Our Story: Why We Started Foundations Kids

Foundations Kids was born out of a simple but deeply held belief: children deserve more than noise, trends, and disposable toys—they deserve tools that help them grow.

We’re Harrison and Anna, a husband-and-wife team, parents, and educators at heart. Foundations Kids isn’t a corporate idea or a big-box spin-off—it’s a family-owned small business built from lived experience, prayerful discernment, and a desire to create something meaningful for families like ours.

Where We Come From

Harrison is a U.S. veteran who values discipline, service, and building things that last. Anna is a former teacher and lifelong educator who has spent years working with children in classrooms, homeschool environments, and community programs. Together, we’ve seen firsthand how the right resources can spark curiosity, confidence, and joy in learning—and how the wrong ones can do the opposite.

When we moved to rural Iowa, we noticed something missing: a place where families could find high-quality educational toys, meaningful books, creative tools, and wholesome treats—all in one thoughtfully curated space. We didn’t want another toy store. We wanted something deeper.

So we built it.

Why Foundations Kids Exists

Foundations Kids exists to support how children are actually made to learn—through play, exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and imagination. We carefully select toys, books, games, and activities that:

• 
  Encourage STEM and STEAM learning
  
• 
  Build fine and gross motor skills
  
• 
  Support literacy, logic, and critical thinking
  
• 
  Inspire creativity and open-ended play
  
• 
  Align with family-friendly and faith-centered values
  
• 
  Are made to last—not just entertain for five minutes
  

We also believe parents shouldn’t have to say “no” every time their child picks something up. That’s why we intentionally carry items you can feel good about bringing home.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide children with tools that build strong foundations—intellectually, creatively, emotionally, and morally.

We want Foundations Kids to be a place where:

• 
  Learning feels fun and natural
  
• 
  Play has purpose
  
• 
  Families feel welcomed and supported
  
• 
  Quality is valued over quantity
  
• 
  Community matters
  

Whether you’re shopping for a newborn, a curious preschooler, a LEGO-loving elementary student, or a thoughtful teen, our goal is to help you find something that truly fits.

Our Vision

Our vision reaches beyond our shelves.

We envision Foundations Kids as:

• 
  A trusted resource for parents, grandparents, and educators
  
• 
  A hub for hands-on learning, creativity, and curiosity
  
• 
  A small-town business with big heart and intentional impact
  
• 
  A space that supports families raising thoughtful, capable, and resilient kids
  

We believe what we give children today shapes who they become tomorrow—and that’s worth doing well.

A Note About Our Family

We’re raising our own children with these same values—prioritizing curiosity, character, faith, and a love of learning. While we keep much of our family life private, know this: everything in our store is something we would confidently place in our own children’s hands.

Foundations Kids is personal to us because childhood is personal.

Welcome to Foundations Kids

Whether you’re local to Corning, Iowa, visiting from nearby communities, or discovering us online, we’re glad you’re here. We hope you feel the care, intention, and purpose behind everything we do.

Thank you for supporting a small, family-owned business—and for investing in the next generation.

— Harrison & Anna