📌 Building Kidz

After navigating the challenges of raising four young children while serving in the military, Jarred and Ashley Nicholson opened a preschool designed around safety, creativity and accessibility for working families.

On any given morning inside Building Kidz in North Spring, toddlers move between science experiments, music activities and imaginative play while teachers guide them through lessons that blend structure with creativity. One classroom might be exploring colors through dance; another could be building early engineering skills with hands-on STEAM projects.

To Jarred and Ashley Nicholson, it looks exactly like the kind of child care environment they spent years searching for as parents themselves.

The couple, parents to four children under the age of 4, including 3-year-old twins, a 2-year-old and a newborn, opened Building Kidz in 2026 after experiencing firsthand the instability and uncertainty many families face when trying to find dependable care.

“We got tired of complaining,” Jarred said. “We realized if we wanted something better for families, we needed to help create it ourselves.”

That decision led the Nicholsons to launch a locally owned Building Kidz franchise serving families throughout Spring, The Woodlands and north Houston communities spanning ZIP codes 77373 through 77389. Just months after opening their first location, the couple expanded with a second campus as enrollment demand continued to grow.

For the Nicholsons, however, the business is about far more than expansion. It is about building trust with families navigating one of the most emotionally significant decisions a parent can make.

“As parents, you want to know your child is safe, loved and learning while you’re away,” Ashley said. “That peace of mind matters.”

The idea for Building Kidz emerged during a particularly hectic chapter of family life.

As an active-duty Army JAG officer, Jarred understood structure, leadership and responsibility. Ashley brought a background in marketing and communications. But neither had experience operating a licensed child care center.

What they did have was lived experience as overwhelmed parents.

“We’ve only been parents for about three years,” Jarred said with a laugh, “but our children have attended more child care centers than they’ve had birthdays.”

Frequent relocations associated with military life often forced the family to search repeatedly for reliable care. Along the way, they encountered both positive and frustrating experiences that shaped their understanding of what families truly value in early childhood education.

Safety and communication consistently rose to the top.

“We wanted parents to walk into our school and immediately feel connected,” Ashley said. “Not like they’re dropping their child into a system, but into a community.”

The couple ultimately chose to franchise with Building Kidz to gain operational guidance and educational support while still maintaining hands-on local ownership.

Even then, launching the business came with steep learning curves.

“We had no idea what it meant to run a licensed center,” Jarred admitted. “Every day was something new.”

Licensing regulations, staffing requirements, curriculum implementation and operational logistics quickly became part of daily life, all while continuing to raise four very young children at home.

“It definitely meant a lot of long days and no days off,” Ashley said. “But when you care deeply about your families, you do what it takes.”

Building Kidz distinguishes itself through a curriculum that blends STEAM education, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, with performing arts and life-skills development for children of all ages.

Unlike many programs where enrichment activities come with additional fees, the school includes performing arts instruction as part of standard tuition.

“All children receive the same opportunities,” Ashley said. “We never wanted creativity or arts access to feel like an ‘extra.’”

That philosophy reflects broader research emphasizing the role of music, movement and creative expression in early childhood development. At Building Kidz, lessons are designed to help children develop academically while also building confidence, communication skills and emotional awareness.

“We know parents are juggling a lot,” Jarred said. “Our job is to be a reliable support system for them.”

Affordability also remains central to the school’s mission.

As working parents themselves, the Nicholsons understand the financial strain many families face when searching for quality care.

“We completely understand how hard it is to pay for child care,” Ashley said. “That’s why we’re committed to making quality care accessible.”

Although Building Kidz has only been operating for a few months, the response from local families has exceeded expectations.

Enrollment has steadily increased, prompting the owners to expand earlier than originally planned. The school is also preparing to launch its first summer camp program, adding seasonal learning opportunities for families throughout the region.

The Nicholsons hope to continue developing partnerships within the community as the business grows.

“We want to be involved locally and truly know our families,” Ashley said. “That’s important to us.”

That emphasis on connection often comes naturally, especially given the owners’ stage of life. Conversations with parents frequently extend beyond academics and schedules to include shared experiences about sleepless nights, toddler milestones and balancing work with family life.

“There’s an understanding there,” Jarred said. “We’re living it, too.”

In many ways, that relatability has become one of Building Kidz’s defining strengths.

For the Nicholsons, the school represents more than a business venture. It is a direct response to the realities they experienced as young parents searching for trustworthy care and an effort to create the kind of environment they once hoped to find themselves.

“We want families to feel welcome here,” Ashley said. “We want children to feel inspired here. And we want parents to know they’re not alone.”

As Building Kidz continues expanding in Spring and surrounding communities, the owners say their mission remains simple: provide safe, enriching and accessible early education rooted in genuine care.

Families interested in learning more can visit buildingkidzschool.com/schools/north-spring/, schedule a tour or follow Building Kidz on social media for updates about enrollment and summer programs.

Our goal is simple: spotlight the people behind local businesses, share their stories, and help you connect with what’s happening in town

Elias Rhodes | Publisher, Conroe Insider