Mi Casita Bilingual Preschool and Cultural Center
- Bedford-Stuyvesant
1060 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn 11216, NY
See Map | Get Directions - micasitabk.org
Reviews (14)
Review Submitted May 2024
We absolutely love Mi Casita in Bed Stuy. The founder, Eva, genuinely cares about kids and is a warm presence at the school every day. Her staff is friendly and caring, and they will support your kiddo through whatever they're dealing with, whether it be clinginess at drop-off or potty training accidents. The program is bilingual and while we don't speak (much) Spanish at home, our kiddo is picking some up from school. (Being bilingual is definitely not a requirement to attend the school!) Tuition is pricey; for us that is the only downside (I hear that they offer fairness funding for some families though). If you're trying to decide on a preschool for your kiddo in the Bed Stuy area, Mi Casita is a wonderful school and community.Review from the Spring 2023 Early Education Survey
Review: As in the 2021-2022 school year, an overall great experience in 2022-2023. Teachers are warm and intelligent, school building is light-filled with high ceilings, emphasis on child-directed play and reuse/sustainability. Special bohemian feel throughout. Amenities: Has after-school options, Has early morning hoursPreschool & camp recommendation
As we all plan for the summer (and fall), I wanted to recommend our preschool, Mi Casita, in Bed-Stuy. Our daughter has been there since fall 2021 and we have been so happy with the warm and mature staff members, the English-Spanish conversation/instruction, the beautiful high-ceilinged space, and the special bohemian vibe. Our kid took quite a while to get into the swing of school life, but they really took the time to get to know her and went above and beyond to help her feel at home (e.g., one-on-one story times; letting her sleep beyond normal nap time; etc). As a fairly new school, they are often under-enrolled for their school-year program as well as for their school break camps (which we have also attended and loved: lots of outdoor time; partnerships with local community gardens; etc). So could be worth looking into if you feel you're late to the plan-ahead party ;) They also just opened an adjoining cultural center, where we recently attended a cool sensory installation.Availability for ages 3-6 in after care program - Mi Casita
We've been enjoying Semillitas, the after care program at Mi Casita in Bed-Stuy. They've developed a thematic curriculum and structure each day according to exploring nature, music, art, caring for others, etc. They are currently opening up the after school program to the community at a pay-what-you-can rate, M-F from 3.30-6pm. The student/teacher ratio is very low so it feels like personalized child care. For more info: www.micasitabk.org or 646 757 0019 (ask about After School or Fairness Funding Programs).Spanish Language Day Care Recommendations
I can't recommend Mi Casita Bilingual PreSchool more highly. It's an Emilio Reggio school from 2-4K in Clinton Hill. My son and all of his best friends went there for two fabulous years. Many in the parent community are native speakers from the Hispanic diaspora, and the vibe is just wonderful. The director is Eva Ruiz, Eva@MiCasitaBK.org.Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey
Location: 1060 Bedford Ave Type of facility: Preschool Review: We love Mi Casita. We chose it first and foremost because we saw how gentle, affectionate, and focused the teachers are (I totally spied on them before enrolling! lurked outside the school and pretended not to be watching, etc!). Our daughter was likely the youngest in her class last September, and the teachers gave her so much TLC to help her ease into school; it was such a comfort to me to know that she was in their care. The second reason was the bilingual aspect (we don't speak any other languages at home so wanted our daughter to get early exposure somewhere else). Third reason was the big, bright space (we also looked at schools in brownstones, which were very homey and cozy, but since we already live in a house, we thought a change of environment for school might be nice). Mi Casita was in the middle of the pack tuition-wise when we compared area schools; that also made us feel good (neither the most expensive nor the least!). They are super progressive, educating even these very young kids about concepts like environmentalism, colonialism, and consent. And they now have a partnership with a nearby community garden, so nearly every day, I hear about going to see the chickens, swinging in the hammock, etc. It really helps make up for the school's lack of its own outdoor space. Plus I would say that every parent we've met at drop-off and pick-up is cool, and we have had fun putting on a few social events together throughout the school year. I could go on... But in general, we have totally drunk the kool-aid: we love Mi Casita! What amenities does the facility have? Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything? It's probably exacerbated by Covid, but I will say that administration doesn't seem to be the school's strongest point. We have received incorrect tuition invoices on several occasions, and they are not the type of school to send you 17 pictures of your kid every day. But honestly I don't care much about those things. The teachers and staff are so responsive in person and clearly know each kid inside and out. If they're going to focus their time & energy anywhere, it should be with the kids IRL and not on the computer or snapping pics! Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? Mi Casita was extremely on the ball in terms of masking, offering testing, communicating about Covid cases, giving quarantine instructions, etc. I believe that the education director's father is a big-time epidemiologist, so maybe that has something to do with it :) But we always felt that we were in as good hands as possible with them given all the pandemic curve balls.Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey
Location: 1060 Bedford Avenue Type of facility: Preschool, 3K, Pre-K Review: Beautiful and loving Spanish immersion Emilio Reggio preschool. The director Eva Ruiz is a wonderful person who is creative and really understands children. The education director is a massively kind and genuine young man, and all the instructors (maestros) truly love your kids. They brought my son through 2 amazing years and I always felt that I was leaving him with people who absolutely loved him unconditionally. He now understands Spanish completely. What amenities does the facility have? Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything? nothing! Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? On-site testing for families and children, compassionate masking requirements for little ones, have generally felt great about it.Review from the Spring 2022 Early Childhood Education Survey
