Creative Kids Movement: A Mom-Friendly Franchise Opportunity

Entrepreneurs Gain Flexibility and Personal Satisfaction by Providing On-Site Dance, Yoga and Fitness Classes for Children

Marissa Chimento, Melissa Sayles and Nicole Zornitzer understand the benefits children gain from dance, yoga and fitness. They’ve witnessed the growth and joy their own kids have experienced from these activities. And, as franchise owners with Creative Kids Movement Network (CKMN), they see ongoing improvement in their students’ strength, motor skills and physical abilities, as well as their self-confidence, creativity, listening skills, focus, teamwork and overall well-being.

The advantages provided by this youth enrichment franchise aren’t limited to its young participants, though. The mom-friendly franchise opportunity revolves around a daytime schedule of on-site classes for children ages 2-10 at day care centers, elementary schools and community centers, which gives franchisees flexibility to be available for their own kids when they’re home from school. There’s no need for brick-and-mortar facilities, making Creative Kids Movement Network a low-cost franchise.

The CKMN franchise opportunity also addresses the demand for on-site youth enrichment activities, both by day care operators and working parents who don’t have to take time out of their weekends and evenings for their children’s classes.

Here, Chimento, Sayles and Zornitzer share their experiences, as well as the benefits of the CKMN mom-friendly franchise opportunity.

Marissa Chimento, Creative Kids Movement Network, Buffalo, N.Y.

Marissa Chimento began taking dance and gymnastics as a young child, and participated in sports including field hockey, basketball and track. As an adult, she ran her first half-marathon in 2018. “And now, I’ve come full circle being able to watch my kids be involved in all of the sports and programs that I’ve loved.”

Chimento (below in an earlier photo with her family) is the mom of three: a 17-year-old son, who was involved in gymnastics and hip hop dance classes, and now plays football and lacrosse; a 3½-year-old daughter who does gymnastics, dances and plays soccer; and a 1½-year-old daughter who will play soccer this summer after she turns 2.

Chimento’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in childhood education and social studies, and an MBA, and she’s pursuing her doctorate in leadership and policy at Niagara University.

What attracted you to Creative Kids Movement Network?

“What appealed to me most was being able to offer movement, dance and yoga classes for young children because I saw a real need for programs that support the whole child – mind, body and spirit. Today’s kids benefit so much from opportunities to move, explore creativity and build confidence in an encouraging, age-appropriate way,” says Chimento, who opened her franchise in January 2026.

“What drew me to this franchise was its intentional approach to early childhood development through movement, along with a business model that allows me to make a positive impact in my community. Being able to introduce preschool and school-aged children to joyful movement while fostering focus, coordination and self-expression has been incredibly rewarding and aligns perfectly with my personal values.”

What has the training and support been like?

“From the very beginning, [Founder and CEO] Kate DeBiase and [Vice President of Business Development] Alex DeBiase (pictured together below) provided exceptional support and guidance that made launching my franchise feel both exciting and manageable. Their training process was thorough and well organized, giving me the confidence I needed to step into both the instructional and business sides of ownership,” Chimento says. “What has stood out most is their ongoing availability and genuine investment in my success. Whether it’s answering questions, offering encouragement or sharing ideas for growth, Kate and Alex have been incredibly responsive and supportive every step of the way, creating a strong sense of community and partnership within the franchise.”

What advantages does the Creative Kids Movement Network franchise offer as a mom-friendly franchise opportunity?

“The beauty of bringing on-site programs to day cares and schools is that you do not have to sacrifice time with family. Instead of running to and from classes after hours – which is when most studios offer them – you keep your time with loved ones completely intact,” she says. “The biggest advantage for me personally is having all of the lesson plans, curriculum, resources and materials housed in one place. I would never have had the time, energy or resources to put together all of the materials Kate and Alex have made available to me.”

Melissa Sayles, Creative Kids Movement Network, West Michigan and Grand Rapids, Mich.

Melissa Sayles was just 2 when she began dance lessons. “I absolutely fell in love with dancing, and by the time I was 12, I was an assistant dance instructor,” she says. “I got involved in yoga 15 or 20 years ago, and I love that as well.”

