A school for infants and young children, coming soon to Santa Fe.
Little Ponderosa is a new early childhood school for infants through age four — a place built around beautiful spaces, small ratios, and the kind of unhurried, relationship-centered care young children deserve.
Early childhood should feel unhurried, connected, and full of discovery.
Little Ponderosa is being created as a thoughtful place for children to spend some of the most important years of their lives — and for families to feel genuinely known. We serve infants through age four, with beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces designed for real childhood: movement, relationships, play, and quiet discovery.
Four things we’re building Little Ponderosa around
Small Ratios
Small groups mean children are truly seen — their moods, their milestones, their particular way of taking in the world.
Thoughtful Environments
Natural materials, calm light, and rooms designed for exploration rather than entertainment.
Exceptional Teachers
Highly trained teachers who build real relationships with children and stay in close communication with families.
A Place to Belong
An inclusive, welcoming community — for children finding their footing and for the families who love them.
A program for every stage of early childhood
Responsive, nurturing care
Predictable rhythms and close communication with families.
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Movement, language, independence
Sensory exploration and the first steps toward self-reliance.
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Curiosity, creativity, friendship
Meaningful early learning without academic pressure.
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Children learn through relationships, movement, play, and the freedom to explore.
Little Ponderosa draws on a deep respect for calm, child-centered environments. Our days are built around exploration, independence, and genuine connection — not worksheets or rigid schedules.
- Child-centered learning paced to real development, not a curriculum calendar
- Daily indoor and outdoor time, in every season
- Natural materials that invite open-ended play
Open and welcoming to every family
Little Ponderosa accepts New Mexico Child Care Assistance, and we’re building a community that welcomes both subsidy and private-pay families alike. Every child at Little Ponderosa belongs here.
Join our waiting list
Enrollment hasn’t opened just yet, but you can join our waiting list for updates — we’ll let you know the moment enrollment opens.
You’re on the list
Thank you for joining our waiting list. We’ll email you the moment enrollment opens.