Location: Clinton hill/Bedstuy border Type of facility: Daycare, Preschool Review: This program is so good I’m going to cry thinking about the last day. They were so responsive, attentive, wise and playful with the kids. Its Spanish immersion and while Spanish was everywhere it never felt intimidating to those of us who don’t speak it at home. The school is adorable and I actually like the other families and would voluntarily hang out with them. Good vibes all around and my kiddo learned SO MUCH and has grown into a much better human because of the school. Only drawback is that private preschools like this are $$$. What amenities does the facility have? Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything? Literally nothing it’s so amazing. Is there anything you would like to add about how the school is handling the pandemic? They have been very responsive to the changing rules around pandemic safety and have had to send kids home for quarantine a few times this year. They offer weekly testing for students, staff and families on-site and everyone in the building is masked and gets a temp check in order to enter. They really work with the community to keep everyone safe while staying open.Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey
Type of facility: daycare, preschool, and pre-k Review: We LOVE MiCasita! The teachers are absolutely incredible. They are super communicative, caring, warm, fun, creative, extremely bright, etc. They've handled COVID beautifully. It's a Spanish immersion program, which our now four year old has picked up very quickly - no one in our family speaks Spanish. The school itself is just beautiful. It has huge windows and really cool furniture that they can move around as needed for various activities. What amenities does the facility provide? Has after-school options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? nothing Is there anything you would like to add about how the school handled the pandemic? They do testing weekly for free at the school (cheek swabs). The testing is available to anyone who is a regular part of the household (including nannies). They have everyone wear masks, but aren't militant about it - they always gently encourage, but have realistic expectations of 2-4 year olds. As a result, it's rare to see any kid without one.Review from the Fall 2021 Early Childhood Education Survey
Type of facility: 2s, 3s, 4s programs Review: This is a lovely and inclusive space with many non-binary instructors and socially conscious language and approach. It is immersive Spanish and Montessori in philosophy. Everyone is very kind and warm. It’s honestly very difficult to say what my child likes about it because she is 2 and not fully communicative yet and they don’t really send any updates… which is my chief complaint! Other parents have referred to it as a “black box” - no idea what they do, where they go, or how she’s doing when she’s there. I’m guessing this has to do with the fact that they are relatively new, but it’s definitely something I’ve requested and know that others receive at other schools. What amenities does the facility provide? Has after-school options, Has early morning hoursReview from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey
Review: MiCasita is a new school that just opened officially end of 2019/beginning of 2020. The program offers Spanish immersion and its pedagogy is Emilio Reggio inspired. We've been a part of this program since October 2019. Prior to its official opening, MiCasita offered playgroups in Spanish, which we attended part time until the school's official opening. (After its official opening, we became full time.) My child loved MiCasita's teachers and really took to the pedagogy of child-led learning. Although we do not speak Spanish at home, my son took to the program without a problem. Their brains are truly primed for learning languages before the ages of 6/7! As a parent, I loved the space, interactions with the teachers and seeing my child develop his language skills, social emotional skills. I also love that the program is oriented towards community - many of its outdoor activities involved neighborhood locations. As a full time working parent, I also appreciated that the program offers early and after care. (8-6) Most of my *issues* with the school was related to the late opening (the school was supposed to open by Sept of 2019!) Many of these issues should not be present for the following year. I would send my child back if I had to do it over again. Amenities offered: Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Possibly more detailed ways of communicating with parents about the child's development. I have received some feedback about my child re: his development, but this hasn't been consistent. Still felt a bit like a structured playgroup, rather than a school program.Review from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey
Review: The program is a Spanish immersion program (but not full immersion). My daughter loves Mi Casita. Her teachers are communicative, passionate about teaching, and truly seem so happy and excited to be there teaching our kids each day. The school's founder, Eva, is incredible! This has been a crazy time and she has done an amazing job of keeping everyone up to date on any changes with the state's guidelines, answers emails quickly, and is nurturing with the students. Amenities offered: Has after-school options What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Nothing! I love it!Review from the 2019–2020 Daycare, Preschool, Pre-K, and K Survey
Review: Great progressive Spanish immersion preschool. Caring teachers, science based COVID practices. My son loves teachers, friends, learning Spanish. Amenities offered: Has after-school options2019-2020 Year Review
Bilingual Regilio inspired preschool 2-4 year olds. New school, beautiful new facility. My son is learning Spanish quickly and enjoys going to school every day. School is flexible and willing to work with kids at different developmental stages. Teachers are caring and receive significant professional development. Directors are very well qualified. Before and after care offered. Creative and arts rich. As it's a new school, systems and processes are still being developed, but we're happy there. … About the facility: Has afterschool options, Has early morning hours, Bilingual Spanish … What would you change? Increase partnerships to provide enrichment--this will happen as school grows.
