, left, 3, and Bryce Collins, 4, play together with a wooden train set Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Youthland Academy preschool/child care center in Middletown.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 8:28 PM Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — A kaleidoscope of sippy cups lay stacked and drying in a rack at Youthland Academy.

Soon, Kathi-jo Barry will be refilling them with juice and milk for the 11:30 lunch. There are 17 hungry infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are anticipating the spaghetti and meatballs she’ll whip up.

“Seventeen is nothing,” she said. “When you get 100 kids in here, then it gets fun.”

As the oldest of 38 grandchildren, the co-owner and administrator of the new preschool and day care said getting everyone all together made for “quite a hectic family reunion.” But it also helped her realize that she wanted a career in early childhood education.

“I’ve always had a passion for working with children,” she said. “Working with various ages from (infants) to school-aged kids, there is such a wide range of growth that goes on during that time I just thought I could really make an impact.”

While Barry has worked with Youthland Academy for 16 years, this is her first time owning her own franchise. Joe Porter, her father whose 10 siblings helped breed her education working with children, is a partner in the business.

The duo sought out a move to Middletown when personal research showed there was plenty of opportunity for a new business. The facility looks nothing like the former Ryan’s Steakhouse that previously occupied the building at 4435 Marie Drive. The landlord helped reconfigure the building to accommodate nine classrooms, office, indoor play space and a kitchen. Porter said they invested in an outdoor playground complete with Astro Turf.

Already, 25 children have enrolled since Youthland opened its doors Jan. 11. Barry said they can accommodate up to 145 from infants to age 12 and will register special needs children on a case by case basis. With six full-time employees currently, they will boost the workforce to 25 once they reach capacity.

The school’s curriculum is based on Ohio Academic Content Standards and includes letter recognition, painting, fine motor development and social skills, Barry said.

“There should never be a dull moment while the kids are here. They should be actively learning all day,” she said.

Youthland will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 20-21. For more information, call (513) 217-5444.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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