Imaginarium is a warm, family-run preschool on Ocean Avenue — with small groups, home-cooked meals, and teachers who stay for years. Now enrolling for our private 2s program and DOE-funded 3K.
Imaginarium Child was founded by Yana in 2010 with one belief: that children thrive when they feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Sixteen years later, we still operate the same warm space at 1954 Ocean Avenue in Midwood, Brooklyn — and we still know the name of every child in the building.
We are a NYC DOHMH-licensed group day care and a NYC DOE-contracted 3K provider, proudly bilingual and bicultural, serving families across Midwood, Kensington, Ditmas Park, Sheepshead Bay, and Flatbush. Meals are made from scratch in our own kitchen as a USDA CACFP participant. Enrichment — music, dance, yoga, cooking — is woven into the week, not sold as extras. And staff turnover, in an industry where it's the norm, is almost non-existent here.
Because when you know every child's name — and every parent's story — you can build a place where they actually want to be.
Small groups of about twelve. Two rooms, a dedicated sleeping nook, a study room, our own kitchen, and a spacious outdoor playground.
A gentle, self-pay program for our youngest learners — with lots of hands-on play, early language, and the patient care two-year-olds need to thrive.
Full-day 3K seats funded through NYC DOE MySchools. Applications available in Russian; interpretation in 200+ languages.
Fresh, hot meals prepared daily in our in-house kitchen. Parents say they can smell the soup from the door — and kids clean their plates.
Enrichment classes are part of every week: cooking, music, dance, yoga, arts & crafts, poetry, and singing. All included.
English and Russian throughout the day. Songs, stories, and traditions from Brooklyn and beyond — for families who value both.
Meaningful performances, holiday celebrations, and a formal graduation ceremony — moments families keep for a lifetime.
Graduation days, classroom joy, and a glimpse of what happens here.
The questions parents ask most often about our programs, enrollment, and daily life at Imaginarium Child.
Imaginarium Child is located at 1954 Ocean Avenue, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11230, between Avenue N and Avenue O in the Midwood neighborhood. We serve families across Midwood, Kensington, Ditmas Park, Sheepshead Bay, and Flatbush.
Imaginarium Child offers two full-day programs: a private 2-year-old program (self-pay, with vouchers and subsidies accepted) and NYC DOE-funded 3K. Both programs run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and include home-cooked meals, music, dance, yoga, and arts enrichment.
For the private 2-year-old program, a child must turn 2 by August 1 of the enrollment year. For the NYC DOE-funded 3K program, a child must turn 3 during the current calendar year, following NYC DOE eligibility rules.
Yes. Imaginarium Child is a NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) group day care license holder, a NYC Department of Education (DOE) contracted 3K provider, and a participant in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). We have operated at 1954 Ocean Avenue since 2010.
The NYC DOE-funded 3K program is tuition-free for eligible New York City families. The private 2-year-old program is self-pay; we also accept ACS/HRA child-care vouchers and subsidies. Please call (718) 305-1887 for current pricing and availability.
Yes. Imaginarium Child accepts ACS, HRA, and other child-care vouchers and subsidies for the private 2-year-old program. Our 3K program is fully funded by the NYC Department of Education for eligible families.
Yes. Imaginarium Child is a bilingual English and Russian preschool. Songs, stories, and instruction happen in both languages throughout the day, serving Brooklyn's large Russian-speaking community while preparing all children for English-language schooling.
Imaginarium Child is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are closed on weekends and follow the NYC DOE holiday calendar.
Class sizes at Imaginarium Child are small — approximately twelve children per group — well within NYC DOHMH ratios. Small groups let our teachers know every child by name and adapt to each child's pace.
Yes. All meals and snacks are prepared fresh daily in our own on-site kitchen and are included in the program. As a USDA CACFP participant, we follow federal nutrition standards for young children. Menus include hot soups, home-style entrees, fresh fruit, and dairy.
Families apply for NYC 3K through NYC DOE MySchools at schools.nyc.gov/schools/pre-k. Imaginarium Child is listed as a 3K contracted provider. Applications are available in Russian, and NYC DOE offers interpretation in more than 200 languages. Call us at (718) 305-1887 for help with the application.
Call Imaginarium Child at (718) 305-1887 or email [email protected] to schedule a tour. Tours typically take 20–30 minutes and include the classrooms, our kitchen, and the outdoor play area. We welcome tours Monday through Friday during operating hours.
Not our words — theirs. Excerpts from parent reviews on Google and Facebook.
If you're looking for a safe, nurturing, and loving environment for your child, Imaginarium Childcare is absolutely amazing. What started as a daycare became our second home. My son started here when he was just 1 year old, and now, at 4 years old, he is graduating. We couldn't be more grateful for this wonderful place. Now that we have a 2-month-old daughter, we can't wait for her to start her journey at Imaginarium too.
We feel so blessed to have found Imaginarium for our children. Both of our kids went there, and the love and care they received meant everything to us. The teachers are absolutely wonderful — so kind, patient, and nurturing. You can tell this isn't just a job for them — they treat every child like family.
It has a warm, home-like atmosphere that made my son feel safe and comfortable from the very beginning. The teachers are incredibly kind, caring, and attentive. The food is great — healthy and delicious. Most importantly, I've noticed real progress in his development since he started attending. Highly recommend this daycare to other parents!
My son started attending this daycare when he was 2 years old. From the very first days, the teachers found a kind and thoughtful approach to him. What truly impressed me was how engaged the children were every day — they painted, sculpted, sang, danced, and they learned. I could literally see my son growing and developing day by day. He loved going to daycare, made friends, and felt truly happy there.
Tours are the truest way to feel our space. Give us a call and we'll show you the classrooms, the kitchen, and the playground — and answer every question, small or big.
(718) 305-1887