Responding to growing parent demand for guidance on technology use, new research-informed classroom experience balances digital learning with hands-on exploration

ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Primrose Schools®, The Leader in Early Education and Care®, today announced the launch of its proprietary Balanced Learning® App, a first-of-its-kind, curriculum-integrated classroom experience to help children ages 3 and up develop digital literacy and healthy technology habits through intentional, educator-guided learning.

Built as part of the exclusive Balanced Learning® approach and developed by in-house Primrose early education experts, the app introduces children to technology through brief, purposeful digital activities that connect directly to curriculum lessons in the classroom. Designed around a “phygital” model that blends digital and physical experiences, the app encourages children to apply digital prompts to explore and solve real-world problems through creativity, hands-on engagement and interactive discovery.

The launch comes as parents increasingly seek guidance on technology use in early childhood. According to new national research from Primrose Schools, conducted by Talker Research, among 2,000 parents of children ages 0 to 5:

• 90% say teaching children how to use technology will be important for their future.
• 89% say any screen time their child receives should be educational.
• 76% say they are figuring out how to teach responsible technology habits as they go.
• 66% wish they had a handbook for navigating technology with young children.

“Parents are looking for trusted, thoughtful approaches to technology in early childhood,” said Dr. Amy Jackson, Chief Franchise Officer and Early Learning Strategist at Primrose Schools. “The Balanced Learning App reflects our belief that technology should be an active tool for learning, not a source of passive screen time. By combining digital experiences with hands-on exploration, we’re helping children build the confidence, curiosity and critical-thinking skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

The app is used as part of classroom learning experiences and includes built-in guardrails that support healthy technology habits from the start. Children may use the app no more than twice per week for up to 15 minutes per session, with visible timers and guided transitions back to hands-on learning.

Children are guided through the unit of learning by Primrose Friends, engaging with exclusive content and exploring curriculum-connected activities that support literacy, design thinking, computational thinking and social-emotional development. For example, children may learn about gardening and caring for the earth in the classroom, then use the app to explore the role of pollinators and design their own pollinator garden, bringing that design to life by building pipe-cleaner flowers. Outside, they plant seeds and tend to a real garden, putting what they’ve learned into action.

The Balanced Learning App will be available at participating Primrose schools for the 2026-2027 school year. Learn more at www.PrimroseSchools.com and find a school near you.

About Primrose Schools®

Primrose Schools is the leader in providing premier early education and care to children and families in the United States. Founded in 1982, there are more than 570 Primrose schools in 36 states and Washington, D.C. today. Each school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life. Primrose believes who children become is as important as what they know. The exclusive Primrose Balanced Learning^® approach is created from the best early education wisdom and balances purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our stories and resources, sign up for our emails and find a Primrose school near you.

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SOURCE Primrose Schools(R)