Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeat Fullerton.
Hi Leeat, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In addition to my wonderful roles of wife and mother, working with children is one of my greatest accomplishments. I grew up in Dallas and proudly graduated from The Hockaday School. I continued my education at Brandeis University, where I earned my BA in Art History. Upon graduation, I began my work in art galleries from Boston to Dallas to NYC. After several years in the art world, I focused my creative skills in the television world on the West Coast. When my husband and I decided to have children, we knew we wanted to raise Texans! We returned to Dallas to start the next journey of our lives. I started teaching art to preschool-aged children and this blossomed into years of experience in developing early childhood programs, running someone else’s private early childhood facility and, now, growing my own kids garden.
During this chapter of my life, I have been lucky enough to mix all the passions of my life – family and early childhood education. I have two wonderful children to learn from and influence on a daily basis — Judah, 18, and Pesha, 16, as well as many amazing sprouts that allow me to nurture them. It is a pleasure and an awesome adventure to be involved in children’s individual creativity and discovery. It makes my heart swell to know that I am involved in tending to their ingenuity.
Kids Garden Club enriches our sprouts’ social, emotional & educational growth through unique programming such as our Cutesy Colors Art Class and Wind Chime Orchestra Music Classes. We also offer drop-off camps whenever school is closed as well as birthday parties and tutoring. We cater to sprouts ages 12 months – 6.75 years. We are entering our 10th year and the majority of its success can be attributed to our creative & magical professional, local Dallas musicians. They bring the energy & light every time they walk in the door and the children adore them!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Kids Garden Club, KGC, is a small, woman owned business located in the affluent neighborhood of Preston Hollow. Every month is a struggle to pay our exorbitant rent. KGC strives to cater to our neighborhood and be a true partnership with the families that live in our area but sadly we get forgotten or people feel that our facility is for really small kiddos – so they stop sending their kiddos or thinking of us past the age 4 — although kiddos love coming and we are age appropriate up until almost 7 years old! We have seen more and more camps being offered through preschools over the years and that takes our business as well as so many nannys — it seems everyone must have one and that is another deterrent to people sending their children for a drop off. Another major challenge: COVID … we almost did not survive and we have been struggling ever since to get the word out. Due to the lack of neighborhood support, we will most likely have to close our doors in early 2026.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kids Garden Club?
KGC is one of a kind! There is not another facility like us. Warmth envelops you from the moment you walk in the door. We are the Garden and the children are our crop that we nurture, grow & bloom (ages 6 months to 6 years) through our caregiver accompanied class – ART, MUSIC & GYM, drop-off themed camps, full-service/turnkey birthday parties & tutoring.
We are a hidden gem (on the second floor of a strip mall) with a beautifully decorated and arranged facility. We have a massive gym space for running & jumping, a music room with a stage and equipment for our full band as well as a wonderful classroom space and a waiting area with books, a play kitchen and more!
Drop Off can be very difficult for some kiddos and the set up of our facility coupled with our incredible staff allows for quick acclimation so they can move past their separation anxiety and get to the fun!
When it comes to kiddos age 6 months – 6.75 years, we have years & years of knowledge and experience.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Licensing can be difficult and cumbersome so make sure to be fully knowledgeable regarding that aspect prior to opening. Make sure to have a mom’s group, or several, to aid in word of mouth recommendations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kgcdallas.com
- Instagram: @kgcdallas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kgcdallas/
