Since opening in August, The Woodlands' Kidville franchise has continued to grow in popularity while the store has also been building a community of parents and families.

"We've really got a community here," owner Karen Roberts said. "Moms are friends with other moms. Kids are friends with kids. They don't just come for the classes and leave and that's it."

The educational center provides classes such as art, dance, gym, music and a pre-school alternative for children from newborns to age 6, Roberts said, as well as enrichment classes ranging from engineering to science to language classes.

Kidville also offers distinctive, full-service birthday parties with cake, presents, crafts and dramatic plays from the staff. She said birthday party themes have focused on everything from Dora the Explorer to an Egyptian themed party.

Most members of the staff have a theater background, which gives them the opportunity in their plays to walk like dinosaurs, pretend to be princesses and move like ninjas, Roberts said.

"We can take any idea and run with it," she said. "We love kids. We love to play with kids."

Roberts said enrollment grew 40 percent in the first semester, and 2013 will see the facility's first summer camp for children ages 2–6.

She said the camp will offer gym, art and music for three hours a day and even provides diaper changing, unlike most summer camps.

Kidville, 4747 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, 281-651-5403, www.kidville.com