Mia Mia is the place
where we all belong

At Mia Mia, learning unfolds through Spanish immersion, a nature-filled environment, and a Reggio Emilia–inspired curriculum designed to nurture curiosity, capability, and connection.

More than a preschool we’re a family and a community.
A home away from home where children, parents, and teachers grow together, united by one shared purpose: nurturing the well-being, growth, and happiness of every child.

Mia-mia (ˈmiːa ˈmiːa) noun:

A transient shelter crafted from bark, branches, leaves, and grass, offering a safe haven on the journey through new territories.

Our vision

To embody the essence of a Mia-Mia in our daily practices by offering a safe, nature-immersed, homelike environment. We nurture a sense of belonging, respect for each child’s unique being, and foster curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Our mission

To provide early education and care that exceeds traditional standards. We pride ourselves on doing things differently, understanding that service excellence is where it all begins.

Our story: from one family to another

Mia Mia is a family-owned preschool, and our team is comprised of passionate and professionally-equipped teachers committed to giving thoughtful attention to every relationship and task.

We focus on engaging children in meaningful experiences that promote their desire for learning and spark their curiosity, nurturing their sense of belonging, being, and becoming.

A curriculum that celebrates being

At Mia Mia, our curriculum nurtures each child’s natural curiosity and love for learning. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, we see children as capable, curious, and full of potential.
Learning is a journey of exploration, discovery, and collaboration, guided by each child’s voice and interests. Through meaningful, play-based projects that inspire creativity and critical thinking, children build a strong foundation for lifelong learning, developing not just knowledge, but a deep sense of self, belonging, and wonder.

Central to our educational curriculum

The principle of belonging, being, and becoming, underpins our commitment to delivering best practices to achieve our 5 Learning Outcomes.

Core pillars

This principle emphasizes the importance of creating a community where every child feels valued, respected, and connected.

This principle encourages us to honor and embrace children as individuals with their own identities, ideas, and capabilities.

This principle recognizes that children are active participants in constructing their understanding of the world. 

Learning outcomes

Children have a strong sense of identity

Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Children are confident
and involved learners​

Children are effective
communicators

Mia Mia preschool offers
spanish immersion
as part of our standard curriculum.

Our programs

Infants

3 months - 12 months 

Babies grow and develop at a remarkable pace, achieving countless milestones along the way. At Mia Mia, our nursery is more than a safe space. It’s a nurturing environment where babies can explore, discover, and connect. Here, they build trusting relationships with caregivers, engage in sensory-rich experiences, and receive personalized attention to support their daily needs, curiosity, and early learning.

Pre-Toddlers

13 - 24 months

At this age, every child is a curious explorer, full of wonder and excitement. Our Pre-Toddler program celebrates each child’s individuality, nurturing confidence, creativity, and a love of learning through hands-on play, music, movement, and early stimulation.
Here, every day is an opportunity to explore, connect, and grow.

Toddlers

2-3 years

Toddlerhood is a powerful season of growth, where play becomes more purposeful and children begin connecting ideas about the world around them. As language expands and relationships deepen, toddlers grow in confidence and independence through hands-on exploration, structured rhythms, and meaningful experiences that gently introduce early foundations for learning.

Prek-3

3-4 years

At this stage, children are full of ideas, questions, and growing confidence in their voice. In our Pre K3 program, learning unfolds through collaborative projects, outdoor exploration, and meaningful daily experiences that nurture independence, communication, and early academic foundations in ways that feel natural and engaging.

PreK-4 + Kinder Bridge

4-6 years

As children prepare for their next big step, thinking becomes more intentional and independence strengthens. Through integrated, play based academics, outdoor investigation, and a thoughtful bilingual approach, our Pre K4 and Kinder Bridge programs support children in becoming confident, capable learners ready for a smooth and self assured transition into elementary school.

Summer Camp

Mia Mia Summer Camp is our Spanish immersion program for children ages 3 months to 8 years. During June and July, our year-round school transforms into a summer program-based curriculum filled with themed weeks, outdoor exploration, and joyful traditions like Messy Mondays, Water Wednesdays, and Fun Fridays. Open to enrolled families and external siblings upon availability.

Guided Exploration Classes

Our Guided Exploration Classes are a unique part of the Mia Mia experience. Unlike traditional enrichment add ons, these classes are fully integrated into the school day and led by dedicated teachers who specialize in their field. Each class is designed to honor children as capable learners while offering depth, expertise, and intentional progression.

