My Little Village Preschool

• Staff & attitude▲
• Speed & response▲

My Little Village is so much more than a preschool. For our kids, for our family really, it's been an extension of home. Both of our kids started as babies and left as "big kids." They found their voices and their independence here. Their educations have been in art, music, reading, creativity, creation, thoughtfulness, kindness, community, play, citizenship, and all of the other pieces that help build the foundation of being wonderful little people. What every parent lucky enough to find MLV quickly realizes is that everyone who works there understands that they have the most important job in the world. We couldn't possibly recommend this school more.

We love this entire staff, we have had bday parties here and it’s the best place for the littles to feel free and creative

• Staff & attitude▲

• Amy

Our kid went to My Little Village for two years and just really blossomed while there. Very soon after she got there, the teachers let us know both explicitly and implicitly how hard they were trying to get to know her as a whole human being and, by the end of that first year, they had shown us so much of what she needed and was capable of that we might not have known otherwise. It is also very much a family business in a wonderful way, in that every staff member gets to know each child, and the staff seems to interface with each other in productive, caring, cooperative ways, which creates a great environment for the kids. An unexpected added perq is the community that grows around the school, with lots of nurturance from the staff and especially from Mandy and Amy. We were so grateful to form a loving, caring bubble of parents and kids that revolve around MLV. The activities are varied and stimulating, and the graduation events are truly moving. Since our kid has graduated, she's been invited back for events for recent alumni, and she counts several of her MLV buddies (now distributed at different schools) to be dear, dear friends. That level of emotional security and engagement for these very young humans is really what helps them to thrive, but they also receive a lot of well planned intellectual and especially artistic and musical stimulation. We really feel our kid thrived in her years at MLV and that we thrived there along with her.

• Speed & response▲
• Staff & attitude▲

• Amy

As a parent of an MLV student and an early childhood educator myself, I can say with absolute certainty that you will not find a school as special and wonderful as My Little Village for your child. In graduate school I remember reading about these charming, play-based preschools around the world with expert, loving teachers who facilitated the most incredible and authentic learning experiences for young children inside exquisite classrooms and outside in nature… but I wondered if a place so magical and perfect actually existed here in NYC, or were they all in Scandinavia? It turns out it does exist, right in the heart of the lower east side, housed in beautiful classrooms filled with child-made art installations, open-ended materials that prompt imaginative play and unique explorations, the most dedicated and caring early childhood educators there are, and a diverse community of children, each of whom is valued as an individual. As a local kindergarten teacher I am never surprised when I discover that a student of mine is a recent MLV grad - these children are always the most creative, emotionally grounded, and intrinsically motivated. My students (and former students now in middle and high school!) speak so fondly of their MLV years and teachers, many of whom are still teaching at the school! When my own son was ready for preschool, MLV was the only place I even considered for him and I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to learn and grow there. Over these last few years at MLV, Amy and her amazing staff have become a part of our family. They have held our hands and guided us through the most beautiful and most difficult experiences as a family with young children. Parenting can be so hard and life in this great city can be so unstable, but partnering with MLV - and really, when your child attends this school Amy and the teachers truly become your partners in developing your child - has brought us so much comfort, stability, support, and joy. Sending our son to MLV was the best decision we’ve made as parents. Every parent should be so lucky to have their child’s development fostered in a school as incredible as My Little Village, where you know for sure that they are getting all the love they deserve and need every minute of the day.

• Honesty & trust▲
• Would recommend▼

• Amy

There truly are no words big enough to capture how extraordinary our experience at My Little Village has been, but I’ll try. From the very beginning, this school has felt less like a preschool and more like a loving, intentional community. Our child has absolutely flourished here. What we found at My Little Village is a supportive, creative, deeply nurturing environment where children are genuinely seen, cherished, and celebrated. Our child has been loved and doted on as if he were family, and as a parent, there is no greater gift than that. The Reggio Emilia–inspired curriculum has been the perfect fit for our son. Learning here is rooted in curiosity, exploration, and play, and as a result we’ve watched a profound love of learning take hold. He has developed a deep-seated curiosity and an incredible sense of self-motivation, qualities that are now propelling him forward in the most joyful, organic way. The philosophy of the school, paired with the exceptional quality of the teachers and staff, is truly something special. The care, thoughtfulness, and intention behind everything they do is evident every single day. This experience has gone beyond anything we ever dreamed for our child’s early education. We will forever be grateful to Amy and the entire My Little Village team for creating such a magical, loving place for children to grow. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of this community, and we cannot recommend it highly enough.

• Price assessment: Great price
• Services: Service not listed

• Staff & attitude▲

My daughter goes to My Little Village and she is so excited and fulfilled by school. The teachers are able to both care for the class as a whole, while also caring for the specific needs and interests of each student. There are lots of different spaces created within the classrooms and outdoor area that support the kids through their environment in a way that helps them grow and learn naturally. I’m so happy with My Little Village and so grateful for my daughter’s experience there.

• Speed & response▲

We are so, so, so in love with My Little Village. Our 2 year old joined the MLV family for pre-school and summer camp and my 5 year old joined summer camp for a couple of years in the siblings class. Both had the maximum amount of fun possible all day long and adored all of the MLV team. We couldn’t have been happier with our experience. The teachers and management are so special. The days overflow with love, care, knowledge, guidence, and thoughtfulness. So much magic, so much art, play, and learning. The curriculum and teaching is just right. It is a special and safe place for littlies and their parents. My son would run to get in the door as fast as he could each morning. No turning back, just into his world of friends and fun. Highest of recommendations.

• Would recommend▲

We absolutely love My Little Village Preschool. We sent both of our kids there, and the teachers were incredible with each of them—including one of our children who has additional needs. They truly knew just how to support them with so much care, patience, and understanding. The space is clean, safe, and set up beautifully for imaginative play, with amazing outdoor areas too. We’ve seen so much growth through their play-based approach and we always had total peace of mind knowing our kids were happy, supported, and safe. Highly recommend.

My son went there for three years. He loved everyday. The teachers were wonderful. I can’t recommend it enough.

• Would recommend▲

My Little Village Preschool is a fantastic school for kids 2-5 years old. It is such a treat to send our kids here! The school has very good student/teacher ratios (4 classrooms, about 10 kids per class and 2 teachers per class). Everyone knows each other and many of the staff have been there for years. There is also really solid daily onsite support from the Founder, Admissions Director and Director of Education (as well as teaching floaters!). There is a weekly music class that they bring in an outside teacher for and a magical, dedicated art teacher who is also with the kids everyday. The kids spend a LOT of time outside. There is a semi-private / gated playground that is right outside the school. They also take local trips (like to the post office) and go out on longer adventures with the older kids. This outdoor time is so rare to find in NYC and so appreciated! School day ends at 2:30 PM and there is an afterschool program and/or enrichment classes that you can add on every day of the week for coverage until 5:30 PM. The school space (at the Seward Park Coop location that they moved to in 2018) is also spacious . They have the 4 main classrooms, a dedicated art room, a library area, stroller parking, a multi-purpose room and two entryway areas with seating. The classrooms are filled with LOTS of little fun nooks and you can tell that so much care an attention has been put into delivering a magical preschool experience. Highly recommend!!! : )