Casa Feliz felt like dropping my child off with a warm extended family. Teachers are warm and attentive to each child’s needs. They make healthy meals for the kids and promote a lot of outdoor playtime. My son bonded with teachers and kids there and it was sad to have to find a new school when we moved away. He still understands Portuguese and speaks some words! I recommend Casa Feliz highly and have already sent good friends their way.
Gratidão por ter tido uma pessoa muito carismática e amorosa a ajudar criar meu filho Thiago. Maria tem um jeito carinhoso e especial para cuidar de crianças. Por isso se tornou uma profissional talentosa e experiente , seu maior gesto é compartilhar AMOR . Em 2016 presenciei a rotina das crianças, o cuidado com alimentação , higiene, segurança e bem estar dos pequeninos , perfeita harmonia dos espaços internos e externos.
Participei de encontros festivos , interação entre crianças, pais e colaboradores, nesse ambiente as crianças se interagiam e compartilhavam alegria , na CASA FELIZ as crianças aprendem outros idiomas e respeito aos próximos, assim se forma futuros cidadãos com histórias de uma infância feliz. Obrigada Maria por fazer parte da nossa linda história de vida . Compartilho lembranças com muita gratidão.
Helena e Thiago
A Casa Feliz foi um lugar onde me senti verdadeiramente acolhida. Durante o período em que estive lá, tive a oportunidade de aprender muito, crescer como pessoa e conhecer diferentes culturas, o que tornou minha experiência ainda mais especial. Sou muito grata pelo cuidado, respeito e apoio que recebi de todos. Com certeza, levarei comigo tudo o que vivi na Casa Feliz como uma lembrança positiva e enriquecedora. Recomendo de coração !
Casa Feliz Child Care is an excellent choice for families in Portland, Oregon. The environment is warm, safe, and thoughtfully designed to support children's development. The staff is attentive and dedicated, and the meals are lovingly prepared in-house, which makes a big difference. A trustworthy place for families looking for high-quality child care.
A Second Home for Our Son: Our Experience at Casa Feliz Daycare
When our son started at the Casa Feliz Daycare infant house at just three and a half months old, we were navigating the challenging transition of returning to full-time work. From day one, the teachers at Casa Feliz warmly embraced him, making the transition so much smoother for our entire family.
Beyond providing exceptional care, the educators at Casa Feliz have been invaluable partners in our son's development. They've taught us important infant development approaches, offering guidance on everything from feeding and napping to soothing techniques. Most importantly, they've helped our son build confidence and independence, encouraging him to try things we might have otherwise done for him.
We also deeply appreciate the quality meals Casa Feliz provides. They make fresh breakfast, lunch, and snacks, which has been instrumental in our son growing into a curious toddler who genuinely enjoys fresh vegetables, different seasonings, and a variety of fruits. He also loves drinking water and milk, which is a testament to the healthy habits they foster.
Casa Feliz truly feels like our son's second home. He absolutely thrives there, enjoying quality time with his classmates and teachers. We love hearing about their days filled with singing, dancing, and learning new skills. Casa Feliz also fully embraces an app and Casa Feliz also fully embraces an app-enabled real time connection with parents. Daily photos and updates help us stay consistent between our son’s home life and school life. We are incredibly grateful for everything the Casa Feliz family has taught us and for providing such a nurturing and enriching environment for our son.
He’s now a thriving toddler and we plan to have him grow through all of the learning levels at CasaFeliz.
My daughter started at Casa Feliz when she was one year old, and she had a wonderful experience. She was truly loved and respected there, which greatly contributed to her development and sense of security. I always felt at ease leaving her in such a safe and nurturing environment, just like home.
Beyond being an excellent place for her natural and respectful development, Casa Feliz follows the RIE philosophy, which I hadn’t been familiar with before but deeply appreciate now. They also provide high-quality, healthy meals made with love and care.
At Casa Feliz, Olivia had the opportunity to experience all kinds of weather—whether sunny or rainy—which was essential for her development in a place with a wetter climate.
I am incredibly grateful to Casa Feliz for the amazing activities and, most importantly, for taking such loving care of my daughter as if she were their own.
Casa Feliz is an absolutely wonderful childcare that truly goes above and beyond in providing outstanding care for children. What sets Casa Feliz apart is not only their deep commitment to the well-being and development of each child but also their dedication to supporting the entire family. They create a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and respected.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Casa Feliz is their incredible food program. Nutrition plays a crucial role in a child's development, and Casa Feliz takes this responsibility seriously by providing homemade, high-quality meals every day. Their meals are thoughtfully prepared with fresh, nutritious ingredients, ensuring that children receive the best possible start in forming healthy eating habits. Mealtime is not just about food—it’s an opportunity to foster independence, social interaction, and a positive relationship with nutritious meals. Knowing that children are eating balanced, homemade food made with love gives parents peace of mind.