Sports

This class focuses on gross motor development, coordination, teamwork, and confidence. Through obstacle courses, ball skills, movement games, and structured play, children strengthen their bodies while learning perseverance and collaboration.

Learning Across Our Campus

At Mia Mia, learning extends beyond the classroom and into every corner of our campus. Our curriculum and daily activities make full use of our outdoor learning stations, where children explore, investigate, and create in nature-rich environments. These spaces invite movement, curiosity, and hands-on discovery, allowing learning to unfold across many different environments throughout our school.

Wonder Wood Stage

Where music, movement, and storytelling come alive. Children perform and celebrate their creativity through festivals, presentations, and special events, building confidence, self-expression, and a love of the arts.

Mia Mia Little Farm

Home to a variety of animals, providing hands-on learning experiences and fostering a connection with nature.

Playtime Paradise

Safe, age-appropriate playgrounds where every child can climb, explore, and play at their own pace, fostering confidence, coordination, and joyful discovery.

Art & Wonder Atelier

Where children’s curiosity and creativity lead the way! Guided by their interests, children explore materials, experiment with techniques, and express themselves through painting, sculpting, and hands-on projects. This environment nurtures imagination, problem-solving, collaboration, and self-expression, celebrating each child’s individuality and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Community Garden

Featuring vegetable gardens and a greenhouse, children actively plant, water, and harvest their own vegetables. Through these hands-on experiences, they learn about nature, responsibility, and the life cycle of plants, developing a connection to the environment and a sense of accomplishment with every seed they nurture.

Outdoor Classrooms

Our outdoor classrooms are intentional extensions of learning, where children investigate, build, observe, and collaborate through hands on exploration in nature.

Sports Lawn

A dedicated space for movement, teamwork, and skill development, where children participate in guided sports classes, outdoor games, and community events.

Library

A cozy space filled with stories in Spanish and English, where children develop a love for reading and language through shared books and quiet exploration.

Sand Pit

A sensory play haven where children dig, build, and create endless adventures. Through hands-on exploration, they develop fine motor skills, creativity, problem-solving, and collaborative play, all while letting their imagination run free.

Pavilion

A meeting place designed for events, recreational and cultural gatherings.

Little Grove

A shaded outdoor space designed for our infants to explore safely, move freely, and experience nature at their own pace.

Music and Movement

Where the rhythm never stops! Children explore music through instruments, dance, and creative movement, discovering joy, coordination, and self- expression. This lively class fosters confidence, rhythm, collaboration, and a love for the performing arts.

“Each child is unique, valued and respected for who they are. At Mia Mia, we are committed to inspiring every child's imagination, sense of wonder and curiosity to explore” 

– Mariana , Mother and Founder

Mariana Villarreal, with over 15 years of experience in the education industry across Australia, Mexico, and the United States, is the driving force behind Mia Mia Preschool.

Throughout her career, Mariana has worked as a teacher, Preschool Director, and Director of Operations. She also founded a business offering Spanish immersion programs in elementary schools and childcare centers in Australia.

With a Bachelor of Educational Psychology and extensive certifications in childcare, Mariana ensures the highest standards of education and care are met every day at Mia Mia.

Learn more about our founder

Frequently asked questions

What are your tuition rates?

Annual tuition is paid in twelve equal installments. The first payment is due on August 1 each school year. The final month’s tuition is due upon registration, and subsequent payments are due on the first of each month, August through July.

Annual registration $500
Semester supply fee: $250 (September and February)

Monthly tuition
2026-2027
8:30 am - 2:30 pm

2 days per week (T/TH)

3 days per week (M/W/F)

5 days per week (M-F)

  • Infants/Pre-toddlers: $880
  • Toddlers: $860
  • Preschool: $840
  • Infants/Pre-toddlers: $1,160
  • Toddlers: $1,130
  • Preschool: $1,100
  • Infants/Pre-toddlers: $1,650
  • Toddlers: $1,600
  • Preschool: $1,550

Additional Services
(cost per month)

Early Drop Off
7:30-8:30am

2 days

$25 per session

$120 ($15 per session

Drop In

3 days

$180 ($15 per session)

5 days

$270 ($13.5 per session)

Afternoon Enrichment Program
(2:30-5:00pm)

Drop In

$40 per session

2 days

$200 ( $25 per session)

3 days

$300 ( $25 per session)

5 days

$450 ($22.5 per session)

Both

Drop In

$65

2 days

$280

3 days

$400

5 days

$550

Additional services
(monthly cost)

Early drop off
7:30 am - 8:30 am

Afternoon enrichment program
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Both

Drop In

$25 per session

$40 per session

$65

2 days

$120 ($15 per session)

$200 ($25 per session)

$280

3 days

$180 ($15 per session)

$300 ($25 per session)

$400
5 days
$270 ($13.5 per session)
$450 ($22.5 per session)
$550

Admission to Mia Mia Preschool is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and we maintain a waitlist for future openings. Our admissions process is designed to be transparent, thoughtful, and family-centered.

