Free New Mexico PreK

for 3 & 4 Year Olds

Preparing Your Child For the Future

In our Free NM PreK program, children spend their days exploring, creating, and developing crucial skills. We balance play-based activities (like art, music, and outdoor play) with guided learning (circle time, early literacy, and math games). This approach builds school readiness in a fun, age-appropriate way. By the time our PreK students graduate to kindergarten, they are familiar with classroom routines, can recognize letters and numbers, can express themselves in sentences, and have practiced important social skills like sharing and taking turns. Most importantly, they love learning – and that enthusiasm is the best kindergarten prep of all!

Our Free NM PreK classes are led by qualified early childhood teachers who meet New Mexico’s standards for PreK educators. We maintain a low teacher-to-child ratio so that each child gets gentle guidance and attention. The classroom environment is rich with books, blocks, art supplies, and imaginative play areas to support all areas of development. We also integrate The Creative Curriculum into our PreK, ensuring that our lesson plans are aligned with research-based objectives for childhood learning.

Is your child turning 3 or 4? Enroll in our Free NM PreK program and give them a strong start! Registration for the upcoming school year is now open. Because this program is free, spots fill quickly – so don’t wait to secure your child’s place.

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Key Benefits

Kindergarten Readiness

Children in our Free NM PreK build the academic, social, and classroom skills needed for a confident start in kindergarten. We make learning fun through early literacy, math, science, and fine motor activities—while also teaching routines, listening, and cooperation.

Caring Teachers

Our Free NM PreK classes are led by early childhood experts who know how to make learning engaging for 3–4-year-olds. With small class sizes, teachers build strong connections and use positive, nurturing guidance. Parents often share how their child grows—whether finding their voice or focusing their energy through hands-on projects.

Safe Classrooms

PreK students learn in a bright, child-safe classroom with engaging centers like reading, art, and science. They explore freely with guidance and enjoy daily outdoor time on our private playground. A mix of activities keeps them active and supports all learning styles.

What Makes Us Different

Our Free NM PreK program stands out because of our personalized, family-oriented approach within a state-funded framework

As a smaller preschool, we’re able to offer a cozy environment and individualized attention that larger programs may not. We know that each 3- or 4-year-old develops at their own pace, so we tailor activities to challenge and support each child. If your child needs a bit more help with speech or fine motor skills, we’re here to provide it; if they’re racing ahead with recognizing words or numbers, we have materials to keep them challenged.

We also offer convenient wrap-around care for our PreK students, which many free PreK programs do not

Your child can arrive early or stay after the core PreK class time, so you don’t have to worry about mid-day pickups. This consistency in environment is great for kids – they stay in a familiar place with teachers they know, even after the “academic” part of the day is done. It’s also a lifesaver for working parents who need full-day coverage.

Learn more about our wrap-around care HERE

Another difference is our strong home-school connection

Being a community-based preschool, we build close relationships with our PreK families. We welcome parents to be involved – whether it’s volunteering for a story time, attending our family events, or just chatting with us about your child’s progress. We also keep you informed daily through the Brightwheel app and informal conversations. You’ll never feel “out of the loop” about your little one’s life at preschool. When families and teachers work together, it creates a supportive net around the child, reinforcing their learning and confidence.

Lastly, Peppermint Stick Preschool integrates New Mexico’s culture and bilingual support into our PreK

Many of our lessons incorporate the local community – for example, we might have a unit on the Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque’s famous hot air balloon festival, or learn simple words in Spanish and English during circle time. This local touch enriches the curriculum and makes learning more meaningful for the children. It also helps our dual-language learners feel seen and included.