Casa Feliz also follows the REI (Resources for Infant Educarers) approach, a philosophy that fosters deep respect for each child as an individual. Their caregivers are incredibly patient, attentive, and intentional in their interactions, always treating children with kindness and understanding. This positive education philosophy encourages independence, confidence, and emotional intelligence, setting a strong foundation for the children's future.
Not only is Casa Feliz an incredible place for children, but it’s also a fantastic workplace for caregivers. The leadership values and supports their staff, creating a positive and respectful work environment where educators feel empowered and appreciated. The sense of community here is truly special—parents, caregivers, and children all feel like part of a big, supportive family.
Casa Feliz is a gem, providing everything a parent could hope for in a childcare center—love, learning, respect, and high-quality care. If you are looking for a place where your child will be nurtured in the best possible way, look no further!
Our family is so grateful for Maria and the Casa Feliz community. Our daughter was a part of their care for 2 years before transitioning to preschool. She truly thrived under their compassion and care. The homes are intimate and cozy, and she received a lot of individualized care and attention. The kiddos receive a lot of outdoor time, form strong bonds in the cohort model, and become adventurous eaters thanks to their emphasis on baby-led weaning and delicious food program. It was very important for us to have our daughter a part of a diverse community and Casa Feliz offers that. We couldn't recommend the Casa Feliz community more for those looking for infant-toddler care in the NE area.
We loved this daycare for our son until we got to peak behind the curtains at the truth. The caregivers are wonderful but the owner/director, Maria, is awful. She’s manipulative and controlling and god forbid you show any resistance to how she handles difficult situations. My husband and I raised concerns regarding the questionable and sudden departure of our son’s main caregiver from the daycare. She felt threatened by this because we weren’t just going along with how she’s covering everything up, accused my husband of raising his voice at her and being aggressive (which definitely was not the case) and made us feel like terrible people for poking holes at her story when we were just trying to figure out what had happened. We attempted to make amends knowing our son loved the place and had friends at the school, but she kicked us out on the spot in a very unprofessional manner without caring to talk through it to make it work, leaving us with no care for our son. I immediately reached out directly to the caregiver who had left suddenly and she gave me the real story. Seeing the lies Maria told the parents in order to cover up the situation made me feel very sad and angry. Maria had been holding the fact that she was the sponsor to the caregiver’s green card over her head for years, and using that as leverage to treat this poor woman terribly, pretty much causing an emotionally abusive relationship to occur from day one. When the caregiver finally had the courage to leave the daycare, Maria once again used the green card to try to manipulate her into leaving but wanting her to keep her name as the provider for the space, which she refused knowing the liability and risk would fall on her if anything were to happen in the future. Smart woman. She’s also told us stories of other caregivers that this very similar experience has happened to in the past. Red flags all around.
Again, your child will be in good hands with their direct caregiver, I don’t question that. But if you want stability in whether your caregiver will stay or go, or any say when it comes to the administrative side of the school, I would avoid this place like the plague. We’re much better off, I don’t want my son to be in a space where someone as hostile and difficult as Maria is interacting with/treating the caregivers of our children in such a poor and manipulative manner. We now get to work directly with our son’s caregiver as she’s becoming our full time nanny, so feeling grateful that this is all working out for the better and happy to be out of that toxic environment.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. At Casa Feliz Childcare, we are committed to providing a respectful and caring environment for all children, families, and staff. I take your concerns seriously and would like to address them openly and factually.
Regarding the departure of your son’s caregiver, I want to clarify that she worked with us for two years and was a valued member of our team. During her time at Casa Feliz, everything functioned well until a conflict arose between her and another staff member. As a result, she made the personal decision to leave the daycare. While we always strive for resolution and harmony among our team, we also respect each individual’s decision when they feel it’s time to move on. Unfortunately, once she chose to discontinue her employment, we were no longer able to continue her visa sponsorship, as this is a requirement tied to active employment.
That said, I am genuinely happy that you were able to hire her and continue your relationship with someone your son feels safe and connected to. Continuity of care is so important, and I’m glad he has that stability through her presence.
