KinderHaus Brooklyn

Reviews (14)

• Review from the Spring 2024 Early Education Survey

  June 2024

  Review: I feel like this program is the best kept secret in Park Slope. Its program philosophy is aligned with Montessori, they emphasize arts and discovery and independence, and the teachers are all incredible human beings. There’s outdoor space with the most amazing giant tree to provide shade, and a great parent community. If folks are hesitant because they aren’t German speaking, I say you’re missing out on one of the best preschools in New York. Cannot recommend it more highly. Amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours

• Review from the Spring 2023 Early Education Survey

  August 2023

  Review: Small group of children of mixed ages, so my kid made friends and learned from older kids and made friends and helped the younger ones. Hands on curriculum with lots of outdoor exploration and learning. Focus on social development, inquiry and discovery vs "traditional teaching" in the pre-K age group. Amenities: Has outdoor space, Has after-school options, Has early morning hours, bi-lingual English/German What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? More pictures for the parents during the day/week

• KinderHaus Brooklyn

  July 2020

  Kinderhaus is a wonderful full immersion German program that over the last 18 months has created a great community and sense of belonging of our children to classmates, teachers and parents. Neither my husband nor I are native German speakers and we are very pleased with the continued progress of our 3- and 5-year old. We get great detail from our conferences with the teachers and very detailed report cards. Our oldest child is now moving on to grade “K” at the closely connected German School of Brooklyn. While it’s great she’ll be joined by a quite a few classmates – other children will start in the strong local Public School system. Our youngest will continue at Kinderhaus for more small size group classes, playful exercises, Soccer class, Dance and music-led modules - thru experiential learning. The bond with teachers has been strong and our children are developing a very open mind as New Yorkers along both the German calendar and traditions but moreover a multi-cultural environment. During the outbreak of COVID-19, the Kinderhaus team was fast to respond with digitally supported materials and age-appropriate ZOOM calls – and as we are approaching the re-opening scenarios we really like the outdoor space that is available in all locations.

• 2019-2020 Year Review

  January 2020

  We are commuting to Park Slope on the G for our child to attend this school and so far it has been worth it. Small classroom, attentive teachers who prioritize independence, and most importantly we've seen amazing language development from our child. Highly recommend. … About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours … What would you change? Would love it to be more geographically convenient!

• Review from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  November 2018

  My child enjoys going to school everyday About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options What would you change? Would like Accommodation for strollers to be better

• Review from the 2018/2019 PSP Daycare, Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten Survey

  November 2018

  Full German immersion program with wonderful teachers. We've met great families and our child is very happy there. About the facility: Has outdoor space, Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours

• Review from the 2017 PSP Summer Camp Survey

  September 2017

  Our son was extremely happy to be dropped off at camp each morning. The group spent the morning in the park doing both guided activities that got the kids exploring nature and having free time to run and play. After lunch in the park, the kids headed back to one of the Kinderhaus locations for rest time and more play. The counselors were terrific and kind. Our son came home happy and exhausted every day. Age of child: Almost 5 Based on a Summer 2017 experience

• Review Submitted via the 2014-2015 Daycare/ Preschool Survey

  July 2015

  Program: Two's Program Length of time: 3 full days a week Child’s Age: 2-3 years Type of facility: Privately run daycare/preschool with multiple classes and teachersThere is little/no parental involvement with the administration or running of the facility. REVIEW: The teachers were skilled and energetic. They always greeted the children when they walked in; they believe in building children's independence and self-confidence and are very attentive to their development growth. The teachers established a safe and nurturing environment for my daughter in which she learned excellent social skills, in addition to her numbers, letters, days of the week, seasons, etc. They school has an established curriculum and philosophy, which they follow. The teachers are given the freedom to adapt the curriculum based on the children's interests. However, there doesn't seem to be an equal balance between highlighting female/male role models or book characters; but the teachers are all very gender equality aware. The school provides two feedback sessions on our child's performance, and gaining daily or weekly feedback was more challenging, because there was never good time to speak with teachers - i.e. when dropping off or picking up. This is a German-speaking school and they use a German school curriculum. The administration is less involved and there are no good avenues through which to engage them. Would you recommend? Recommend Would you send your child again? Absolutely

• KinderHaus

  April 2015

  My children love KinderHaus. We have our two children ages 2 and 4 in the day- and afterschool program since my oldest was 2 (she is in Pre-K now) and they have bloomed so much through the loving care and educational background of their teachers. The program has significantly improved their German language skills. My oldest is fluent in German (besides speaking English) and their teachers were super, already teaching them to read and write in Pre-K. We also have her in the Summer Camp and she has ben asking to return this coming here. My younger one has become very attached to her teacher as well and are doing some very interesting things in the classroom. All around we've appreciated the program right here in Park Slope. We've met a few families in this wonderful German community.

