What we do?
Program is for children
ranging between 18 months to 5
years old.
Why we are unique?
Casa de Niños means "children’s house". Our environment resembles home,
Multicultural
Casa de Niños exposes children to the many ways of thinking, communicating,

Casa de Niños

As the only Spanish Immersion Montessori Preschool in St. Louis, Missouri, the nurturing and caring environment of Casa de Niños is designed to foster emotional, physical and intellectual growth. Casa de Niños is the only Montessori Preschool in St. Louis offering a second language program. It is proven that children who acquire a second language at an early age gain a new world of learning experiences and lifelong opportunity. Our educational goal at Casa de Niños is the development of the whole child. We look at each child's intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs, all through a second language.

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About Us

 

 

Mission

To give our children a head start advantage through the benefits of a Montessori Education while learning Spanish as a second language.

Vision

To work individually with each child in order for them to reach their maximum potential early on, to prepare each child to grow as an intellectual, and to encourage each child to care for individuals of a diverse community.
Develop Independent Thinking
Become self-disciplined
Develop concentration
Learn the importance of team work
Encourage curiosity and creativity
GRADUATION RATE 100%
To provide an environment that can help develop a sense of well- being, healthy eating habits, and love and care for our planet.
Help our children gain a second language

The Founder

Veronica Greene has been a Montessori Teacher since 1984. She is AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Primary Trained. She has a diploma from the Mexican Montessori Training for Elementary Education, received in Mexico City, Mexico in 1986. Veronica also holds a Teaching Certificate from Esquela Nacional de Maestros. She is inspired by the Montessori Philosophy as she hopes to help and better our world. She started Casa de Niños in her home in order to raise her children bilingual and to do so the Montessori way at the most critical time of their development. In seeing the incredible benefits of this education method, she is happy and eager to share the gift with the community and better the lives of our youth.

Casa de Niños

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Programs and Admisions

 

 

Education Advantage

Before the age of 5, a child’s young brain has a curiosity for learning and their fearlessness brings an eagerness to explore. The Intercultural Development Research Association states that, “Young children learn a second language more easily than adults because the window of opportunity for learning language is still open for them.” As this ‘window of opportunity’ is open for young children, the brain develops the difference of both languages on its own, therefore benefitting the brains critical thinking skills, flexibility, creativity, desire to learn, and the child’s future performance.

Learning a second language at a young age also opens many doors for the child’s success in future classes and careers. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) reports that, “Teaching toddlers a second language sets them up for academic success later on. Children who are bilingual as toddlers perform better in school with reasoning and thinking than monolingual children.” Casa de Niños strives to give children the opportunity to learn a second language, allowing an early development of skills that will benefit each child for their future.

Programs

FAQs

Why an immersion preschool?

The 2008 study released by the Applied Developmental Science states that bilingual children have an increased cognitive flexibility and focus, while supporting the augmentation of a child’s ability to discipline themselves in daily actions.

Will my child understand?

Some children may be very open and others may be intimidated. Our routines help children feel comfortable because they know their schedule and soon enough they are very comfortable listening and understanding the second language

Young children will start to not only understand the spoken language but sense what is being communicate. We use body language, inflection, facial expression, songs and many other fun ways to communicate what is needed as each student begins to learn the language.

Will my child be delay in English?

As long as children attend Casa in a full-time capacity, they will receive all of the exposure to Spanish that they need to learn the language successfully. Parents do not need to speak Spanish at home in order for a child to become bilingual. In fact, many children tend to prefer that parents only speak English at home and reserve the Spanish language for school, if that is what they are accustomed to. Being surrounded by an English-speaking community outside of school whether that is in the home, everyday life, with family, church, stores, etc. being in a Spanish immersion program will not affect their English language development.

Testimonials

Testimonial #1

Parent Name: Andrew L


Child Age: 2 years


Years at Casa de Niños: less than 1 yr


What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños?


Our experience has been phenomenal, our daughter Sadie has picked up the Spanish language quicker than her mother or I could have ever imagined. She said her first Spanish words within the first 10 days. Veronica and her staff are so accommodating and friendly. I have been more than pleased with our experience so far and I look forward to my daughter’s growth.”

Why would you recommend Casa de Niños to a prospective parent?

Great care for your child, and I haven’t heard any of the teachers speak a lick of English, which I really like. Sadie, my 2yr old, has already picked up Spanish commands and seems to be understanding simple words in Spanish.”
5.0.0
2019-04-30T02:53:40+00:00
Parent Name: Andrew L Child Age: 2 years Years at Casa de Niños: less than 1 yr What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños? “Our experience has been phenomenal, our daughter Sadie has picked up the Spanish language quicker than her mother 

Testimonial #2

Parent Name: Amy N.


Child Age: 5 years old


Years at Casa de Niños: 5 years


What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños?

When we came back to the U.S. after living in Mexico for 4 years, our daughter, Abby was just two years old. She and Sara were Vero’s first students in Vero’s blossoming Montessori program. Abby ended up spending 4 years, including afternoons after Kindegarten with Vero. Abby is now 23 years old and, because of the solid foundation Vero provided, still speaks Spanish. She works as a journalist for Business Insider, reporting in both English and Spanish.”

Why would you recommend Casa de Niños to a prospective parent?

I highly recommend Casa De Niños, not only because of the bilingual education but also because of the wonderful foundation a Montessori education provides for elementary school. Vero is a master Montessori teacher, such that all three of my children had mastered foundational principles for math, reading, art, social studies and science before entering Kindergarten. My kids are now 16, 18 and 23 and still fondly remember their days at Casa. We love Vero!”
5.0.0
2019-04-30T03:04:13+00:00
Parent Name: Amy N. Child Age: 5 years old Years at Casa de Niños: 5 years What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños? “When we came back to the U.S. after living in Mexico for 4 years, our daughter, Abby was just 

Testimonial #3

Parent Name: Brad B.