I must also address the incident involving your husband. During our discussion, he raised his voice in a way that was alarming to both me and others present. This happened in front of children and families, creating a disruptive and unsafe environment. For transparency, I want to note that this interaction was captured on our secure cameras, and we have documented reports from staff regarding the event.
I also want to sincerely apologize for not replying to your email requesting that we reconsider the termination of your contract. The intensity of the situation, particularly the incident with your husband, left me overwhelmed and unable to respond as promptly as I usually would.
At Casa Feliz, our top priority is to ensure a nurturing, respectful, and emotionally safe environment for all children, families, and staff. The decision to part ways was not made lightly but was necessary to uphold that commitment.
I am truly sorry that this experience led to a negative outcome for your family. I wish you and your son all the best as you move forward. I’m confident he will continue to thrive in any environment where he feels supported and loved.
Should you wish to discuss this further in a constructive and respectful manner, I remain open to dialogue.
Warm regards,
Maria Medeiros
Owner & Director, Casa Feliz Childcare
Wesley Everson2024.10.26
Our family has been with Casa Feliz for over 3 years having put both our children through the program. I could write so much about everything from the philosophy to the food but the biggest standout is their love and care for the children. They treat every child as a unique individual and work so hard to get to know them and what will make them feel safe and nurtured. Our children thrive in the program and we feel that the staff at Casa are more like an extension of our family.
Casa Feliz has been the best choice we have made as parents thus far. Our daughter has been enrolled since she was 4 months old and we have seen her grow and thrive under their care at the infant house. She is excited when we arrive, we receive updates throughout the day, and she is always happy when we pick her up. We know she is loved, safe, and so well cared for
Our son has been at Casa Feliz for 2 years (since he was 6 months old). We have absolutely loved and are immensely grateful for the wonderful care of the Casa Feliz teachers and staff. Casa Feliz has become like family to us, and it has been a joy to watch our son grow from an infant to confident toddler.
Why we love Casa Feliz:
Casa Feliz puts on family events that allow for the building of a strong, close-knit community of parents, which we appreciated so much given that we didn't know any other parents with a child our son's age.
The home-cooked brazilian food is delicious and healthy. When evaluating many different daycares, there was no other place that compared in terms of quality of food.
We loved the language immersion as well. After 2 years, our son has quite good receptive language in Portuguese and also speaks Portuguese without an accent (as if it’s his native language) even though we do not speak it at home.
We were also very happy with the quality of the teachers, who our son loved. We could see that the teachers have so much love for their kids. It was reassuring to feel that our son was in good hands.
Last of all, we felt that the RIE approach that Casa Feliz takes has been extremely positive on our son and we feel has contributed to him growing into a confident, independent toddler.
We’ve recommended Casa Feliz to many of our friends, who are also part of the Casa Feliz family.
I cannot say enough good things about Casa Feliz. If you’re lucky enough to have the wonderful team here care for your little human then you’ll be very happy. My baby was at the Infant House from 4 months old until we moved out of the area at 9 months and we absolutely LOVED it. They provide a loving, nurturing and safe environment and the most delicious food. You get regular updates throughout the day and the teachers are just the most wonderful humans. They even worked with my baby through bottle refusal and now he’ll take one from his new daycare as well! I miss them so much and I wish I could go back.
We love Casa! America and Maria are wonderful. Great place and our infant loved going here. Lots of outside time for the babies and a beautiful space to have your babes taken care of.
Casa Feliz offers extremely high quality child care! Both the infant and the toddler houses offer excellent, age-appropriate play spaces that are clean, well maintained, and allow for lots of exploration and imaginative play. My child loved his teachers so much and I loved seeing the photos of him throughout the day via the app. He gained a lot of confidence and independence during his time there. I'm so grateful we found Maria and Casa Feliz! It was very hard to move on to a new school when the time came.
Our family loves Casa Feliz! The team is genuinely caring and patient. Plus, our little one has developed SO much thanks to Casa Feliz's carefully selected toys and activities, as well as the opportunity to run around and explore with other kiddos in a safe environment.
We love Casa Feliz! The teachers and the owner are all super nice. They are very attentive to the children's need. Our LO has eczema so the teachers keep close eyes on his skin and put cream on all the time to prevent it from having breakout. More amazingly, they cook Brazilian foods for the kids and they speak Portuguese and Spanish to the kiddos! I would highly recommend this place to any new parents. It is worthy of every single penny. :)
Maria is such a wonderful profesional and so knowledgeable about kids and their development. The teacher as very well trained and loving. We had a great experience there and was tough when our daughter “graduated” and we need to move somewhere else.
10 out of 10 to Casa Feliz!
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