Infant and Toddler Care

Fueling Your Child’s Natural Desire to Learn

Kaune is a warm and welcoming place for children 0–5 years old. Our educators start with a foundation built on relationships and social-emotional learning. We support children in developing the skills they need to work, play, and interact with other members of our school community. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach® to learning, educators create classroom environments that promote curiosity, exploration, and discovery—igniting a lifelong love of learning. Our program is nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which ensures programs meet ten standards of high-quality early childhood education.

In 2023, we opened two toddler classrooms serving children 1-3 years old. The infant room, serving babies 6 weeks to one year old, opened in August 2024.

Early Learning Center at Kaune Philosophy

WE BELIEVEeach child is unique in their experiences, strengths, and perspectives of the world around them.
WE RECOGNIZEthat a child’s family is a critical component in their development.
WE ENGAGEchildren by speaking their language. Our Dual Language classrooms aim to provide instructions in both English and Spanish evenly throughout the day.
WE EMBRACEAnti-Bias curriculum which celebrates all differences. Children are encouraged to be active and curious in their own learning and development.
WE CAREabout creativity. Our classrooms are bright, spacious, and include dramatic play, science, blocks, a writing center, book/library area, creative expression and art, math, manipulatives, music, sensory enrichment, and hands-on exploration. All children play outdoors on age-appropriate playgrounds which incorporate organic materials and nature play.
WE ARE INSPIREDby the Reggio Emilia Approach®, which recognizes children’s natural desire to learn through discovery, experimentation, and exploration. Our educators work alongside children as they build upon these interests to develop classroom projects and areas of study.
WE KNOWthat when a child’s joyful curiosity is ignited early, that flame endures even when they are challenged. Valued as strong, competent, and resilient learners, young children who come out of our Reggio Emilia-inspired program emerge prepared for success in school and life.

Application Details and Deadlines

The Early Learning Center at Kaune, is accepting applications for our infant and toddler classrooms.

The Infant and Toddler Program consists of three classrooms: the infant room will serve babies 6 weeks old up to their first birthday; the Toddler 1 Room will serve children aged 1 to 2.5 years, and; the Toddler 2 classroom will support children from 2.5 years old up until the child is age eligible for the Early PreK Program.

With limited infant and toddler care spots available, we prioritize families currently receiving services through Growing Up New Mexico (Great Start, Home Visiting, Bridges to Opportunity, and siblings of current PreK/Early PreK students). Priority status DOES NOT guarantee a spot in our program. A lottery will be held for families who have priority status to determine who is offered a slot. After the priority spaces are filled, the remaining applicants within the priority pool will be added to the rest of the applications for the final lottery to completely fill all spaces.

Those who are not selected in the lottery process will be placed on a waitlist. The application deadline for the 2024-25 program year is July 19, 2024. The lottery will be held the week of July 22nd. Applications received after the lottery will be added to the waitlist in the order they are received.

If your child is selected to attend the Early Learning Center at Kaune, you will be contacted by phone. Each family is responsible for keeping their contact information current. Our staff will attempt to contact a family twice. If a family is unresponsive to calls and messages, staff will note that the family has declined enrollment and will not call again.

We are a full year, full-day program, Monday-Thursday from 7:30am-4pm and Fridays from 7:30am-1pm.

Monthly tuition is as follows:
Infants = $1,500 (6 weeks-1 year old)
Toddler 1 = $1,400 (1 yr- 2.5 yrs old)
Toddler 2 = $1,300 (2.5+)
Annual Program Fee= $200 (due within the first three months)

The program will begin Tuesday, August 13. Your child’s start date is dependent on completion of the full registration packet and the transition plan as determined with your child’s teacher.

Please contact us at: prek@growingupnm.org or at (505) 303-3950, with any questions you may have.

To apply for the Infant and Toddler Program, please complete and submit the application below.

For Prek and Early Prek Program (3-5 year olds) application CLICK HERE.

Family Handbooks