Child Age: 4 years old


Years at Casa de Niños: 2 years


What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños?

Our experience has been nothing but terrific. Our daughter has grown so much since starting at Casa, both on the language side, as well as the overall development side. Being fully immersed in the Spanish language while at Casa has shown evident contribution to her confidence and personality. We could not imagine her going to any other daycare/school, and we have no doubt that we will be sending our newborn son there when he is old enough to attend as well.”

Why would you recommend Casa de Niños to a prospective parent?

The teachers and instructors at Casa truly care about every child and their development. The intimate atmosphere allows each student to feel special, included, and cared about, growing them closer to the instructors, school, and their classmates. Your child will not just be "another number" at Casa. We also love that our daughter is fed only healthy, quality foods while at school, as we feel it is important for her to know what is good to eat, starting at a young age. Your child/children will love it here!”
5.0.0
2019-04-30T03:05:03+00:00
Parent Name: Brad B. Child Age: 4 years old Years at Casa de Niños: 2 years What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños? “Our experience has been nothing but terrific. Our daughter has grown so much since starting at Casa, both on 

Testimonial #4

Parent Name: Jeanette S.


Child Age: 5 years old


Years at Casa de Niños: 2 years


What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños?

As a Spanish teacher, I have been well educated in the many benefits of being bilingual. Beyond being a skill that can serve students for the rest of their life, I know that bilingual people enjoy health benefits even later in life (such as slowing the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease). In my personal life, it has equipped me to build friendships and even family members that I would not have been able to connect with in English. I remember starting down the road of bilingual education and my own parents were concerned that maybe we should focus on teaching our son in English first. They were worried about language delays and that ultimately, our son would not be equipped to thrive in the English speaking school if we were focusing so much on Spanish. I remember citing studies to my mom and reassuring her that I was absolutely sure that my little boy's mind was big enough to handle both languages. In my own experience as an educator, I have met many students who are enriched by being able to use language to navigate 2 cultures, and much as I anticipated, I have seen this same success in my own child. It was just as I had read in books. He developed 2 different frameworks-- one in Spanish for people he communicated with on a regular basis in Spanish, and another in English for everyone else. He is truly fluent in both languages, and I attribute much of his ability to the time he spent at Casa. Beyond the mere linguistic component of the school, I also saw my son developing an awareness about the world and his place in it. He talked about different countries, recycling, the planets, and wildlife-- all in Spanish. I know that this ability to communicate will be a life skill that will change the course of my little boy's life, much like it has done for my own.

What I did not anticipate as a side effect of my child's education at Casa was the family like and nurturing environment that Ms. Greene fosters. I definitely did not want an institutional environment for my little boy, and I expected that Casa would provide more individualized attention. Where the Montessori school exceeded my expectations was in the attention to details as well as the personal attention and guidance that the teachers and the director of the school gave me. As I had questions about my son's learning and how to direct him, they always had positive ideas about how to shape my child and they were anxious to work with me to provide my child with consistency between school and home expectations. This little bit extra made such a difference for me. Quickly, I developed absolute confidence in the teachers at Casa, since I could see that for them, their work with children is more than just a job. Their commitment is what makes possible the home cooked lunches with ingredients that are actually simple whole foods instead of processed microwave meals. Their understanding of the importance of movement and exploration in a child's life is why the little ones go outside even when it is chilly. They help in the garden. Most importantly, they develop a friendship that is genuine and real with the other children at Casa, as modeled by their teachers. I am so pleased with the beautiful experience my son enjoyed at Casa and I highly recommend it to other parents.”

Why would you recommend Casa de Niños to a prospective parent?

Casa is a unique program in the St. Louis area. It is small, personalized and homelike. It doesn't rely on technology nor gimmicks to educate children. The teachers appreciate and build on the unique qualities of each child. They take the time to really know each child and their is genuine affection and respect fostered by this program. The bilingual component is an extra gift-- and as much as it may surprise some parents, children do adapt quickly. Their brains are uniquely ready to acquire language in an immersion setting. It isn't painful for them. There are no verb drills nor conjugation tests. Immersion is touted as the best way to learn a language and at Casa, this method is implemented very well.”
5.0.0
2019-04-30T02:58:35+00:00
Parent Name: Jeanette S. Child Age: 5 years old Years at Casa de Niños: 2 years What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños? “As a Spanish teacher, I have been well educated in the many benefits of being bilingual. Beyond being a 

Testimonial #5

Parent Name: Anna P.


Child Age: 2 & 5 years old


Years at Casa de Niños: 3 years


What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños?

Since our children have been attending Casa de Niños their critical thinking capabilites have expanded well beyond grammar and language skills. The comprehensive translation offered in a bilingual education allows our children to better process information in areas such as music, the arts and mathematics.”

Why would you recommend Casa de Niños to a prospective parent?

We love and would highly recommend Casa de Niños to any parent with the desire to accelerate their child’s intellectual growth and cognitive skills. Veronica and her staff have created an inclusive family atmosphere that provides a safe and encouraging learning environment which fosters a home away from home for her students.”
5.0.0
2019-04-30T02:49:18+00:00
Parent Name: Anna P. Child Age: 2 & 5 years old Years at Casa de Niños: 3 years What has your experience been like at Casa de Niños? “Since our children have been attending Casa de Niños their critical thinking capabilites have expanded well beyond 
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