At Hooray, we believe childhood should not be rushed. Children thrive when they feel safe, connected, respected, and truly understood.

Our program is play-based, child-led, and inspired by a blend of RIE, Montessori, and project-based learning. We value respectful caregiving, strong relationships, independence, open-ended play, and environments that invite curiosity and discovery.

We see children as capable, competent, and full of potential. Through thoughtful routines, calm guidance, and meaningful play, we support social-emotional growth, confidence, and a genuine love of learning.

Hi, I’m Mari — the heart behind Hooray.

I’m a mother of three, an early childhood educator, and the person behind the daily care and rhythm at Hooray Family Childcare.

Before opening Hooray, I worked as a teacher in Brazil for 11 years. I studied Language Arts and later completed a postgraduate degree in Psychopedagogy, which deepened my understanding of how children learn, grow, and develop.

After moving to the U.S. in 2020, I continued working with children as a babysitter and nanny while also continuing my education in early childhood care through classes at College of Marin and ongoing training with Marin Child Care Council.

I opened Hooray in 2022 with the hope of creating something truly meaningful for children and families — a place that feels warm, personal, and full of care, where children feel safe, supported, and free to be themselves.

As a mother, I also know what it feels like to need childcare and to place your trust in someone else’s hands. I’ve been in that position myself, and that experience has shaped the way I care for children and support families. Hooray is, in many ways, my way of giving back by offering the kind of care I once needed for my own family — thoughtful, trustworthy, and full of heart.

“Respecting a child means treating even the youngest infant as a unique human being, not as an object.”

— Magda Gerber, Dear Parent: Caring for Infants with Respect, expanded ed. (2002)