Afternoon Program
Our Afternoon Program is designed for curious minds who want to explore beyond the traditional school day. Starting this August, we are opening an exclusive space for children ages 5 to 7 to engage in high-level enrichment activities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth.
This is not just "after-care"; it is a curated learning experience where children dive into hands-on projects, artistic expression, and collaborative challenges in a nurturing environment.
Limited Availability: To ensure a personalized and high-quality experience, this program is strictly limited to 16 students.
We’re Not Just Educating Children, We’re Preparing Them for Life.
It’s time to rethink education!
The world has changed, but schools haven’t. At Developing Minds, we equip children with what truly matters, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and real-world skills. This is learning reimagined. This is the future of education.
Admissions Checklist & Process Summary
-
Step 1: Virtual Info Session. Read FAQ at the end of this page and attend our mandatory virtual session to learn about our Morning Program philosophy. You must watch this before applying. Watch Info Session here
PHASE 1
-
Step 2: Application & Fee Ready to join? Please complete the online application and submit a non-refundable $275 admissions fee to continue the process. We will accept applications from February 4, 2026 through February 13, 2026; applications submitted after February 13, 2026 will not be considered.
-
Fill out application form here
-
Application Fee payment link - Pay here
-
-
Step 3: Mandatory Play Session Your child joins a group play session where we observe eligibility. Parents must stay and chat with other community members. Attendance is required; missing this step forfeits the application. Once Step 2 is complete, we will proceed to send you an email with the play session date.
After completing Steps 2 and 3, you will receive an email notifying you whether you are eligible to proceed to the final steps (Steps 4 and 5).
PHASE 2
-
Step 4: Student Visit & Assessment Eligible students visit for learning environment immersion and assessment (MAP Testing or developmental screening), while parents attend a family interview.
-
Step 5: Final Review & Decision We select students who best fit the cohort dynamics. Accepted families will receive an official welcome letter including payable fees and next steps.
What Developing Minds Offers
No grade levels
Learning support based on ability and readiness
Multi-age groups
Children learn from and mentor each other
Inquiry & Project-Based Learning
Real-world skills, not just facts
Play-Based Education
Backed by neuroscience
The child as center of instruction
Learning is based on ability and readiness
Think outside the box
We prepare creative thinkers
Art, music, and engineering
Seamlessly integrated into the learning process
No homework
Unless it's meaningful and nurtures the learning path
Experiential Learning
We connect learning with real life.
Spanish Lessons
Expanding their world and opportunities
Built in Therapy services
Speech, OT and learning intervention as part of our day
Afternoon Workshops
Afternoon aftercare programs reimagined
8-12 Years Old Waitlist
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction.
Interested in our 8-12 age group? We are looking to open more sessions! Please [join our interest list] so we can notify you once these classes are officially added to the schedule.Double click to edit and add your own text.
A One-of-a-Kind Education – Unmatched
What Makes Us Different:
-
Flexible Seating. No testing. No outdated models. No homework. No traditional school system.
-
Children learn through experiences, play, and real-world applications.
-
Academics are learned through life experiences and connections, not just memorization.
-
Our students LOVE and OWN their learning.
Meet Our Founder & Lead Educator
Mariana Carazo – Founder, Head of Learning Center, Pedagogy & Curriculum
Mariana Carazo is not just the founder and Head of Learning Center at Developing Minds—she is the heart and visionary force behind a bold educational revolution. With a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Teaching from Columbia University and over two decades of experience leading curriculum innovation and pedagogical transformation, Mariana has devoted her life to redefining what learning can be. An expert in play-based, inquiry-driven education, she has built her own learning lab from the ground up—transforming a humble garage into a thriving learning center and proving that true learning flourishes when children are given freedom, purpose, and joy. Her mission goes far beyond opening a learning center—Mariana is pioneering a movement to restore childhood, replace outdated practices with brain-aligned teaching, and create learning environments where each child is empowered to think, lead, and love learning. Her story is one of courage, creativity, and commitment to a future where education meets the needs of this century, not the last.
Meet Our Educators & Learning Support Team
Our Educators: Experts, Mentors, and Facilitators of Learning
At Developing Minds Learning Center, our educators are not just tutors, they are facilitators, guides, and experts in their fields who empower children to take ownership of their learning.
📌 We don’t lecture. We inspire, guide, and create experiences.
📌 We don’t force learning. We make it meaningful and engaging.
📌 We don’t follow outdated methods. We use cutting-edge research in child development and education.
📌We are passinate for what we do
Our Team
Collaborative Service Providers
Integrated Learning Support Team
Supporting Every Child’s Success
Our Learning Specialists Team is an integral part of our learning center. From the moment a child enters our admissions process, we assess their learning needs, strengths, and areas for growth to ensure they receive the necessary support in the most effective way.
✔️ Every student is assessed during the admissions process to determine their specific learning needs.
✔️ If a child requires additional support, services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, or learning interventions will be integrated into their learning center schedule, not outside of learning center hours.
✔️ We collaborate with families to create an individualized learning plan that ensures every child thrives in our program.
With extremely limited spots available, this phase of our project will carefully select families who align with our mission of rethinking education.
Limited Spaces Available – Submit Your Admissions Request Today!
The Science & Research Behind Our Model
Why This Works
Kids who learn through play and projects retain 3X more information than those who memorize.
Inquiry-based learning leads to higher problem-solving skills and real-world adaptability.
Emotional intelligence and mental health support lead to happier, more confident learners.
Request more information
Please complete this form to request more information about the educational center. With your name, email, your child’s age, and a short message, we can guide you to the most suitable option and outline the next steps. Once submitted, our team will review your request and contact you by email.
FAQ
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