1. Schedule a Campus Open House Tour

Begin by booking an Open House to experience Mia Mia firsthand. During your visit, you’ll learn about our philosophy and approach to early childhood education while exploring our nature-based learning environment, outdoor discovery areas, and interactive learning stations designed to inspire creativity and growth.

2. Join the Waitlist

If you are interested in joining the Mia Mia community after your tour, you may submit an application to join our waitlist. A $100 non-refundable application fee is required upon submission. Once received, your child’s application will be placed on the waitlist for the selected age group.

3. Waitlist Status

Families remain on the waitlist until a space becomes available in the age group they applied for. Availability is based on enrollment openings throughout the year.

4. Get-to-Know-You Session

When a spot becomes available, we will contact families on the waitlist to schedule a Get-to-Know-You session. This meeting allows us to connect with your family, get to know your child, and ensure Mia Mia is the right fit for your family’s values, rhythms, and expectations.

5. Welcome Call & Enrollment Offer

If a space is offered following the Get-to-Know-You session, our administration team will contact you to confirm your child’s spot, set the start date, and answer any remaining questions—ensuring a smooth and supported transition to Mia Mia. You will then receive an enrollment offer via email along with the required enrollment forms.

Please note: You will have 24 hours to complete the enrollment form. The spot will only be secured once we receive the completed enrollment form and the $500 non-refundable annual registration fee within this timeframe.

6. Meet-the-Teacher & Induction Session

One week prior to your child’s start date, your family will be invited to a Meet-the-Teacher and Induction Session. This visit allows your child to become familiar with their classroom and teachers, while giving families the opportunity to share important information to help us provide a warm, personalized start.

Our program primarily operates on a 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule, offering a full-day experience for children.

Part-time attendance options may also be available, separating our core learning hours (8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) from our Before-school Care and Afternoon Enrichment Program.

The Afternoon Enrichment Program features rotating themes throughout the week, including Movement Monday, Tasty Tuesday, We Recycle Wednesday, Tour the World Thursday, and Fun Friday!

We do! Experience a summer of wonder and discovery at Mia Mia Summer Camp, where children explore mindfulness, creativity and outdoor adventures. With activities like yoga, water games, farm visits, arts, science and cultural exploration, every day is filled with fun and learning! As part of our 12-month program, we transform the space into a dynamic summer camp in June and July, all set in the heart of our nature-based campus!

For Enrolled Families:

As part of our 12-month program, we transform the space into a dynamic summer camp in June and July, all set in the heart of our nature-based campus! While maintaining regular tuition, get ready for non-stop fun and thrilling outdoor adventures!

For External Families & Siblings (2 – 8 years):

We’re excited to welcome new campers! Camp is billed weekly or monthly, with flexible options to fit your schedule:

  • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – $500/week
  • 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – $600/week

Spaces are limited – don’t miss out on this unforgettable summer experience!

At Mia Mia, learning is not confined to a single space. It grows through relationship and shared responsibility.

We believe families are a child’s first and most influential teachers, and we approach education as a true partnership. Through open communication, including daily updates and documentation on our Brightwheel platform, intentional collaboration, and our Family Hub initiatives, we create meaningful alignment between home and school so children experience continuity, trust, and belonging throughout their day.

Family involvement at Mia Mia is active and thoughtfully structured. Through our Family Partnership Program, including Room Parents, our PTA, and our Grandparents Volunteering Program, families participate in school-wide events, classroom experiences, and community gatherings in intentional ways. This shared presence strengthens connection and models collaboration for children.

We also build strong relationships with local partners such as farms, libraries, enrichment instructors, and small businesses, extending our project-based learning into the wider community. These partnerships enrich our curriculum and help children see themselves as connected contributors within a larger world.

Through ongoing developmental observations, progress conversations, and personalized support, we ensure each child’s growth is understood holistically: academically, socially, emotionally, and linguistically.

At Mia Mia, community is not an addition to education. It is the foundation that allows children to feel safe, seen, and supported as they learn and grow.

Book a tour

Your family is invited to discover the magic of Mia Mia Preschool.

