Our Philosophy
Children lead.Nido is carefully designed to ensure that children can take the lead, while we adults support them and hold boundaries as necessary. Our curriculum supports each child's development by drawing from their interests. While the basic structure may remain the same, every class is unique and evolves with the group. Our teachers are experts at facilitating learning through play and modeling.
Language takes root.Learning a new language requires repeated exposure, use and desire. Our goal is to cultivate a strong desire in each child by connecting Spanish to joy, community, and their world. We encourage their use of the language by immersing the children in Spanish as it connects to their play. Our songbooks and the friends you make in class are an invitation to continue the exposure at home and beyond.
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All are welcome.We welcome families from all backgrounds to learn alongside us, share in our cultures, and find common ground. Whether you are a native Spanish speaker or just starting out, you will find a home here.
Children and adults of all abilities are an important part of our community. We will work with you to make sure everyone can participate comfortably. Culture blossoms.We provide a fully immersive experience where the children and adults alike are enveloped by not only the language but the rich culture of Latin America with traditional foods, music and materials. You might find us singing De Colores in the Springtime, shaking maracas, or sharing warm pan de elote.
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Our Team
Melina Gac Levin, M.S.Ed.
She/Her
Co-Founder
Melina was born in Colombia to Chilean and Puerto Rican parents. She grew up traveling the world, playing outdoors, and picking up languages as she went. She is a parent to two bilingual children.
Melina has over a decade of experience supporting families and teachers in and out of the classroom. She teaches graduate courses in child development at Bank Street College of Education, from which she holds dual degrees in Infant and Family Development and Early Childhood Education. She is a partner in Premier Pediatrics' First Month Project. Melina teaches classes on child development for parents and educators.
Melina is the founder of Pueblo. Through Pueblo she offers online parenting classes and consultations for multicultural families.
NIDO was born out of my desire to create a space where my daughters could connect our home language to a larger community, to the joy of exploration, and to a shared experience of discovery.
www.parentpueblo.com
ig: @parentpueblo
Melina has over a decade of experience supporting families and teachers in and out of the classroom. She teaches graduate courses in child development at Bank Street College of Education, from which she holds dual degrees in Infant and Family Development and Early Childhood Education. She is a partner in Premier Pediatrics' First Month Project. Melina teaches classes on child development for parents and educators.
Melina is the founder of Pueblo. Through Pueblo she offers online parenting classes and consultations for multicultural families.
NIDO was born out of my desire to create a space where my daughters could connect our home language to a larger community, to the joy of exploration, and to a shared experience of discovery.
www.parentpueblo.com
ig: @parentpueblo
Paulina Trevino-Oliva, B.A
She/Her
Co-Founder, Teacher
Paulina was born and raised in Mexico. She spent her childhood days covered in dirt, climbing trees, and wandering at the park making friends all over the barrio until it was dinner time. She had the opportunity to study abroad in the U.S. and decided to embrace the adventure making it permanent.
Paulina holds a Bachelor 's degree in Psychology from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and has continued her education with courses in Neuropsychology and RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers). She began her career as a child therapist assisting underprivileged children impacted by the drug war in Mexico during the early 2010s, and has worked as a school psychologist, preschool teacher, and caregiver. Currently you can find her teaching at Union Square Play or chasing after her 18 month old.
She is a strong advocate of unstructured child-led play, playing in all weather and believes children deserve spaces where they are approached with curiosity, compassion and unconditional love.
Paulina holds a Bachelor 's degree in Psychology from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and has continued her education with courses in Neuropsychology and RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers). She began her career as a child therapist assisting underprivileged children impacted by the drug war in Mexico during the early 2010s, and has worked as a school psychologist, preschool teacher, and caregiver. Currently you can find her teaching at Union Square Play or chasing after her 18 month old.
She is a strong advocate of unstructured child-led play, playing in all weather and believes children deserve spaces where they are approached with curiosity, compassion and unconditional love.
Carolina Andrea Lamiell, B.S.Ed
She/Her
Teacher
She/Her
Teacher
Carolina was born in Chile and moved to New York seven years ago. She attended the University of Playa Ancha of Educational Sciences in Valparaíso where she obtained her degree as a professor of History and Geography, in addition to her bachelor's degrees in education and history.
She has more than 12 years of experience in the education of children and adolescents. Before moving to New York, she spent her days teaching in the classrooms and doing historical research.
Carolina is also a musician and singer. As a teacher, she has applied her musical knowledge to her daily work with children. She is currently combining her work as a Nido educator with her project, Música y Canciones Para Grandes y Peques, where she offers Spanish immersion music classes for babies, toddlers, and their accompanying adults. She also collaborates with the Brooklyn Public Library in Brainy Babies, a bilingual program of music and storytelling for babies and toddlers.
Carolina sees NIDO as a free space where children are respected in all their dimensions. She believes that the freedom and respect we have around their autonomy, feelings, and desires are essential to their growth and the way they will face the world.
She has more than 12 years of experience in the education of children and adolescents. Before moving to New York, she spent her days teaching in the classrooms and doing historical research.
Carolina is also a musician and singer. As a teacher, she has applied her musical knowledge to her daily work with children. She is currently combining her work as a Nido educator with her project, Música y Canciones Para Grandes y Peques, where she offers Spanish immersion music classes for babies, toddlers, and their accompanying adults. She also collaborates with the Brooklyn Public Library in Brainy Babies, a bilingual program of music and storytelling for babies and toddlers.
Carolina sees NIDO as a free space where children are respected in all their dimensions. She believes that the freedom and respect we have around their autonomy, feelings, and desires are essential to their growth and the way they will face the world.
Paulina Tapia Chandia
She/Her
Co-Teacher
Paulina was born and raised in Chile. She grew up in the Air Force military base in the north of the country, where there are not many trees, but an abundance of the most beautiful views of the desert. She used to play with mud, ride bikes, and hang out at the beach every weekend.
After studying fashion and business administration, and working for a couple of years, she moved to NY in 2017, where she attended an ESL school. She became familiar with childcare in 2018 when she got her first job as a babysitter to two wonderful kids. The bond she created with the kids, made her realize that she was also ready for taking that big step. She is now a proud mom to a 3 year old boy.
As a bilingual/immigrant parent, Paulina sees early education as something that the child should lead, and we as adults should respect their times. Milestones are different for everyone and every single kid has a unique reason to be here with us and teach us something about ourselves… Los pequeños son nuestros maestros.
After studying fashion and business administration, and working for a couple of years, she moved to NY in 2017, where she attended an ESL school. She became familiar with childcare in 2018 when she got her first job as a babysitter to two wonderful kids. The bond she created with the kids, made her realize that she was also ready for taking that big step. She is now a proud mom to a 3 year old boy.
As a bilingual/immigrant parent, Paulina sees early education as something that the child should lead, and we as adults should respect their times. Milestones are different for everyone and every single kid has a unique reason to be here with us and teach us something about ourselves… Los pequeños son nuestros maestros.