Mi Second Casa
📍 847 N San Mateo Dr, San Mateo, CA 94401
🕛 8 AM to 5 PM, M-F
📞 (650) 300-1895
🗓️ Ages served: 3 months – 5 years
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At Mi Second Casa, children learn through a balance of play, exploration, and intentional teaching. We are a 100% Spanish immersion program, meaning children hear and use Spanish in every part of their school day, naturally becoming confident bilingual learners.
Our curriculum is play-based, with opportunities for children to discover, create, and imagine freely. In addition, teachers design themed, teacher-led activities that connect to developmental goals. We use California’s Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), a state tool that guides educators in supporting growth across important areas like language, social-emotional skills, early literacy, math, and motor development.
We also follow NAEYC standards, ensuring our practices meet the highest level of quality in early childhood education. Above all, our philosophy centers on helping children grow in self-regulation, independence, and agency - skills that empower them to thrive in school and in life.
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Healthy bodies fuel healthy minds. Each day, we provide breakfast, lunch, and snack that are fresh, balanced, and nourishing. Meals always include a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. Vegetarian options are available, and we work closely with families to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions, including nut-free needs.
We view mealtimes as a chance to learn, too: children practice independence by serving themselves, trying new foods, and learning about nutrition in a joyful, positive way. Sharing meals together builds community and encourages children to develop lifelong healthy eating habits.
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Children thrive on rhythm and routine, which is why our daily schedule is thoughtfully structured. Each classroom follows a predictable flow that balances:
Indoor play for imagination, problem-solving, and creativity
Teacher-led activities that introduce new ideas and concepts
Outdoor and gross motor play for movement and physical development
Meals and snacks enjoyed together in community
Rest or quiet time to recharge and restore energy
This balance helps children feel secure, while also giving them the freedom to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace.
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At Mi Second Casa, families are partners in every step of a child’s journey. We believe strong family-school connections create the best outcomes for children.
Daily communication: Families receive updates with photos and logs of meals, naps, and activities so you always know how your child’s day went.
Parent-teacher conferences: Once per year, teachers meet with families to share insights into each child’s unique growth, development, and strengths.
Parent Advisory Committee: Families are invited to join a monthly committee that supports our community through volunteering, cultural experiences, gardening, field trips, fundraising, and more. Parents who participate even receive special perks, like a complimentary extended-hours night.
We welcome families to share their talents, culture, and traditions, enriching the experience for all children.
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Children are grouped by age (infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) in dedicated classrooms, allowing for targeted developmental activities. Our center was thoughtfully co-designed in partnership with an occupational therapist and Sequential Development Consulting, ensuring that each space supports children’s natural growth, independence, and developmental milestones.
Also, our school is proud to offer both a large outdoor play yard and a dedicated indoor gross motor area for active play year-round.
Outdoor Play Area: Children enjoy a private yard with turf, climbing structures, a sandbox, a bike lane, playhouses, and a variety of toys. These spaces encourage running, jumping, balancing, and imaginative play.
Indoor Gross Motor Room: Unique to our program, this indoor gym features a rock-climbing wall, gymnastics mats, and tumbling equipment. Children can build strength, coordination, and confidence — rain or shine.
Through daily opportunities for movement, children develop not only their bodies but also focus, resilience, and self-confidence.
Classrooms
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Conejitos (Infants: 3–18 months | 1:3 ratio)
In Conejitos, our youngest learners are nurtured in a safe, warm, and responsive environment. Teachers focus on secure attachment, individualized care, and daily routines that promote trust and comfort.
Developmental Focus: motor development (tummy time, crawling, walking), sensory exploration, early communication (gestures, babbling, first words), and building bonds with caregivers.
Our Approach: Spanish is naturally introduced through songs, rhymes, and daily interactions, laying the foundation for dual-language development. Teachers model calm regulation strategies, helping infants begin recognizing emotions.
What to Expect: personalized feeding and nap schedules, plenty of floor play, music and movement, and outdoor time tailored to infant needs.
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Pajaritos (Toddlers: 18 months–2 years | 1:4 ratio)
In Pajaritos, little ones begin to explore the world with more independence. Teachers guide them through discovery and help channel their curiosity into meaningful learning moments.
Developmental Focus: language explosion (two-word phrases, naming objects), fine motor development (scribbling, stacking), early problem-solving and emerging self-regulation.
Our Approach: Spanish immersion expands to include simple instructions, songs, and stories. Teachers design playful, themed activities that strengthen early learning domains like communication, physical growth, and self-help skills.
What to Expect: early social-emotional coaching (“use your words,” sharing, turn-taking), art and sensory projects, outdoor exploration, and routines that promote independence (feeding self, handwashing, putting toys away).
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Mariposas (Big Toddlers: 2–3 years | 1:6 ratio)
Mariposas is where children’s curiosity takes flight. At this age, children are eager to try things on their own while still relying on teachers for guidance.
Developmental Focus: early literacy (recognizing names, rhyming), pretend play, more complex problem-solving, and beginning self-regulation skills.
Our Approach: Teachers plan thematic, teacher-led activities that explore math, science, art, and early writing through play. Spanish is reinforced daily in songs, circle time, and conversations.
What to Expect: structured routines to support potty training, guided social play, dramatic play centers, and activities that foster agency (choosing centers, expressing preferences, helping with simple classroom jobs).
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Ositos (Preschoolers: 3–5 years | 1:10 ratio)
In Ositos, children are preparing for kindergarten and beyond. Teachers focus on blending school readiness with creativity, independence, and a strong sense of identity.
Developmental Focus: pre-reading and early math (counting, patterns, storytelling), cooperative play, problem-solving, and strengthening attention span. Children practice self-regulation and empathy, building friendships and resolving conflicts.
Our Approach: Through the DRDP framework, teacher-led themed projects encourage exploration across domains such as literacy, cognition, and physical development. Spanish immersion is fully integrated into classroom routines, helping children become confident bilingual learners.
What to Expect: circle time with songs and stories, group projects, outdoor play that builds coordination, early writing and drawing practice, and classroom responsibilities that foster independence and pride.
Teachers
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![Person taking a selfie in front of the United States Capitol building.]()
Hi there! My name is Michael and I am the director of Mi Second Casa 😀
Before joining Mi Second Casa, I earned my BA in Economics at Sac State and worked in state government for a few years. While I valued my time there, I discovered my true passion: helping children learn and providing families with quality care.
In addition to my undergrad, I went back to college to earn Early Childhood Education units and a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which qualifies me to serve as a childcare center director. Additionally, I worked as a Teacher Aide in the infant and toddler program at a non-profit childcare center in Oakland, CA.
Outside of work, I love being active and you can find me playing pick up basketball or running. I also really enjoy traveling, reading and rooting for the Niners and Warriors!