• Review from 2013 Summer Camp Experience

  October 2013

  Program: german immersion Age of Child: 5 Likes: Lots of arts and crafts activities, including paper machet torches for "olympic" week and carnival stalls for "carnival week." Small groups, trips to the park. They don't go on a lot of trips (the park once a week; 1-2 field trips a summe). But the activities are built around interaction, which is good for practicing/learning German. What would you change? We've been to other language camps where they go on a lot of field trips and pool trips, which is fun for the kids, but I'm not sure how much language practice happens on these trips, so I'm happy to have the camp be geared around on-location activities that lend themselves to language immersion. But you do have to be prepared for a more low-key camp experience than some other camps. And given that the website says they take the kids on trips, I do think they could work a few more local trips into the themes, but 5 a summer, up from 2. Would you send your child(ren) again? Yes Do you recommend? Recommend Do you have any other information to add? The counselors are the same teachers who work at the school during the year and are very good with the kids native German speakers, etc.. They take turns over the summer based on their vacation. It's up to the counselors how to execute the "themes" they come up with, so your experience can vary a little from week to week depending on who is in charge that week. Ie: some do more ambitous crafts than other, others will cook, some emphasize free play or structure a little more, etc.

• (no subject)

  January 2012

  Recommended without full review, December 2011.

• (no subject)

  August 2011

  Age: - 6 What did you/your child like about the summer camp? This is a German immersion program. There is a big age-range of children in small group setting. The teachers are sensitive to the age range and ensure there are appropriate activities for all. They get out alot (the beach, the park, a ferry ride, etc) and get involved with creative art projects like building ships out of paper mache. It's a low key atmosphere with talented, creative teachers. My daughter loved it!! What would you change about the program? I would love it if there could be some flexibility with the hours. The camp runs from 9-3. It would be more convenient if there was an early drop off/late pick up option. Will you send your child back to this summer camp program next year? (Or would you if you could?) Yes Would you recommend this program to other parents for their child in the future? Highly recommend

• (no subject)

  August 2011

  Age: - 3 What did you/your child like about the summer camp? It's a small group and informal with lots of free play inside and out, arts and crafts and park time. Because the group is small it's been easy for the kids to get to know each other and bond. There are summer oriented themes that change from week to week. They spent the first week painting a sand and water mural, adding fish to it, etc. Another week they built and painted a pirate ship, then went on a treasure hunt in the park. The counselors are good about sending an email to parents each week to let them know what the kids have been doing. What would you change about the program? I like the smalll group and informality of it. But I can see some parents wanting more structure, specific activities, field trips, etc. There could also be more emphasis on sports. The age range is wide, 2- 6 or 7. They manage it well in terms of knowing what the kids can do together and when to divide older and younger for certain activities. And I think it's good for the older and younder kids to interact, but I can see that not working for everyone. Will you send your child back to this summer camp program next year? (Or would you if you could?) Yes Would you recommend this program to other parents for their child in the future? Recommend

• Review from Summer Camp Survey 2010

  December 2010

  Program: German-language immersion Age of Child: 2 Likes: Small group, lots of informality and child-led activities. The camp tops out at 7 and tends toward an under 5 group. They took the kids on a few exursions (the aquarium was the biggest). But otherwise spent a lot of time at the park, doing crafts and group projects, reading, singing, playing in the school's yard etc. What would you change? The school could use an air conditioner. But they will be in a different location next year. Would you send your child(ren) again? Yes Do you recommend? Highly recommend Do you have any other information to add? Most of the kids are from mixed German-American or German-something families and a lot of them are in the preschool during the school year. I think the new and "old" kids mixed pretty easily, so I wouldn't worry about that. But It's total German immersion, So I wouldn't recommend it as a way to introduce your kids to German. But it is a great program if you are speaking German at home and would like some help teaching your child the language.