Join us for a guided visit to explore our unique approach to early learning, stroll through our beautiful campus filled with rich indoor and outdoor experiences, and meet our exceptional team. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions along the way. We can’t wait to meet you and your child!

Want to be part of the Mia Mia teaching program?

Contact us for more information and requirements

Ready for school. Ready for life.

4-6 years

This is the stage where independence deepens and thinking becomes intentional.

Between four and six years old, children show growing self regulation, longer attention spans, and an increasing ability to collaborate, solve problems, and express their thinking with confidence.

Our Pre K4 program builds on the investigative foundation of earlier years through a project based approach that connects learning across experiences. Academic concepts are introduced through purposeful, play based exploration, allowing literacy, math, and scientific thinking to grow naturally within meaningful contexts.

Outdoor classrooms remain essential to daily learning. Children participate in our Guided Exploration classes in Sports, Music, Art and Wonder, and Gardening, each led by a specialized teacher who deepens the experience.

At this stage, learning is active and integrated. Children learn as they play, engage, and discover more about themselves, their peers, and the world around them, preparing confidently for their next big step.

A Thoughtful Bilingual Transition

Our 4 to 6 year program is intentionally bilingual. Spanish continues as a lived language of communication, culture, and daily interaction, while English literacy and mathematical vocabulary are gradually introduced in developmentally appropriate ways. This approach prepares children for English immersion in elementary school without compromising their Spanish foundation.

Through this balanced model, children develop confidence in both languages while strengthening cognitive flexibility, communication skills, and academic readiness.

Kinder Bridge: A Purposeful Extension Year

For families seeking an additional year before elementary school, whether due to the September 1 cutoff or a desire for extended preparation, our Kinder Bridge program offers a meaningful and strategic transition.

In small, supportive groups, children engage in deeper project work, strengthened literacy and math foundations, collaborative problem solving, and leadership opportunities within the classroom community. The focus is not acceleration, but confidence, maturity, and true readiness.

 

A Gentle Beginning:
Our Infant Program

3 months-12 months

The first two years of life are a pivotal time for development and growth, where every moment matters.

At Mia Mia, our Infant Program is guided by developmental milestones that help us observe, support, and respond to each baby’s unique path. We closely follow cognitive, gross and fine motor, language, sensory, and socioemotional development, allowing us to understand where each infant is in their journey and when to offer encouragement, enrichment, or closer attention.

We approach each baby with curiosity and respect, learning their rhythms, cues, preferences, and emerging abilities. Our routines are intentionally designed yet flexible, adapting as children grow and transition. Personalized developmental goals and regular progress check-ins ensure that each child is supported with care and purpose.

Our nursery spaces are calm, natural, and welcoming, prepared with soft materials, open-ended objects, and sensory-rich experiences. We center our work around connection, knowing that secure relationships are the foundation for early development. Through attentive caregiving moments such as feeding, diapering, rest, and quiet one-on-one interactions, our teachers move with intention and responsiveness, creating a steady and reassuring environment for each child.

Infants also experience the world beyond the nursery through daily strolls across our campus and time in our outdoor stations. In addition, they participate in our Guided Exploration Classes, each led by a specialized teacher. For this age group, classes include Art and Wonder and Music, thoughtfully adapted to support sensory discovery, early creativity, rhythm, and connection in developmentally appropriate ways.

In these earliest months, learning unfolds through relationship, rhythm, observation, and intentional developmental support, allowing each baby to grow confidently and authentically in their own time.

First Steps of Discovery:
Our Pre-Toddler Program

13 months-24 months

This is the season where independence begins, one step, one word, one discovery at a time.

At this stage, children are emerging explorers, eager to move, communicate, and make sense of the world around them. At Mia Mia, we honor each child’s growing independence while continuing to guide their development through intentional observation and responsive support.

Our program is grounded in developmental milestones, with particular attention to gross and fine motor coordination, early language development, cognitive growth, sensory exploration, and socioemotional awareness. As children begin walking, climbing, expressing first words, and forming early routines, we thoughtfully prepare environments that invite safe risk taking, repetition, and meaningful discovery.

Daily experiences are hands-on and rooted in play. Through movement, music, open-ended materials, and intentional small-group experiences, children build confidence, problem-solving skills, and early communication. Outdoor time, campus strolls, and visits to our nature spaces remain an essential part of the day, allowing toddlers to explore with their whole bodies. In addition, children participate in our Guided Exploration Classes in Sports, Music, Art and Wonder, and Gardening. Each class is led by a specialized teacher who thoughtfully designs experiences that deepen engagement and extend learning.

