The KAUST Children’s Center provides children in grades 1-3 with a safe, happy, and balanced environment to socialize, learn and grow after the academic day at the Gardens Elementary School (GES). The program provides priority support for families in our community with both parents, and a single parent, working for or studying at KAUST.
Located in the ECC 3, in the heart of the Gardens residential neighborhood, the KAUST Children’s Center has the capacity to accommodate up to 40 children in groups of 10. six classrooms: four classrooms, a large art room, and a gym. The facility also has two inner courtyards and two outdoor playgrounds that the kids make use of daily, especially when the weather is good.
In a Nutshell
The KAUST Children’s Center offers childcare and learning activities after school hours and when school has parent-teacher conferences or other scheduled events, and children have no regular classes.
- Age: 6 to 9 years old (Grades 1 through 3).
- The Children’s Center follows the school calendar. It operates when TKS is open and closes when TKS is off.
Past and Present
The KAUST Children’s Center started in 2016 under the name After School Club and used the Garden’s Elementary School cafeteria as a hub.
With time, more structure and activities were introduced to the program. Currently, the KAUST Children’s Center has weekly field trips, optional music, and Arabic lessons, specialized lessons from Coastline in guided art and sports activities, as well as making sure the kids have great afternoons full of fun.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Children’s Center was the first educational service in KAUST to reopen after the schools moved to distance learning. Under the title Child Assistance Service (CAS), children from 2.3 years onwards were looked after when the first labs and offices reopened, and parents returned to in-person work on site. The Children’s Center also had the ability to re-open even when The KAUST School was still providing distance learning.
Healthy Living
The Children’s Center offers a choice of fresh fruit for snacks which encourages a healthy lifestyle. When the weather permits, we also enjoy our outdoor spaces to the fullest to promote healthy living.
Fun and Games
The kids in the Children’s Center enjoy afternoons full of fun. Art projects, themed activities, self-directed play, self-directed projects, fun games, field trips and sports are all part of the program.
Partnerships
The Children’s Center has found some partners to enrich its activities. We offer field trips to the Harbor Sports Club and Island Recreation Club on Tuesdays and also have two new optional programs: music and Arabic lessons. This way parents do not need to leave their office to take their children to different lessons. The lessons come to them!
The Children’s Center also hosts Holiday Camps during the winter, spring, summer, and fall TKS school breaks. Holiday Camps operate in partnership with Coastline, to provide recreational activities for children when school is out.
We are family
The Children’s Center gives kids an opportunity to develop their skills to become life-long learners, build relationships, and overcome challenges. We emphasize the importance of respect, kindness, truthfulness, and care for ourselves and others. The Children’s Center is their home for the day.
In their own words
Enroll today
Are you interested in learning more or enrolling your child in the Children’s Center? Learn more on our website or contact us for inquiries and registration at Childrenscenter@kaust.edu.sa
Looking forward to welcoming you!
This program supports Sustainability Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing and
Goal 4: Quality Education
