Closing the Kindergarten Readiness Gap, One Child at a Time
Countdown2K is a free, research-based app that prepares children ages 3–5 for kindergarten through play-based learning. With more than 100 activities across 6 core skill areas, we help every child walk into their first classroom ready and confident.
Every Child Ready for Day One
Countdown2K exists to give every child a fair start in school. Nearly half of children begin kindergarten without the foundational skills they need — a gap that opens before formal schooling even starts and can shape a child's entire education. We turn the science of early learning into joyful, play-based activities that any family can use, for free.
Built by a Student Who Saw the Gap
Annika Chadha has always been driven to solve real-world problems through technology. As a student at DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, she created Countdown2K after learning how many children start school already behind — not for lack of ability, but for lack of access to early preparation.
Countdown2K won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky's Third District, recognized by Rep. Morgan McGarvey. What began as a school project became a mission: to make high-quality kindergarten preparation available to every family, completely free.
Today, Countdown2K turns early-childhood research into more than 100 play-based activities across 6 core skill areas — spanning early academics, social-emotional growth, and classroom readiness — so children build real skills while having fun.
“So many kids start kindergarten already behind — not because they aren't capable, but because they never had the chance to get ready. I wanted to put that chance in every family's hands, for free.”
— Annika Chadha, Founder & Creator
Annika Chadha
Founder & Creator, Countdown2K
Our Values
These principles guide every activity we design, from the first idea to the games in your child's hands.
Child-First
Every activity is designed around how young children actually learn, grow, and stay engaged — meeting them where they are.
Research-Based
Content is grounded in early-childhood research and mapped to district kindergarten-readiness standards — not guesswork.
Free for Everyone
Countdown2K is free, so a child’s readiness never depends on a family’s budget, ZIP code, or access to expensive programs.
Playful by Design
Learning that feels like play, not homework. Children build real skills through interactive games they genuinely enjoy.
Award-Winning
2023 Congressional App Challenge — Kentucky's Third District
Countdown2K was recognized by Rep. Morgan McGarvey as the winning app for Kentucky's Third District — an early validation of a simple idea: that great kindergarten preparation should be within reach for every family.
What Makes Countdown2K Different
- Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls
- Aligned to district kindergarten-readiness standards
- Built with educators and child-development specialists
- Progress tracking so parents always know where their child is growing
How Countdown2K Works
A free app that turns kindergarten readiness into daily play — designed for children ages 3–5 and the parents guiding them.
Learning That Feels Like Play
Play-Based Activities
More than 100 interactive games make practice feel like fun. Children build early literacy, numeracy, social-emotional, and classroom-readiness skills without ever feeling like they're doing homework.
Six Core Skill Areas
Countdown2K covers the whole child — academics, social-emotional development, and the everyday classroom habits kids need — across 6 core skill areas mapped to readiness standards.
Progress Parents Can See
Built-in progress tracking and a parent-friendly design mean you always know exactly where your child is thriving and where a little more practice will help.
At a Glance
Interactive, play-based games that grow with your child.
Whole-child coverage aligned to kindergarten-readiness standards.
Designed for the years right before kindergarten begins.
No subscriptions or paywalls — readiness for every family.
Help Every Child Start Ready
Whether you are a parent, educator, or advocate for early childhood, there is a place for you in the Countdown2K mission. Start preparing a child for kindergarten today — for free.