Our routines continue to provide continuity and rhythm while encouraging autonomy. Mealtimes, transitions, and caregiving moments are approached as opportunities for language development, connection, and growth.

In this season of rapid development, children are supported as capable learners, developing confidence in who they are and what they can do.

A World Taking Shape:
Our Toddler Program

2-3 years

Play becomes purposeful as children begin connecting ideas and building early foundations.

Between two and three years old, children move from simple exploration into deeper understanding. Language expands rapidly, symbolic play becomes more intentional, and children begin recognizing patterns, relationships, and cause and effect in the world around them.

While we continue to observe developmental milestones across cognitive, language, motor, and socioemotional growth, our program intentionally embeds early academic foundations into everyday experiences.

Through project based learning, toddlers explore themes that integrate early math concepts such as counting, sorting, patterns, and spatial awareness; early science concepts such as observation, prediction, nature study, and cause and effect; and expressive language through storytelling, conversation, and representation. These concepts are woven naturally into hands-on exploration, art, movement, outdoor investigation, and collaborative play.

Toddlers also participate in our Guided Exploration Classes, each led by a specialized teacher. At this stage, children attend Art and Wonder, Sports, and Gardening. These focused classes extend classroom learning while supporting coordination, creativity, confidence, and a deepening connection to nature through intentional, developmentally aligned experiences.

Our classroom environment offers a continuous rhythm that helps guide our children by focusing their attention, building memory, strengthening executive functioning skills, and deepening their understanding of routines, responsibility, and community.

As children begin forming peer relationships, we guide them in practicing empathy, cooperation, turn taking, and emotional expression. They are not only learning about the world, but about themselves within it.

In this stage, toddlers are supported as capable thinkers who can question, investigate, represent ideas, and build foundational knowledge through meaningful experiences.

Ideas Come to Life:
Our Pre K3 Program

3-4 years

Big ideas begin to take shape as children think, communicate, and collaborate with greater intention.

At three and four years old, children are no longer just exploring. They are explaining, negotiating, imagining, and connecting ideas in more complex ways. Their language expands, play becomes more collaborative, and they begin sustaining attention for longer periods of time.

In our Pre-K3 program, we continue observing developmental milestones across language, motor coordination, cognitive growth, and socioemotional development. These indicators guide our support as learning deepens beyond simple exploration. Children participate in group discussions, contribute ideas, and engage in extended project experiences with growing intention.

Our curriculum follows a project-based approach, where themes unfold through hands-on investigation. Early math thinking, scientific observation, expressive language, and creative representation are woven naturally into everyday experiences, building foundational skills through meaningful learning. As part of our Spanish immersion environment, language is lived daily through conversation, storytelling, songs, cultural traditions, and shared routines.

Our outdoor classrooms and learning stations serve as essential extensions of the curriculum. Children also participate in our Guided Exploration Classes in Sports, Music, Art and Wonder, and Gardening, each led by a specialized teacher who deepens the experience and supports growth through focused, intentional instruction.

As independence grows, so does their ability to reflect, represent ideas, collaborate, and contribute thoughtfully within their classroom community.

Learn more

Mia Mia Summer Camp is a seasonal extension of our year-round Spanish immersion program, welcoming children from 3 months to 8 years of age. While Mia Mia operates 12 months a year, in June and July our curriculum shifts into a summer program-based experience designed to celebrate exploration, creativity, and connection.

Each week features a unique theme that invites children into imaginative play, hands-on discovery, outdoor adventures, and meaningful projects. Our summer rhythm includes signature traditions like Messy Mondays, Water Wednesdays, and Fun Fridays, creating joyful anticipation and shared experiences across age groups.

Children continue to experience full Spanish immersion in a nurturing, nature-based environment, strengthening language development while building confidence, collaboration, and curiosity.

Summer Camp is open to currently enrolled families, siblings, and external families upon availability.

Join us

South Austin

Lakeway

Opening August 2026

Join us

South Austin

Lakeway

Opening August 2026

Careers

Enroll Now!

We are so excited to bring our community to Lakeway as our new campus comes to life in August 2026.
Once we receive your inquiry, a member of our team will reach out to you to answer questions and, if desired, schedule a 1:1 tour with our Founder.
We can’t wait to connect with you!

Child Information

Enrollment Details

Schedule selections are preliminary and may be adjusted during the formal enrollment process. This form helps us understand your general preferences as we plan classroom availability.