Sayles introduced her own children (in an earlier photo below) – two sons and a daughter now ranging in age from 18 to 24 – to dance and fitness when they were young. One of her favorite memories was dancing with her young daughter in a ballet production of Cinderella.

As a working mom, raising her family and pursuing professional roles in sales, human resources and financial planning, Sayles continued to teach ballet for the Michigan Youth Ballet Theater and serve on the theater board.

She had been out of the workforce for a few years when she decided it was time to jump back in, but only if she could do something she enjoyed that gave her a sense of purpose. The Creative Kids Movement Network franchise opportunity seemed tailor-made, and Sayles opened her franchise in September 2025.

Why Creative Kids Movement Network?

“Creative Kids Movement Network was perfect for me because I had always thought it would be really awesome to open a dance studio, but having to have a brick-and-mortar building and a schedule requiring work in the evenings didn’t appeal to me. And I didn’t want to work for anybody. I wanted to be my own boss.”

How has the training and support been like with CKMN?

“The training was very solid and hands-on from day one, not only with Alex and Kate, but also with our community of franchisees. Just connecting with others who have experienced the same challenges is very helpful,” Sayles says.

“There already is a process that has worked, so it’s really about following the process and repeating it. Someone who didn’t have any sales experience could easily be successful because you’re given the materials and resources and the support to succeed. For example, I received a list of child care centers, preschools and after-school programs in my territory, with the metrics and other important information about them. I didn’t have to do that research on my own, and that was very important to me because I don’t want to have to reinvent the wheel. If there are processes in place that have worked, I’m going to follow them so that I have more time to do the things that I really enjoy in my business or my personal life.” 

What’s the experience been like working with your students?

“Well, I get a lot of group hugs! And there are so many ways the children benefit – in their balance, coordination, muscle tone, listening skills, teamwork. Some come in and they’re really shy, and as they start to develop, the shyness goes away. Their teachers see it. Their parents see it,” she says.

Nicole Zornitzer, Creative Kids Movement Network, Jacksonville, Fla.

Nicole Zornitzer has practiced yoga for almost 45 years and is the founder and owner of three businesses – Niyama Yoga Shalas, Niyama Yoga Retreats and Niyama Ayurveda – bringing yoga therapy, yoga teacher training, Ayurvedic medicine and wellness retreats to adults around the globe. She also has taught yoga to children for almost 23 years.

Both of Zornitzer’s children, Jared, 23, and Larissa, 20, have been involved in yoga, health and wellness their entire lives. Jared runs ultramarathons, skis, enjoys mountain biking, and has hiked the Appalachian Trail in less than six months. Larissa practices yoga, Pilates and a variety of outdoor activities.

Zornitzer, who opened her CKMN franchise in August 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla., describes yoga as her “sanctuary of peace and serenity. It’s my therapy and moment in time to go inward and reconnect with what truly matters in life. When I translate this to teaching children the benefits of yoga, beyond the physical, it is a remarkable process to watch. Children are sponges and, over time and repetition, they truly do understand what we are doing. The irony is that adults need undoing while children are open vessels wanting and needing to learn.”

Why invest in CKMN? 

“I was impressed with the experience and dedicated team behind CKMN. I also appreciated the systems, marketing and training that CKMN offers. Kate and Alex are caring, dedicated, passionate business people, which I appreciate,” Zornitzer says.

“One of the best decisions I made was joining this franchise and being offered the ability to bring more yoga, fitness, dance, mindfulness and, most importantly, happiness to our youngest populations!” she says.

What advantages does CKMN offer as a mom-friendly franchise opportunity?

“Creative Kids Movement Network gives a franchise owner the opportunity to create a schedule that works for them. We have the ability to create a healthy balance between work and personal life. But what I’m doing with CKMN is not work for me. It’s my lifestyle and part of my dharma here on this planet. I love what I do and truly don’t view it as ‘work,’ and I never will.” 

For information about franchising opportunities, visit the Creative Kids Movement Network website.