Doug Dohring facts for kids
Doug Dohring was a smart and creative person who started companies that helped kids learn and have fun online. He was the founder and leader of Age of Learning, Inc.. This company made popular learning programs like ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy, ReadingIQ, and Adventure Academy. They also created My Math Academy and My Reading Academy for schools.
Age of Learning was even called the “Most Innovative Ed Tech Company” in 2023. Before that, Doug Dohring also started Neopets, a very popular online game. He passed away on September 14, 2023.
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Starting Neopets
Doug Dohring discovered the Neopets.com website soon after it launched in December 1999. Two college students from Britain, Adam Powell and Donna Williams, created it. Doug Dohring bought the website because he wanted to make it a safe place for kids.
In April 2000, he started working with companies to place ads on the site. He called this "immersive advertising." This meant the ads blended into the game world.
How Neopets Grew
Neopets, Inc. became profitable just four months after it started. This was because it didn't spend money on getting new users. People just told their friends about it! By July 2001, the site was very popular. Users spent a lot of time on it.
Even when many new websites were failing, Neopets kept growing fast. In December 2001, it had over 20 million accounts. More than 80% of these users were under 17 years old. About 50,000 new accounts were made every day. Members spent at least four hours a month playing on the site.
Neopets was named one of the top three gaming sites on the internet. It was also known as the "stickiest" website for home users. This meant people stayed on the site for a long time.
Doug Dohring sold Neopets to Viacom's MTV Network in June 2005. The sale was for $160 million. By then, about 140 million Neopets had been created. Neopets was still one of the top 10 most popular websites.
Age of Learning and ABCmouse.com
After selling Neopets, Doug Dohring started Age of Learning, Inc. in 2007. In 2010, they launched ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy. ABCmouse was made to teach young children. It helps kids from ages two to six learn reading, math, science, and other subjects.
Doug Dohring brought together a team of education experts. They helped design the ABCmouse lessons. This team included Kimberly Oliver Burnim, a National Teacher of the Year. It also had Kevin O'Donnell, who created the PBS show Liberty's Kids.
How ABCmouse Works
Unlike Neopets, ABCmouse charges a monthly or yearly fee for families. But it is free for teachers, libraries, and Head Start programs. Research has shown that ABCmouse helps students learn faster. It improves their reading and math skills.
In 2016, Age of Learning launched ABCmouse for Schools. This version was for school districts. It helped schools manage students and track their progress.
Age of Learning grew very quickly. In 2016, the company was valued at $1 billion. By 2021, it was valued at $3 billion.
In January 2017, Age of Learning added more lessons to ABCmouse. It expanded the curriculum up to the 2nd grade.
New Learning Programs
In November 2018, the company launched ReadingIQ. This is a digital library with thousands of books. It is for children ages 2 to 12. Families can pay a fee, but it is free for teachers. In 2021, Age of Learning partnered with Florida. This gave all Florida families free access to ReadingIQ.
Age of Learning launched another online learning platform in May 2019. It is called Adventure Academy. Adventure Academy is an educational online game. It is for elementary and middle school children.
In September 2019, Paul Candland became the CEO. Doug Dohring became the Executive Chairman. Doug Dohring returned as CEO in April 2022.
In January 2020, Doug Dohring started the Age of Learning Foundation. This foundation gives free access to Age of Learning programs. It helps more children get a good education.
In 2023, Age of Learning was recognized as a top company. It was named “Most Innovative Ed Tech Company.” Its programs like ABCmouse, My Math Academy, and My Reading Academy were called "Best Edtech Companies."
Personal Life
Doug Dohring was born in California. He and his wife, Laurie, were married in 1979. They had five children together. This included two sets of identical twins. One of their children is the actor Jason Dohring. He is known for his roles in TV shows like Veronica Mars.
